Long Way Down

REYNOLDS, JASON. LONG WAY DOWN. ATHENEUM CHILDRENS BOOKS, 2018.

William Holloman is a fifteen-year-old boy that has just gone through his brother’s death. His mom is devastated with the news and it hurts him so much to see her that way. Even though, he is hurting as well, there are rules that he has to follow. No crying, no snitching, and revenge.  Shawn, his brother, was shot and killed by a boy he thinks is called Riggs. He decides to go into their room, grab the gun that belonged to Shawn, shove it in the back waistband of his jeans, and go after his brother’s murderer. Determined, he goes to the elevator on the seventh floor. As he reminisces on things him and Shawn would do on that same elevator, it suddenly comes to a stop on the sixth floor. Buck walks in. However, Will knows that Buck is dead. While talking about the gun he had, the elevator stops again and Dani, a teenage girl that was murdered when they were eight came in. She questions him, on what would happen if he shoots and misses. Then again, the elevator stops and Uncle Mark, who was also murdered comes in. And so it goes, the whole long way down, as the elevator stops on each floor, and at each stop someone connected to his brother gets on to give Will a piece to a bigger story than the one he thinks he knows. His father, Frick, and his brother, Shawn. They all have been victims of shootings and somehow, they are all trying to tell Will, not to do what most of them did. Which was follow rule number three. If he does decide to go off that elevator, the story will just keep on repeating. It will definitely have no end.

I love how this New York Times Best Selling novel is told in free verse and everything that is told happens in about 65 seconds. It is a very easy read that is not want to be put down after reading the first couple of pages. It definitely has to do with violence but it shows that revenge is not the way out of things. The people he sees in the elevator want him to acknowledge that with revenge, worse things will happen, Like him ending up dead just like them. 

Book trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1xwdvnCPAY

About the author:

http://www.jasonwritesbooks.com/

Other books by the author:

Smile

Telgemeier, R. (2010). Smile. NY: Scholastic Graphix.

This is an autobiographical novel about Raina Telgemeier during her adolescence. It focuses mainly during her middle and high school years. When she first found out she needed braces to correct an overbite, she definitely wasn’t so happy about them. Then one night after a Girl Scout meeting, she falls and knocks her two front teeth out. Suddenly, braces are the least of her problems. Over the next few years, her dentist tries every trick to try to help Raina. He fuses her teeth to her bone, pulls them and gives her fake teeth on a retainer, gets her headgear that fortunately she only has to wear at night and even gets braces to try to shift her teeth. Meanwhile, Raina is desperately trying to be normal and fit in at school just like any other girl her age. To top it off she also starts having boy and friend problems.

I love this graphic novel and how it clearly illustrates the story. It is funny, sad, and without a doubt very touching because you know the problems she goes through are very common. These are the kind of problems most adolescents have trouble with and can definitely relate to.  For example, appearance can suddenly change when a pimple comes out. That’s when insecurities start to develop. Also, relationships start emerging and problems begin. Friendships can certainly change and bullying is also very common. Like when Raina’s “friends” teased her and even pulled her skirt down making her feel extremely embarrassed.

Book trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY1vK5RfHeI

About the author:

https://goraina.com/

Other books by the author:

Winger

Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults

Smith, A. (2014). Winger. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Ryan Dean West is a brilliant fourteen-year-old junior in a private boarding school. He is so intelligent that he was even able to skip two grade levels. He is given a room in Opportunity hall, which is a dorm for “troublemakers” with a senior that he dislikes. He is deep in love with his best friend named Annie, however, she is two years older than him and thinks he is too young for her. During the story, she keeps on reminding him that she cant love him. Throughout the school year, Ryan Dean makes a lot of new friends, but unfortunately enemies too. He plays poker, has study sessions, visits Seattle, is constantly thinking about girls, and attends a Halloween party. Everything is finally going good for Ryan and then suddenly he realizes that his friend Joey who is gay hasn’t been around for a couple classes. Ryan Dean informs officers about the disappearance and the next morning, he is found tied to a tree and beaten to death by two other students. Ryan Dean loses his ability to talk and can only except whisper to Annie. His parents want to take him away from that school, but he convinces them to let him stay because he does not want to be far away from Annie.

I love how this novel incorporates lots of humor. Almost every page made me laugh. It is such a fun book to read and the pictures it displays are great. The twist to the story is given at the very end; however, I was expecting it a little earlier. There are many boys just like Ryan Dean that can identify themselves with him. He kind of starts off being a loser and then matures to a young man. This book will definitely encourage unmotivated readers to read.

Book trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGeYuIW2N-g

About the author:
http://www.authorandrewsmith.com/Author_Andrew_Smith/Home.html

Other books by the author:

Roller Girl

Great Graphic Novels for Teens Top Ten 

Jamieson, V. (2015). Roller girl. New York:  Dial Books.

Astrid faces many changes during the summer before entering middle school. When Astrid becomes fascinated with roller derby, she thinks that her best friend Nicole will want to go to roller derby camp with her. They would do everything together , so she was in shock when Nicole tells Astrid she doesn't want to go to derby camp because she wants to go to dance camp instead. Astrid goes on her own to derby camp and she learns just how strong she is. She undergoes many changes while finding herself, including dying her hair blue. The ending is positive although Astrid and Nicole no longer have a close relationship, and they seem to have moved on.

This a graphic novel about growing up and facing challenges. It helps young readers to see that their confusing emotions are normal and that even when things don't turn out the way we expect, that doesn't always mean its a bad thing.

Some of us can identify ourselves with Astrid because at some point we have felt like we didn’t know who we were until something drastic happens. I think that this would be a great book to teach adolescents about the weird transition phase they may go through. It would be especially helpful to students who are having friendship struggles. Graphic novels like this one can be fun to read while at the same time offer useful information for a wide range of readers. Now I know more about the sport as well. Graphic novels can definitely help readers make a smooth transition from picture books to chapter books.

Book trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4zLaJrMWY

About the author:

http://www.victoriajamieson.com/

Other books by the author: