Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
Book of the Week: 4 March 2018
Cover illustration by Chris Priestley
This is American author Jason Reynolds‘ first book to be published in the UK and he says his aim is not to write boring ones. He has succeeded with this short, sharp and raw story of a boy’s search for the right thing to do after his brother is shot and killed.
The story is told entirely in free verse and opens a day or two after Will’s brother Shawn has been shot in the street. Their mother is distraught, and after Will shuts himself away in their shared bedroom to grieve, he notices a middle drawer of their dresser sitting awkwardly. When he investigates, he finds a gun and although he is shocked, he decides he knows who killed Shawn and sets out to get revenge.
The remainder of the plot happens extremely quickly in real time but takes longer to read. In that time, we learn about people who are important in Will’s life and about what happened to them as a result of urban violence.
As much thought has gone into the design of the print on the page, and the atmospheric drawings by Chris Priestley, as the story itself.
The violence and a sprinkling of strong language may mean unsuitability for younger readers but it is as compelling as it is simply-told.