LONG WAY DOWN: I recommend! (So does Jill)

   

This spring my freshmen classes read LONG WAY DOWN by Jason Reynolds. We had read MOCKINGBIRD early in the semester, and even though Lee's novel is powerful, I wanted to include a full-length text (this one a collection of poems) written by a contemporary author of color. If you haven't read it, Will, the fifteen-year-old protagonist living in the inner city, is faced with a dilemma when his older brother (his hero) is shot. Will knows there are three rules: Don't cry. Don't snitch. Get revenge. Although Will is a reflective, sweet kid, he gets his brother's gun from his drawer and heads off to kill who he thinks killed his Shawn. Half the text is a long elevator ride with familiar ghosts who offer perspectives on violence. It's powerful. (Shout out to my sister Jill, a retired math teacher, for the recommendation!)

I saved LONG WAY DOWN for the almost end of the semester--right in the midst of our final poetry unit. We only had thirty copies, so we read it during class. I read some aloud; they read some of it aloud, and I let them read some on their own. Overall, they really liked it! Below are some of their comments. Following their comments, however, are poems the students wrote one day during class. Their poetry could just be in Reynold's style, echo one of the themes, or offer a continuation of the plot.  DEMOGRAPHIC: My suburban Iowa freshmen clientele this year were mostly a bunch of white kids. Out of about 50, I had three students of color.

HERE ARE SOME KIDS' RESPONSES!

"I like how it showed the cycle of revenge. Also, I feel it shows how people handle grief. Overall it is a great book with an unknown ending."

"The plot line was harsh, however it's a good change from what we we're usually reading."

"I liked how it was serious and interesting. I know a lot of other people liked it too.  I also like how it was overall formatted. It really just drags you in."

"Well, I don't really like poem books but it was cool that the elevator part all happened in 60 seconds."

"Plot-wise, I liked the themes of grief, revenge, and doubt."

"I disliked that it was dark, and the poetry style was odd."

"It gives a look into other peoples live that we might not experience. I think freshmen is a good level to read this because it is kind of an introduction to many real world problems."

"I feel it is a good quick introduction to poetry. It gives a very good view of what grief can look like, and feel like. "

HERE ARE SOME OF THEIR POEMS--we just took around 20 minutes in class at the end of the book to write these. 

Poem 1:

 Each step echoes with my brother's name.

A quiet promise thrums in my chest,
a pulse, steady and slow,
like the beating of the world before a storm.

Poem 2:

My hands are cold,
But my eyes burn with something
older than vengeance.

The night is thin,
hanging like a thread between worlds,
And I feel the weight of it,
The thin line
between me and the boy I once was.

Poem 3:

Riggs' apartment stands silent,
Like it knows what’s coming.

There’s no thrill in it,
only the hollow ache of knowing
that nothing will bring Shawn back.

_______________________________________

                                                           The 

                                                       Sky 

                                               Bleeds

                                           Gold,

                                                   The

                                                      Day 

                                                           Lets 

                                                                  Go,

                                                               As 

                                                    Twilight 

                                            Whispers 

                                      Soft 

                                  And 

                           Slow, 

                                    A 

                                        Fiery

                                               Kiss,

                                        The 

                                  Suns 

                       Goodbye, 

                                        It 

                                            Pains 

                                                      The 

                                                             World, 

                                                          Then 

                                              Fades 

                                        To

                                 Sigh. ]

_______________________________________________

THE ELEVATOR DOORS UNFOLD

As a black cloud of smoke emerged into the air

The others step around me

Leading the way

                             Out

Out of what felt like a nightmare

                             Almost

As if I never woke up that morning

And I had stayed in bed 

Eyes still fastened shut

I wish            that were true

If                   that were true

I could go along with my day

Like nothing

Ever

Happened

__________________________________________

SOME PEOPLE WILL TELL YOU

That the brain lives another

Seven minutes

After you 

                              Die

Replaying 

All of the best moments

In your life

Maybe that’s what’s happening to me

Maybe none of this is real

Maybe           I died there on the concrete

That same day

Lying next to 

                      Lifeless

                                                        Shawn

__________________________________________

And Then It Dropped

like when an elevator reaches its 0

the gears shifting down to their final level,

I step out of the smokebox

into the world of death,

it was time,

time that marked the death.

Not mine

but his.

Walking to the front,

loading the tail

aimed, shot, Crack!

It was a loaded bomb 

but one that’s already lit,

Death became my revenge,

Until it didn’t.

________________________________________

The walk

The walk home was cold and lonely,

As im walking a rain drop lands on my face

Drip 

Drip

Drip

I keep walking as I think about my choice, 

Was it right

Right

Right

Right

Right

Right

Right

Right

I turn the final corner on the way home

Head heavy,

Soaked from the rain,

Gun still in my waistband

Did I make the right choice?

Should I turn around and do it? 

As I think that I remember what Shawn would do

Mistakes last forever,

Choices are permanent,

I walk inside,

And put the gun down

--------------------------------------------------------

There was realization

I failed the task.

No bullet broke skin,

only regret.

It was too late,

death’s grasp was too strong.

Riggs caught me before I could catch him. 

No revenge could be settled,

only justice and a funeral could remember us:

Shawn & Me. 

WHAT NOW?

________________________________________

MY EARS WERE RINGING

from what I had heard over 

a hundred times.

I didn't feel it at first,

not until I stumbled 

to my knees.

I could feel something coming

out of my body,

red and hot,

seeping through Shawns 

oversized tee.