"Long Way Down" by Jason Reynolds is a novel in verse that follows fifteen-year-old Will, who sets out to avenge his brother's murder. As Will takes the elevator down from his apartment, he is visited by the ghosts of people from his past, each with their own story of gun violence. Through these encounters, Will confronts the cycle of violence, grief, and the impact of his decisions. The novel explores themes of revenge, forgiveness, and the complexities of urban life, all in the span of a single minute-long elevator ride.
