Will’s life has been dictated by violence and loss but when his brother is killed he knows what he has to do, he has to follow the rules. The rules are: 1. No crying 2. No snitching 3. Revenge. With the gun of his brother shoved into his waistband, he gets on the elevator knowing the person responsible is just seven floors down.

This book is powerful, not only because the whole novel is just about 60 seconds, as the elevator goes down floor by floor but also because of its narrative style. With each verse Reynolds added more tension and more suspense, each line, each person gave so much to the story and made an impact that made me hold my breath and had me on edge wondering what was going to happen next. I was eager for the elevator ride to be over  just as much as Will.

In those 60 seconds we learn Will’s story but also the story of gun violence and we begin to really understand what that third rule, revenge, means. When the doors open as the story closes, it’s when the story blows that final punch. With an ending that will shake you I believe Long Way Down is a heartbreakingly beautiful story that should be a must read.