Long Way Down: The Graphic Novel

“A shooting gun interrupts Will in the middle of shooting hoops with his friend, Tony. When the shooting stops, Will discovers the only one down is his brother, Shawn. He remembers the three rules after losing someone so violently: 1) No crying. 2) No snitching. 3) Kill the one responsible. He knows who killed Shawn. Well, he’s pretty sure. Will thinks it is probably Riggs, a boy who had moved several blocks away and set up turf where Shawn was not welcome. Will finds the gun stashed in the room he shared with Shawn and makes a plan to avenge his brother’s death. However, the long ride to the main floor of the apartment building, interrupted by new passengers, may cause Will to examine his resolve.

This adaptation of the award-winning book Long Way Down is stunning. The watercolor prints created for each page convey the pain and anguish of the sudden loss of Will’s brother in a visual format, making the original story even more gut-wrenching and sorrowful. Will’s yellow shirt becomes the bright beacon of hope as he wrestles with the decision he has made. This is a book for every reader, while those who read the original should take a second look.”