Preteen girl looking at a cell phone with her parents

Personalized picks at your fingertips

Get the mobile app on iOS and Android

Get the app
Parents' Guide to

Long Way Down: The Graphic Novel

By Michael Berry, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Powerful tale of Black teen's search for revenge.

Book Jason Reynolds Graphic Novel 2020
Long Way Down: The Graphic Novel Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

See all
age 12+

Based on 1 parent review

watershedschool
watershedschool Parent of 13-year-old
February 23, 2021
age 12+

A Long Way Down review

Two shots ring out, and our main character starts “pressing lips to the pavement.” A Long Way Down is written by Jayson Reynolds and was published in 2017 Our main character, Will’s older brother, Shawn, has been shot. Dead. Will feels an immense sadness, but in his neighborhood, there are the”rules.” No 1. Crying - Don’t - No matter what No 2. Snitching - Don’t - No matter what No 3. Revenge - Do - No matter what. Our main character will live in a major metropolitan area. William sets out for revenge, but he takes the elevator ride that will change his life. This book was impeccably written, and the free verse poetry style in which it is written adds all that much more to the experience, and realism. Although, this book leaves you with a major cliffhanger, making me think that there might be a sequel. This is a book that would be great for a pre teen or a teenager. Overall I give book an over all 4/5
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

As LONG WAY DOWN: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL opens, Shawn witnesses his older brother Shawn's shooting death. The next morning, he leaves his mother alone in their apartment and takes the elevator down to the lobby, sure that he's going to use the gun in his pocket to kill the gang member who shot Shawn. On each floor, though, he is visited by ghosts of those neighbors who have already been victims and perpetrators. They tell Will about the mistakes they made and the lessons they learned. When the elevator stops, Will finally will be forced to make his unchangeable decision to be a killer or not.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (3 ):

Grief can cause reckless behavior, and this hard-hitting meditation on the urge for revenge exposes its dangers. This adaptation of Long Way Down, Jason Reynolds' novel-in-verse, captures all of the emotional power of the original version, but in an abbreviated narrative space. Danica Novgorodoff's exquisite watercolors match Will's changing mood and turbulent outlook, and they may upset sensitive readers. There's a lot of heartbreak here, and the creators don't back away from the tragedies that befall Will, Shawn, and other boys, men, and young women from the neighborhood. The ending is not pat but it's satisfying, and it should spark discussion in a wide range of readers. Long Way Down is gripping from top to bottom.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Long Way Down depicts gun violence. Why do people feel so strongly about gun ownership?

  • Does revenge ever solve a problem? What are the dangers of seeking vengeance?

  • What are some ways to handle grief? Is it OK to cry? Is there a "right way" to show this emotion?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended book lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate