Teen Review: Long Way Down

Summary 

Long Way Down follows a fifteen-year-old boy named Will who is dealing with the devastating shock of his older brother, Shawn, being murdered. Will lives in a neighbourhood governed by "The Rules": don't cry, don't snitch, and always get revenge. So he takes his brother's gun and sets out to kill the person he thinks did it. Amazingly, the entire plot of the book takes place during just sixty seconds while Will is riding down an elevator to carry out his plan. On each floor, the elevator stops, and he is visited by ghosts of people from his past who were all victims of gun violence. These encounters force Will to confront his grief and completely question the choices he is about to make. 

Strengths and Weaknesses 

The greatest strength of this book is its powerful writing style. The novel is written in verse, which makes it quick to read while still being emotional and intense. The short poems create suspense and allow the reader to focus on Will’s thoughts and emotions. A weakness is that the ending is left somewhat open, which may frustrate some readers. 

My Opinion 

What I liked most about the novel was how intense the atmosphere felt from the very first page. The elevator setting was a really creative choice because it creates a claustrophobic feeling that makes the tension grow stronger with every single floor. I also thought the book did an amazing job exploring heavy themes like generational trauma, grief, and the destructive cycle of revenge. The only thing I disliked was how many questions were left unanswered at the end, though I understand that the author did this on purpose to make the audience think. 

Would I Recommend it? 

I would recommend this book to teens and readers who enjoy emotional, fast-paced stories. Fans of realistic fiction and books written in verse would especially enjoy it. 

Rating: I would rate this novel a  (5/5)