You need Long Way Down in your life. This is my favorite book written by a person of color. Let’s dig in!
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*Big sigh* There is so much to say about this book. Targeted for kids 12 and up, this book is amazing, chilling, jaw-dropping, and engaging. It is a book that stirs your insides. The words of this novel in verse are placed with extreme care both on paper and in audio form. My first experience with Long Way Down was by audiobook. I listened to it twice back to back.
The Chilling Story Line
The book features a young man named Will. His brother Shawn was killed the night before. The whole book spans only 60 seconds: the elevator ride down to the bottom floor where Will plans to take revenge on his brother’s killer. On the way down, the ghosts of his past visit Will. The reader learns a lot about Will’s life as well as life lessons to ponder for one’s own life. Buckle your seat belt, you’re in for a treat.
The Physical Book, Audiobook, or Graphic Novel?
How should you experience this book? That is a tough question. The graphic novel has powerful, beautiful illustrations. The novel has the perfectly placed words in verse. The author narrates the audiobook in a moving way. If I had to suggest, start with the audiobook. At the conclusion of the book, Reynolds talks about his work. It was the icing on the cake. Reynolds is an author who wants to change the world. Even if this book was his only work, I believe he is.
Have you read any great novels-in-verse? Long Way Down definitely made the cut for me, making my top favorite audiobooks list. This book captured my heart and I sought out every version of this story. I thought about its contents for days afterward, piecing more and more profound takeaways as time went on. It is a novel that will stick with you and one you will want to encourage others to read. Check it out!
Which book written by a person of color is your favorite? Please share in the comments! Make sure to check out other Fiction Friday posts for more great reads.
Image by Pixabay
