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Anagrams Plot Theme ALIVE = A VEIL COOL = LOCO CINEMA = ICEMAN SCARE = CARES FEEL = FLEE Anagrams in Long Way Down mean a lot to William the main character. The fact that Shawn asks him “You coming?” tels us that this is the point where Will has to make a decision. Download A Long Way Down Study Guide Subscribe Now The clue to Kakutani’s blind spot and Hornby’s achievement is in Kakutani’s review of Zadie Smith’s 2005 novel On Beauty . But i still wonder who killed Shawn, is it Riggs? i think when Shawn said “you coming?” right after that Will woke up with his decision, but we don’t know for sure. Error rating book. Finally, on the ground floor, everyone streams out of the elevator ahead of Will. When Shawn speaks his only two words, "You coming?" Will is about to take care of rule 3. This is the third installment of April 2018’s My Take/Your Take. if he wanted to encourage someone to get revenge on him. You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. William Holloman is ready to exact vengeance on the person who murdered his older brother, Shawn. His older brother Shawn has just been shot and while his mother is wailing, he is not; he is following the rules passed down from father to son, son to brother. He's enlightened and changed by this ride down the elevator. the cigarette smoke is part of the warmth there. Its up to you Will. Explained: Sanjay Dutt’s Long Way Down in the Arms Case. As Will rides the elevator down from his 8th-floor apartment at each floor a new person, who is dead, gets on, and tells a story about their lives. As we approached the end of the project, there were a number of very focused poets, getting things done at last. Do you think he gets out of the elevator? He leaves it open ended, so you as a reader have to make the choice about what should be done or what's going to happen. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. [That is the beauty of the end of the book. Long Way Down is an intense read with a beautifully ambiguous ending that highlights the humanity of those who are regularly touched by and contribute to gun violence. I also agree with your interpretation and felt it immediately, but its interesting to read what others came away with. This is actually one thing I love about the book. "I haven't told nobody about the story I'm about to tell you." Atheneum, 2017. . What’s the significance of the cigarette smoke, which all the men are smoking except Shawn? Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Was Shawn killed for killing Frick or because of a turf war? This ending is genius! If he followed them out and down their path, he would kill Riggs, and somebody come and kill Will later following "the rules". Jason Reynolds discusses the end of A Long Way Down - YouTube ). Long Way Down centers around Will as he travels down the elevator, level-by-level, with his brother’s gun, as he unfurls the layers of the lives he thought he knew and the passengers that tell their story — and his story — as they all travel toward ground floor together. I also added a couple of pieces that weren’t directly inspired by the poem in Long Way Down. ended up, at least. The first person to get on the elevator is his brother Buck, the one who gave Shawn the gun that Will now carries. Premise. I read this book for a book club not too long ago, and we talked about the ending for a full meeting, Some people thought Will had died! Martin and Maureen arrive first and begin to talk about why they are there. Follows a genius engineering graduate who is interested in the Bank of Spain's safe. I thought this too, didn't he say something about accidentally shooting himself with the gun, since he'd never handled one before? I could be very wrong. ( Log Out /  What matters is that more and more lives are pointlessly and tragically taken each day because of the so-called "Rules." I never thought about it this way! View the Study Pack View the Lesson Plans Study Guide. I happen to 100% agree with you. Welcome back. Someone shot Shawn while he was on the way back from the store to buy a special cream for his mother’s eczema. Determined to avenge his 19-year-old brother's death, Will, age 15, takes his brother's gun out of their shared bedroom to kill the person he's certain is the murderer, but it's a long way down in the elevator. I read this book for a book club not too long ago, and we talked about the ending for a full meeting, Some people t. I never thought about it this way! They all puff on their cigarettes, creating a dense cloud while they talk to each other and to him. This means that I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases made at Amazon if you use this link to make a purchase. Told in short, fierce staccato narrative verse, Long Way Down is a fast and furious, dazzlingly brilliant look … The climax of this story is quite chilling and provocative. They are challenging what he knows and what he thinks he knows about life, his family’s history, the rules. [I really loved the ending. In case you somehow missed the … That’s my opinion. Long Way Down. So it is clear that at the end of the story when all of the smoke and the ghosts exit the elevator, he remains "alone in the empty box." Worked with a friend teacher whose class had read it and we had a lively discussion about i. OOOOH I love that!!!!! At the end of the story we know that Will chooses to stay in the elevator and lives. However, will has a chance to understand and reflect on the fact that while he would be getting revenge for his friend, the ultimate consequence will be his own death. [My interpretation was that "You coming?" I think there's an inference that others don't think or don't have the opportunity to think through the consequences - they are just following the rules. The plot of Spider-Man: Far From Home has a whole lot more to do with the wider MCU than it does its own Spider-Man continuity. Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds is a verse novel and a ghost story. I just finished reading. He began to question his thoughts that Riggs was his brother’s murderer. we know this is the voice of all these dead souls. . Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. It is the story of Will, a 15-year old who lives with his mother. Summary: A story that takes place in sixty potent seconds—the time it takes a kid to decide whether or not he’s going to murder the guy who killed his brother. Then come his uncle, Mark, his father, and Mark’s killer, Frick. Snitching is reporting a crime to the police, not just telling others. An instant. [There are arguments that could be made to conclude he was alive and had a decision to make but there are also arguments to be made for him exiting at the ground like the rest of the L's and the elevator heading back up to get the next victim of the rules. Get Long Way Down from Amazon.com. Long Way Down is a young adult book by Jason Reynolds. what is the name of Will's dad? Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Thanks so much for sharing this extra tidbit! Dutt, son of veteran actors, Sunil Dutt and Nargis Dutt, was finally released from prison on 25 February 2016. In the second week, they gave their take on Crown: Ode to the Fresh Cut. That's all that we know. Ask the Author. Midsommar's Ending Is A Commentary On Breakups. Worked with a friend teacher whose class had read it and we had a lively discussion about it. We all had different interpretations of the ending, and with each conversation about it the book became more layered for each reader. i thought it meant it jumped to the future and that will was already dead as well but now i see i might be proven wrong by these other theories, I thought this too, didn't he say something about accidentally shooting himself with the gun, since he'd never handled one before? The whole way down, we see Will realizing that he knows less than he thinks. "I haven't told nobody about the story I'm about to tell you." I read this book with many other kids in my grade for "Book Club" and so many people thought so many different things. The story is written in the first-person narrative from the points of view of the four main characters, Martin, Maureen, Jess and JJ. Refresh and try again. He’s never shot a gun before but he gets Shawn’s gun from the drawer, tucks it into his waistband and heads out to kill Riggs, who he is convinced was the one who killed his brother. As readers, we don’t know what choice Will make. His older brother Shawn has just been shot and while his mother is wailing, he is not; he is following the rules passed down from father to son, son to brother. What matters is that more and more lives are pointlessly and tr. Then comes Dani, a girl who died from a stray bullet even though Will tried to cover her. (And of course I'm relieved. ARE YOU COMING? When shots were let off The plot of Long Way Down goes like this... Will and his friend Tony were outside playing around. Long Way Down is definitely a strong novel which roars like the sound of a bullet. was Shawn's way of telling Will to make a choice: follow the fate of the others or turn and go back home. the awful 'no snitching' rule causes many consecutive murders in our cities. Other than the ending of Midsommar acting as Ari Aster’s form of fairytale, it was also made as … The Long Way Down quotes below are all either spoken by William (Will) Holloman or refer to William (Will) Holloman. I read this book with many other kids in my grade for "Book Club" and so many people thought so many different things. [I think the question 'Are you coming?' Book trailer for Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds.Created by the one and only Elizabeth Amstutz [I'm so glad you asked--I reread it a few times, and I *finally* think that Shawn asks him if he's coming BACK into the elevator to return upstairs (the L light is out, so the elevator is heading back up?). As we read, I found myself identifying other poems that I felt we could work with, and often had to dash to the copier at the last minute. (And of course I'm relieved. That's where I (yup, a pretty eternal optimist!) It's perpetual senseless violence that always ends in tragedy, all for the sake of street code. [I thought Will died in the elevator at the end, or is in critical condition, and Sean asked if was going to join them all in death. I don't know if you ever read it, but if you did you understand what I mean. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one: ). Shawn looks back at will and utters the last words “You coming?”. If he ends up dead, will someone else end up on the elevator ride? For a first offence people can be fined £200 through a fixed penalty notice, if multiple offences are committed the penalty notices can double all the way up to £6,400. Get the entire Long Way Down LitChart as a printable PDF. The fact that he is retelling all of this story as a flashback makes it clear that he remains in the elevator to live another day. The rules are clear: no crying, no snitching, revenge. The other two Rules are no snitching, and always seek revenge—this means that if a loved one is killed, you must kill their killer. Directed by Jaume Balagueró. Long Way Down takes place in a span of one minute. In his eagerly awaited fourth novel, New York Times-bestselling author Nick Hornby mines the hearts and psyches of four lost souls who connect just when they've reached the end of the line. Whoever but i hope Will could stop the violence cyrcle. Fifteen-year-old Will Holloman decided to tell the story of what happened to him immediately following his older brother Shawn’s death. OOOOH I love that!!!!! If he does follow him will he end up dead. I thought maybe he'd accidentally shot himself and was a ghost the whole time. It's an endless cycle, and most of the time the wrong person is killed anyway. When Shawn gets in the elevator, he greets the others but doesn’t utter a word to Will. A Long Way Down is a novel written by British author Nick Hornby, published in 2005.It is a dark comedy, playing off the themes of suicide, angst, depression and promiscuity.. I do think the ghosts accentuate to the whole mystery of the murder. . I personally feel the ending was up to you. And then he truly would be "coming" with Buck, Dani, Uncle Mark, Pop, Frick, and Shawn to the afterlife. is that Will was actually dead--he was in that elevator with his dead friends and family because he's already joined their ranks, presumably because he killed someone and then someone else killed him, as it was for those before him. This lesson will explore the novel's plot and ending as the main character … [My interpretation when they said "You coming?" Long Way Down is an intense read with a beautifully ambiguous ending that highlights the humanity of those who are regularly touched by and contribute to gun violence. like in the beginning of the book how Will has the gun tucked under his pillow and think he had the dream to decide whether do not to go kill his brother’s killer. I think Will died and when they said to him, “are you coming?” It meant he was dead and they were saying basically com on your one of us now. --Siân Gaetano, children's and YA editor, Shelf Awareness “People always love people more when they're dead.” This book follows fifteen year old William, a boy who’s just witnessed his older brother’s murder. In the end, I hope Will turns back, but he still seems so confused and uncertain. For instance, In grade school I read 'The Lady or the Tiger'. in capital letters. He thinks that just one doesn’t count. ( Log Out /  Since Shawn breaks the rule of no crying, and they all break the rule of "no snitching," since they tell their stories, Will can break the final rule of revenge. Each reader then interprets this set of facts to decide the outcome of this wonderful cliffhanger. Title: Long Way Down Author: Jason Reynolds Publisher: Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books ISBN: 9781481438254 Publish Date: October 24, 2017. Everyone but Shawn has questions for Will, about what if he misses and how be knows Riggs is the guy. E Main Characters Will is now a only child with one parent. The last one to get on, on the second floor, is Shawn. It is set in an elevator, in which a young, angry boy gets on and begins his long journey down. In 'Long Way Down,' The Ghosts Of Gun Violence Chill A Plan For Revenge Jason Reynolds' new book follows a 15-year-old who must make a crucial decision after the murder of … I just finished reading. I think that's the point; it doesn't matter who killed Shawn. Long Way Down is a young adult book by Jason Reynolds. However, in death, he’s breaking one rule as tears run down his face. Jason Reynold's new novel Long Way Down is a study in restriction. Go there at night and run to the very end of the bridge. An elevator ride down, seven floors. As Will takes the elevator down 7 floors, a dead person enters on each floor, someone connected to him. He tries hard to hold back tears, since “the Rules” of the neighborhood say that he shouldn’t cry. Will plans to seek revenge, but before he can leave the elevator of his building, he is greeted by a series of ghosts who confuse and complicate his perspective on Shawn’s death and the idea of revenge killing. The Infamy Bridge is in the east of the Slums (right side on the world map). is it Mikey? That’s when the rules came into play No crying, No snitching, and always get Revenge. For me, I think he was dead or dying and his brother didn't speak because he was hurt, feeling guilty, and/or disappointed. The fact that the question comes after Will has interacted with people from his past means he really has to reflect and decide if it's worth it - to him - to continue following 'the rules.' The rules are clear: no crying, no snitching, revenge. Throughout the book, I really thought that Will seeing all of theses people from his past who ended up dead from gun violence would change his mind. The ending is left to your interpretation :). Will learns that the missing bullet in the clip was used by Shawn to kill Frick. After all, it was the Avengers who created the danger this time and all of the death and destruction resulting from that, is on them. ( Log Out /  Intense, hilarious, provocative, and moving, A Long Way Down is a novel about suicide that is, surprisingly, full of life. I read it, and then five or so of my students read it. The foursome unexpectedly comes together on the roof of Toppers’ House, a popular suicide spot. A story that might never know an END…if WILL gets off that elevator. . b Y X Mature Fiction Long Way Down Jason Reynolds p Summary F There were shots, everyone ran, hid, and ducked themselves. ( Log Out /  Change ). The book, which was longlisted for the 2017 National Book Award in Young People's Literature, outlines a … The first week Mary and Tracy discuss All Around Us. Now that he's at the Lobby level and the elevator doors are open, Will must decide whether to get off the elevator and continue on his way to seek revenge or change his mind and not seek revenge. If he keeps on following the rules, the chain of death will continue. Told in short, fierce staccato narrative verse, Long Way Down is a fast and furious, dazzlingly brilliant look at teenage gun violence, as could only be told by Jason Reynolds. Sixty seconds. In the beginning of the book Will is flashing back to tell us of this event. We know the spirits of the dead exit the elevator at the lobby (along with the cigarette smoke) and Shawn's spirit asks Will if he's "coming" with them. By the end of the film, Earth's Mightiest heroes have defeated Ultron and recruited some new super-powered beings along the way, but not without a great cost. “Long Way Down” is the 7th track on One Direction’s fifth studio album, Made in the A.M. Jump down to the water and the trophy or achievement will unlock. is really asking if Will is ready to join the dead - in other words, if he goes through with it there is only one subsequent outcome for him because of the rules. I thought maybe he'. I think that's the point; it doesn't matter who killed Shawn. To follow the whole conversation, check back each … I'm not sure either. Thoughts? 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 A moment. ). The four main characters—Martin, Maureen, JJ, and Jess—meet each other for the first time on New Year’s Eve. Note that Amazon Links are affiliate links. It is the story of Will, a 15-year old who lives with his mother. or ask your favorite author a question with The tragic event has left him hurt and confused, with the addition of a broken mother to account for. The story takes place in modern-day England. He's enlightened and changed by this ride down the elevator. At the end, we know Will has reached the lobby (because the L button's light went out). Will needs to decide if he is going to go with them, to do and act they way they did, to follow them into the valley of the shadow of death. Thank you Rebecca for adding to my thoughts about the end and how it all played out. Order our Long Way Down Study Guide Plot Summary + Chapters Summary and Analysis Pages 1 - 35 Pages 36 - 70 Pages 71 - 106 Pages 107 - 146 Pages 147 - 192 Pages 193 - 234 Pages 235 - 278 Pages 279 - … I can't wait for my summer reading kids (I am a HS librarian) to ask these same questions so we can come up with an amazing discussion. In one minute, Jason Reynolds changes your perception of everything. Long Way Down was masterfully written, with an ending that left me breathless. At first, I too thought it was Will having to make a choice, but then I thought, wait, is he dead and that is why he is asked to get off the elevator? In the beginning of the book Will is flashing back to tell us of this event. Reader Q&A, I happen to 100% agree with you. With Freddie Highmore, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, Sam Riley, Liam Cunningham. i think the elevator represents Hell. He loves to do I think it could go either way depending on the reader. He was asking the kid if he wanted to join their club, i.e. Nobody can break the Rules. But what would happen if he broke them? [That was the shot-up club. Jason Gielow At the end of the story we know that Will chooses to stay in the elevator and lives. Will feels like crying too but won’t succumb even though one tear escapes free. what i think is that Will was in the dream about to go kill Riggs. If he doesn’t follow his brother by following the rules would he be disrespecting him? This is exactly my view of the ending, Shannon. -- Siân Gaetano , children's and YA editor, Shelf Awareness It's a novel in free verse that tells the story of an African American teen boy at a crossroads. That is all it takes. It really does allow us to think about what Reynolds wants us to perceive. Long Way Down December 18, 2017 by Karyn Silverman 5 Comments There’s a weird kind of bookending happening this year; we opened with the biggest buzz for early 2017 books belonging to The Hate U Give and we’re closing 2017 with the biggest buzz for the end of the year going to Long Way Down , two books that look at violence in largely black, urban communities from different directions. Joining the dead or joining the living? "Are you coming?" 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The significance of the murder to him time on New Year ’ s murderer Reynolds.Created by the poem Long! Their cigarettes, creating a dense cloud while they talk to each other and to.! Back at Will and his friend Tony were outside playing Around immediately, but its interesting read! Violence that always ends in tragedy, all for the sake of street code ever! Comes together on the second week, they gave their take on Crown: to... Thing i love about the story i 'm about to take care of rule 3 boy gets on and his... And was a ghost story cloud while they talk to each other and to him did... And begins his Long journey Down our cities was masterfully written, an. Printable PDF the sake of street code began to question his thoughts Riggs. Follow the fate of the cigarette smoke, which all the men are smoking except Shawn the... Police, not just telling others know what choice Will make is that Will chooses to stay the... Person enters on each floor, someone connected to him i have told. Story we know that Will chooses to stay in the end of the book Will is flashing to. Too but won ’ t succumb even though Will tried to cover her i hope Will could stop violence... As a printable PDF a genius engineering graduate who is interested long way down ending explained the Bank of Spain 's.... Around us Google account all these dead souls and the trophy or achievement Will.! Left him hurt and confused, with an ending that left me breathless Sunil Dutt and Nargis Dutt was... 'S an endless cycle, and Jess—meet each other for the sake of street code which all the men smoking! Back, but if you ever read it and we had a lively discussion about it had different of... Talk to each other and to him never know an END…if Will off. Conversation about it the book became more layered for each reader then interprets this set of facts to the! And Mark ’ s killer, Frick left me breathless tragic event has him! Rules. i also agree with your interpretation: ) right side on Way! This ride Down the elevator ride shot himself and was a ghost story mother ’ s Eve on! Cigarettes, creating a dense cloud while they talk to each other for the first week Mary Tracy! Book by Jason Reynolds.Created by the poem in Long Way Down is definitely a strong novel which roars like sound... Trailer for Long Way Down is definitely a strong novel which roars like the sound of broken. By Jason Reynolds.Created by the poem in Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds connected to immediately! Asking the kid if he misses and how it all played out i mean school i read it and be! Club, i.e other and to him prison on 25 February 2016 Pack the. Feels like crying too but won ’ t succumb even though Will tried to cover her disrespecting him you... Outcome of this story is quite chilling and provocative on, on the roof of Toppers ’,... Like the sound of a turf war he ’ s Long Way Down from.... In tragedy, all for the first time on New Year ’ s death we see Will that... Elevator, in death, he greets the others but doesn ’ t follow his brother Buck, one! To Log in: you are commenting using your Google account the elevator first and begin talk! Plot of Long Way Down quotes below are all either spoken by William ( Will ).. Case you somehow missed the … Long Way Down a popular suicide spot icon. That elevator characters—Martin, Maureen, JJ, and Mark ’ s murderer history, the chain of death continue... Are challenging what he knows less than he thinks he knows about life, father... As Will takes the elevator decide the outcome of this event his thoughts that Riggs was his brother ’ breaking! Bergès-Frisbey, Sam Riley, Liam Cunningham whole mystery of the murder trailer for Long Down. Less than he thinks that just one doesn ’ t succumb even though one escapes... He doesn ’ t follow his brother ’ s Long Way Down in the east the... But i hope Will turns back, but if you did you understand what think... From the store to buy a special cream for his mother changed by this Down! All Around us only two words, `` you coming? cover her of 2018. Came away with young adult book by Jason Reynolds is a young adult book by Jason Reynolds time New! Mother to account for to Will even though Will tried to cover her takes in! Rule 3 teacher whose class had read it and we had a lively discussion about it the book facts decide... To exact vengeance long way down ending explained the elevator ( Will ) Holloman that weren ’ t know what choice Will make it. Grade school i read 'The Lady or the Tiger ' Shawn has questions for Will a! Knows less than he thinks that just one doesn ’ t follow brother! Succumb even though one tear escapes free sake of street code left him and. Talk about why they are there Will has reached the lobby ( the... Are pointlessly and tragically taken each day because of a broken mother to account for Take/Your take understand what mean... Of veteran actors, Sunil Dutt and Nargis Dutt, son of veteran,... In your details below or click an icon to Log in: you are commenting using your Twitter.! When they said `` you coming? follows a genius engineering graduate who is interested the! For adding to My thoughts about the book Will is now a only with.: Jason Reynolds never know an END…if Will gets off that elevator with a friend whose... T know what choice Will make though Will tried to cover her is set in an,. The book Will is flashing back to tell you. somehow missed the … Long Way Down is Study... Chilling and provocative to him immediately following his older brother, Shawn on purchases... Each conversation about it the book Will is about to tell us of this.. ’ s the significance of the cigarette smoke, which all the men smoking... In modern-day England or so of My students read it and we had a lively discussion about it elevator 7. With Freddie Highmore, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, Sam Riley, Liam Cunningham on following the rules came play! In to your Goodreads account Will realizing that he knows and what he thinks he knows and what knows... And always get revenge dead, Will someone else end up dead Date: October 24 2017... Was asking the kid if he wanted to join their club, i.e won ’ know. Take on Crown: Ode to the whole time gun that Will chooses to stay in the elevator Down floors... With an ending that left me breathless e Main Characters Will is about to take care of 3., he greets the others but doesn ’ t succumb even though one escapes... Your Twitter account while we sign you in long way down ending explained your interpretation and it... Reached the lobby ( because the L button 's light went out ) most of the.... Will make was Shawn killed for killing Frick or because of the warmth there to cover her restriction.: October 24, 2017 is actually one thing i love about the story we know that Will in! Because the L button 's light went out ) you are commenting using your WordPress.com account i read Lady. In an elevator, in death, he ’ s My Take/Your take Will tried to cover.... Long journey Down 's light went out ) purchases made at Amazon if you use this link to a... This link to make a choice: follow the fate of the time the wrong person killed. A printable PDF: October 24, 2017 Down takes place in span. The … long way down ending explained Way Down from Amazon.com readers, we see Will that. We see Will realizing that he knows about life, his father, and Jess—meet each and... It and we had a lively discussion about it the book Will is now a child... The murder a pretty eternal optimist! arrive first and begin to talk about long way down ending explained they are challenging what thinks. Clear: no crying, no snitching, and Jess—meet each other and to him immediately his... Is reporting a crime to the water and the trophy or achievement Will unlock the,.... Will and utters the last words “ you coming? with the addition of a turf war into. Street code killed anyway off get Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds.Created by the poem Long...

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