From this dubious beginning they form a most unlikely friendship which we see develop from their alternating points of view over 3 months. A long way down is a novel written by british author nick hornby, published in 2005. Sian gaetano, childrens and ya editor, shelf awareness. Jason reynolds talks long way down and writing about gun.
In long way down, the ghosts of gun violence chill a. In long way down, the ghosts of gun violence chill a plan for. Its a long way down from the eighth floor to the lobby, but it only takes seven floors, 60 seconds and six ghosts to make him question his quest for revenge. Long way down 2017 by jason reynolds is a young adult novel in free verse about will holloman, a young black boy struggling to make a decision after his. With novels like a long way down, about a boy, and juliet. A maudlin bit of tripe, kakutani calls it, nowhere. Jason reynolds new book follows a 15yearold who must make a. A laugh a minute on long way down part 2 of 2 duration. Angela this is actually one thing i love about the book. Reynolds elegant verse begs to be read aloud, and teachers will want to discuss what will might have taken away from each ghostly visit. Long way down is that surprisingly structured book that will prompt complex discussion and thought. Oct 30, 2017 in long way down, the ghosts of gun violence chill a plan for revenge jason reynolds new book follows a 15yearold who must make a crucial decision after the murder of his brother, all in the. Long way down by jason reynolds popthebutterfly reads. In jason reynoldss new novel in verse long way down, it all began with the rules.
Discussion guide for long way down by jason reynolds this. In long way down, the ghosts of gun violence chill. Im not sure i quite understand the ending, could someone explain to me what happened. Long way down centers around will as he travels down the elevator, levelbylevel, with his brothers gun, as he unfurls the layers of the lives he thought he knew and the passengers that tell their story and his story as they all travel toward ground floor together. Pg wodehouse may have been the last lightcomic writer to be comfy in his pigeonhole. Please help to improve it, or discuss the issue on the talk page. Since then, it has become hard to find a jester who wants. In jason reynoldss new novel in verse long way down, it all began with the. A story that might never know an endif will gets off that elevator. Fifteenyearold will holloman decided to tell the story of what happened to him immediately following his older brother shawns death. It is a dark comedy, playing off the themes of suicide, angst, depression and promiscuity.
This is the first verse novel i read beginningtoend and my first. Ive got some quotes for those who dont have the book in front of you. Theres a weird kind of bookending happening this year. Long way down is 322 pages long, but its story only lasts a few minutes, the time it takes will to go from the 6th floor of a building to ground level. A reading group guide to long way down by jason reynolds about the book will has known about the rules ever since his childhood friend was killed on the playground, and hes followed the first two. I know its supposed to be fairly ambiguous, but how do you interpret the end of the walk. I just finished the long walk and wanted to talk about the ending. Read an excerpt from national book award finalist jason reynoldss innovative new ya novel long way down, which takes place over just 60 seconds on. Julia walton is the author of the youngadult novel words on. The story is written in the firstperson narrative from the points of view of the four main characters, martin, maureen, jess and jj.
A vocabulary list featuring long way down by jason reynolds. A long way down summary at wikisummaries, free book summaries. Long way down is an intense read with a beautifully ambiguous ending that highlights the humanity of those who are regularly touched by and contribute to gun violence. In long way down, the ghosts of gun violence chill a plan for revenge jason reynolds new book follows a 15yearold who must make a crucial decision after the murder of his brother, all in the. The novel takes a big picture of the life of some of the kids of this neighbourhoods, most of whom live trapped in this atmosphere of darkness and believe theres no way out of it. I will focus mostly on the last theme in this short analysis. Marriage by phil hutcheon and a long way down by nick hornby essay 1492 words 6 pages.
This film version of nick hornbys 2005 novel is a winceinducing parade of misjudgments and false notes, writes peter. An elusive ending will leave most readers hungering for more. Plus hearing the figurative language emphasizes its power. Sep 25, 2018 honestly this is my first book of reynolds and i love it. Jason reynolds on his novel, long way down youtube. E main characters will is now a only child with one parent. A story that takes place in sixty potent secondsthe time it takes a kid to decide whether or not hes going to murder the guy who killed his brother. Explain precisely how and why the ending appropriately or inappropriately concludes the work. I looked a lot of books but in the end i chose long way down by jason reynolds. Long way down is national book award finalist and new york times bestseller jason reynoldss fiercely stunning novel that takes place in sixty potent secondsthe time it takes a kid to.
Oct 25, 2017 long way down is national book award finalist and new york times bestseller jason reynoldss fiercely stunning novel that takes place in sixty potent secondsthe time it takes a kid to. By the way, jason reynolds narrates the audio book for long way down and hes got such a honey baritone that makes the story come alive. A satisfactory ending is not, however, always conclusive in every sense. This dark comedy incorporates themes of existentialism and mental illness, including suicide and depression, in hornbys signature upbeat style. Hornby is a lyricist, as well as a writer, so many of his books. In long way down, the ghosts of gun violence chill a plan for revenge jason reynolds new book follows a 15yearold who must make a crucial decision after the murder of.
In jason reynoldss verse novel long way down, is doesnt take long for the reader to come across the. In this novelinverse, will spends a sixtysecond elevator ride weighing whether or not he should avenge his brothers death. Desperation passes by phil hutcheon and a long way down by nick hornby reveal that marriage is not a happy endingit is an arduous journey. And then there were shots everybody ran, ducked, hid, tucked themselves tight. A stellar creepy, engaging, heartbreaking novel in verse, long way down is another example of what author jason reynolds does best. In the end of jason reynolds long way down, it says shawn. Published october 24th 2017 by atheneumcaitlyn dlouhy books. Pressed our lips to the pavement and prayed the boom, followed by the buzz of a bullet, didnt meet us. Written in prose, it tells the story of will, whose brother shawn gets gunned down in a gang related retaliation war. Dec 18, 2017 theres a weird kind of bookending happening this year. About the book will has known about the rules ever since his childhood friend was killed on the playground, and hes followed the first two. Long way down became a new york times bestseller and received several prestigious honors in young adult literature, including a newbury honor, a coretta scott king honor, an edgar award, a walter dean myers book award, and a printz honor. Told in short, fierce staccato narrative verse, long way down is a fast and furious, dazzlingly brilliant look at teenage gun violence, as could only be told by jason reynolds.
A long way down is a 2005 novel by international bestselling british author nick hornby. Jason reynolds new novel long way down is focused on a moment of decision. Long way down book by jason reynolds official publisher. Jason reynolds new novel long way down is a study in restriction the book, which was longlisted for the 2017 national book award in young peoples literature, outlines a. Thats when the rules came into play no crying, no snitching, and always get revenge. Learn these words from jason reynoldss innovative and powerful exploration of gun violence. Oct 24, 2017 jason reynolds new novel long way down is a study in restriction the book, which was longlisted for the 2017 national book award in young peoples literature, outlines a single minute in the. The following version of this book was used to create this study guide. A long way down is told from the points of view of four very different people who meet on the roof of a london building each planning to commit suicide. Jan 18, 2017 read an excerpt from national book award finalist jason reynoldss innovative new ya novel long way down, which takes place over just 60 seconds on an elevator, and is written entirely in verse.
May 02, 2019 and so it goes, the whole long way down, as the elevator stops on each floor, and at each stop someone connected to his brother gets on to give will a piece to a bigger story than the one he thinks he knows. What happens to the marriage once the last page is turned. Jul 03, 2018 i was asked to choose a book that boys in year 9 grade 8 might enjoy reading together and discussing with members of staff who will read it with them. Theme and message in a long way down the book blogging project. And so it goes, the whole long way down, as the elevator stops on each floor, and at each stop. Jason reynolds new novel long way down is a study in restriction the book, which was longlisted for the 2017 national book award in young peoples literature, outlines a single minute in the. Feb 07, 20 the main themes in a long way down is suicide, depression and that there is always hope. It is a dark comedy, playing off the themes of suicide, angst, depression and promiscuity the story is written in the firstperson narrative from the points of view of the four main characters, martin, maureen, jess and jj. Long way down is an elegantly crafted work by a writer who understands the tragedy of this subject. Feb 18, 2020 with novels like a long way down, about a boy, and juliet, naked nick hornby is one of the most wellloved and prolific british writers right now. Dec 21, 20 long way down ending scene superacolyte2. The theme is very clear throughout the novel, but i have chosen this passage from the ending of the book, on page 254. The entire book takes place over 60 seconds of the main characters life, enough time for him to question everything hes been taught and change his life forever.