“There's a code of conduct, and what those rules are is
number one, no crying, number two, no snitching, and number three, always seek revenge
.”
What is the message of Long Way Down?
Themes. Long Way Down thoroughly explores
the theme of revenge. Will is seeking revenge for his brother Shawn's murder
. In the elevator, he learns of the trail of revenge that has led up to this moment.
How many floors are there in Long Way Down?
Seven floors
. Three rules. One gun. Will's older brother, Shawn, has been shot.
What happens in A Long Way Down?
It's a novel in free verse that tells the story of an African American teen boy at a crossroads.
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.
Why are the rules important in long way down?
Lost to the cause, Will is forced into making decisions of who he is and what is important to him. “The Rules” are a group of three regulations that
refuse to allow crying, snitching and encourages morbid revenge
.
What did will learn from Buck?
As a mentor to Shawn, Buck passed along “the Rules” of the neighborhood and taught
him how to handle his gun
. Will recognizes that all of Shawn's advice about girls also came straight from Buck. Buck was killed when a man named Frick attempted to rob him.
What is a penny drop in long way down?
carlson riggs. trash talker, used to be friends with shawn, taught shawn a penny drop,
the suspected killer
.
things that happen whenever some is killed
.
screaming
– usually moms/girlfriends/daughters, sirens- lots of them, questions- cops ask people if they saw anything, the rules.
Why is Will uncomfortable when someone gets in the elevator long way down?
In “L Stood for ‘Loser',” Will recalls when he and Shawn were young and would laugh when people pressed the “L” button on the elevator because they decided that it stood for “Loser.” In “It's Uncomfortable,” Will felt uncomfortable
because he thought the other person in the elevator was looking at him
.
Who killed who in Long Way Down?
It turned out he killed the wrong guy, a man named
Gee
. Mikey was shot for killing Gee, by someone else following rule three. At the end of his story, Mikey hugs Will, then grabs the gun and holds it to Will's head.
What does the middle drawer represent in Long Way Down?
The middle drawer of Shawn's dresser symbolizes
the darkness and danger in Shawn himself
. Will explains that the broken middle drawer was the only thing out of place on Shawn's neat and tidy half of their bedroom—and furthermore, it contained Shawn's gun.
How does Shawn know who killed buck?
Describe how and why Frick killed Buck. Frick wanted to be in the suns and he was going to rob Buck but he accidently pulls the trigger. How does Shawn know who killed Buck?
Tony saw him and he told shawn
.
What time did will get in the elevator long way down?
Before he reaches the lobby at
9:09:09
, six ghosts will enter the elevator—victims, perpetrators, or both, entangled in a chain of murder, misidentification, and revenge that led to Shawn's death; together they challenge Will's perspective on the killing and on his role in vigilante justice.
How did Shawn and Will's mother handle her grief?
Shawn's activities and behaviors were not noble but he didn't deserve what he got. How did Shawn and Will's mother handle her grief?
She drank alcohol
.
What does the ending mean in Long Way Down?
Jason Gielow At the end of the story we know that
Will chooses to stay in the elevator and lives
. He's enlightened and changed by this ride down the elevator. … 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.
Is Long Way Down appropriate?
Bear in mind that the themes and language are strong, so this book is
best for children aged 14 plus
, although a savvy 12-year-old will also relish it.
How much time passes in Long Way Down?
Embedded Player Jason Reynolds' new book follows a 15-year-old who must make a crucial decision after the murder of his brother, all in the time it takes for an elevator to travel
60 seconds
to the ground floor.
