Bethany is a certified Special Education and Elementary teacher with 11 years experience teaching Special Education from grades PK through 5. I can't wait to get my hands on a finished copy, to reread, sit with his words and turns of phrase, and find the spots that bear repeating to kids in our classrooms. Spanning a mere one minute and seven seconds, Reynolds' new free-verse novel is an intense snapshot of the chain reaction caused by pulling a trigger. Jason’s many books include Miles Morales: Spider Man, the Track series (Ghost, Patina, Sunny, and Lu), Long Way Down, which received a Newbery Honor, a Printz Honor, and a Correta Scott King Honor, and Look Both Ways, which was a National Book Award Finalist.

The tragic event has left him hurt and confused, with the addition of a broken mother to account for. Things take a strange turn when on each floor, a murdered soul from Will’s past life enters the elevator, each sharing the story of their death. The coolest thing about this book to me, and something I don't think I really noticed until I saw my favorite booktuber's review, is that this book doesn't try to be about right and wrong.The weight of dehumanization, of being stripped of personhood because of instinctual moments and feelings, unfettered. The award-winning, bestselling verse novel is now a stunning graphic novel with illustrations by Danica Novgorodoff. I don't have too much to say other than I think this is a really effective coming of age story about how violence and toxic masculinity affects so many young black teens. Recently named the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Jason has appeared on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and CBS This Morning. I understand the meaningfulness of the actions that occurred, but it's still just a personal preference.

They offer their words of wisdom, each taking a turn to show Will the consequences, his future actions could have!This was such a powerful read, I hope readers everywhere and of all ages (teen and up) read it and are affected by it in a positive way. Will describes the "rules" in his neighborhood, where violence is the norm: no crying, no snitching, seek revenge. Or did he heed the cautions from his elevator visitors, sensing the regret, and observing the endless path of destruction torn by bullet after bullet through the ranks of his family and friends? When his older brother Shawn is shot dead in front of him, Will is overcome with grief, despair and fury. I can picture the faces in my head of the former students I wish were still in my classroom so I could put this book right into their hands.

You guys are such a force for good and I am a passionate supporter of Indie booksellers, so I'm so happy this worked out well (I'd love to know how many books were sold if you have it to hand - it felt like quite a lot!

Long Way Down is a young adult novel in verse by Jason Reynolds, published October 24, 2017, by Atheneum Books.