The Community Read

New York Times bestseller Jason Reynolds' fiercely stunning novel 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. Fifteen-year-old Will's brother Shawn was just murdered. And Will knows the rules. No crying. No snitching. Revenge. That's where Will's now heading, with a gun shoved in the back waistband of his jeans as he gets in the elevator. At each stop, someone connected to his brother gets on the elevator to give Will a piece to a bigger story than the one he thinks he knows. A story that might never know an END if WILL gets off that elevator. 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.

Hear more about Jason Reynolds and his inspiration for Long Way Down.

Can't find a copy of the book at our library? First, try using Search Ohio. Next, try OhioLink. Learn more about InterLibrary Loans.

What others say about Long Way Down:

• "This astonishing book will generate much needed discussion." ~ Kirkus Review
• "Long Way Down is an elegantly crafted work by a writer who understands the tragedy of this subject." ~The Los Angeles Review of Books
• "Parents should be prepared to have conversations about grief, loss, gun violence, and sound decision-making." ~Common Sense Media

Jason Reynolds is a New York Times bestselling author, a Newbery Award Honoree, a Printz Award Honoree, National Book Award Honoree, a Kirkus Award winner, a two-time Walter Dean Myers Award winner, an NAACP Image Award Winner, and the recipient of multiple Coretta Scott King honors. The American Booksellers Association’s 2017 and 2018 spokesperson for Indies First, his many books include When I Was the Greatest, Boy in the Black Suit, All American Boys (cowritten with Brendan Kiely), As Brave as You, For Every One, the Track series (Ghost, Patina, Sunny, and Lu), and Long Way Down, which received both a Newbery Honor and a Printz Honor. He lives in Washington, DC. You can find him at JasonWritesBooks.com.

The Centerville City School district assigns all incoming Centerville High School students in grades 9-12 required summer reading. One book is selected for students to read over the summer. Students are expected to come prepared to discuss this book when school begins in August. The Library participates in this event by offering access to copies of the book, book discussions to help you prepare for the school discussion, and an incentive to participate! View the details about the 2019 CHS Required Summer Reading Assignment for details.

This program has now concluded. See the winner of the 2019 Teen Community Read Raffle.

Participating teens in grades 6-12 who read the book should plan to join your friends and other teens in discussing the book while enjoying snacks and drinks. You can also enter a teen raffle to win a $25 Amazon gift card.