Representation: Black characters
Trigger warnings: Gun violence, death of a father in the past and a brother, blood, grief and loss depiction
Score: Seven points out of ten.
Find this review on The StoryGraph.

This version of Long Way Down circled my recommendations for a while and when I saw this in a library I visited, I immediately wanted to pick it up. Soon enough, I did and then I read the Long Way Down adaptation, but not before glancing the blurb. Despite being heavy, this story was enjoyable, leaving me wondering what the original text is like.

It starts with the first character I see, Will, whose last name remains undisclosed with his brother Shawn, when someone shot him, and no one reported on it. That is all according to the rules: don't cry, don't snitch and, most prominently, get revenge. Thus begins Will's quest to get Shawn's gun and shoot the shooter but he gets on an elevator and has to wait until it reaches the ground floor. In the elevator, Will meets other people who have died in a shooting, all due to the third rule. Once someone shoots another person and they get revenge, the cycle neverendingly continues. Sometimes the poetry is part of the art, which I enjoyed observing. The pictured helped me visualise the story more, but the poetry wasn't that impressive. It was one of many examples where someone pressed the Enter key many times and called it 'poetry.' The conclusion is open, as it's unclear whether Will will get revenge or break the third rule. I hope he chooses the latter. ( )

It’s good. A combination of confronting death and serious decision-making coupled with hard street life (y’know, snitches get stitches type of stuff). Our main character Will is consumed with revenge after his brother is shot and killed, and some ghosts of his past try to seriously reason with him. I’m starting to get a soft spot for books written in verse. I liked the watercolor artwork and thought it worked as well. Still, if this were not in graphic novel form, I would not have read this. There’s some merit to adding illustrations to heavier stories because it invites new readers.

This is no slight on the Long Way Down, but I’m exhausted with these types of stories. I would never discredit the harsh realities some of us face, but there needs to be more variety/escapism. I’m tired of these struggle life stories. Can you say draining? ( )

I love how the graphic aspect isn't just there to be there, the illustrations really lend themselves to the story, and draw you in emotionally. ( )

This graphic novel is adapted from Jason Reynolds' award-winning verse novel and is beautifully illustrated by Novgorodoff. It captures the juxtaposition of softness and violence in Will's heart-wrenching decision while preserving the intensity of emotions that Will experiences. The story follows Will in the aftermath of his brother Shawn's tragic death. Will feels bound to the unwritten rules: no tears, no snitching, and seek revenge.

As the elevator opens on each floor, Will encounters ghosts from his past, victims of gun violence, who challenge his plan and motives, causing doubt to creep in. This is an absolutely compelling story and the original version was a Newbery Honor, Printz Honor, and Coretta Scott King Honor book. ( )

As Will, fifteen, sets out to avenge his brother Shawn's fatal shooting, seven ghosts who knew Shawn board the elevator and reveal truths Will needs to know. A poignant story about choices and stopping the cycle of violence.