24 Books Like Long Way Down

Jason Reynolds’ Long Way Down is a gripping novel written in verse that tells the story of Will, a 15-year-old boy who is grappling with the murder of his older brother, Shawn.

Following the rules of his neighborhood, Will is determined to seek revenge. However, during a tense elevator ride, he encounters the ghosts of people from his past, each revealing the consequences of violence. The novel addresses the cycle of gun violence and the weight of choices.

Advertisements

License Model

Paid

Book Release Date

2017-10-24

Read Sample

Buy Now

Long Way Down Book Information

24 Books Listed
Likes: 0
Languages: English
Rating: 4.8
Author: Jason Reynolds
Reading Age: 15 years
Pages: 320 pages
Grade Level: 7-12
Series: N/A
Characters: Will, Shawn, Buck, Dani, Uncle Mark, Frick

24 Best Similar Books To Long Way Down

1: Notes from the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick

Paid

A YA novel by Jordan Sonnenblick, about a teenager who learns life lessons and forms unexpected bonds after a drunk driving incident leads to community service.

Notes from the Midnight Driver and Long Way Down have similar features like Social Issues, Young Adult Fiction, but Notes from the Midnight Driver lacks the following features like Poetry, Urban Fiction. Notes from the Midnight Driver is Paid while Long Way Down is Unknown.

Rating: 4.6

2: That Was Then, This Is Now by S.E. Hinton

Paid
Advertisements

A YA novel by S.E. Hinton, exploring the changing friendship between two boys as they navigate adolescence, violence, and growing apart in a tough neighborhood.

That Was Then, This Is Now and Long Way Down have similar features like Social Issues, Young Adult Fiction, but That Was Then, This Is Now lacks the following features like Poetry, Urban Fiction. That Was Then, This Is Now is Paid while Long Way Down is Unknown.

Rating: 4.4

Advertisement

Advertisements

3: Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes

Paid

A novel by Nikki Grimes, where high school students reveal their struggles and dreams through poetry, discovering their identities and the power of self-expression.

Bronx Masquerade and Long Way Down have similar features like Poetry, Social Issues, Urban Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, but Bronx Masquerade lacks the following features like none. Bronx Masquerade is Paid while Long Way Down is Unknown.

Rating: 4.5

4: Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt

Paid

A novel by Gary D. Schmidt, about a foster boy searching for his lost daughter while navigating the challenges of his troubled past and new family.

Orbiting Jupiter and Long Way Down have similar features like Social Issues, Young Adult Fiction, but Orbiting Jupiter lacks the following features like Poetry, Urban Fiction. Orbiting Jupiter is Paid while Long Way Down is Unknown.

Rating: 4.7

Advertisement

5: Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt

Paid

A novel by Cynthia Voigt, following four siblings on a journey to find a new home after being abandoned by their mother, emphasizing resilience and family bonds.

Homecoming and Long Way Down have similar features like Young Adult Fiction, but Homecoming lacks the following features like Poetry, Social Issues, Urban Fiction. Homecoming is Paid while Long Way Down is Unknown.

Rating: 4.6

6: Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

Paid

Franz Kafka's novella about a man who wakes up transformed into a giant insect, exploring themes of alienation, identity, and the absurdity of existence.

Metamorphosis and Long Way Down have similar features like none, but Metamorphosis lacks the following features like Poetry, Social Issues, Urban Fiction, Young Adult Fiction. Metamorphosis is Paid while Long Way Down is Unknown.

Rating: 4.3

Advertisement

7: The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

Paid

A novel by Robert Cormier, about a student who defies the secretive and corrupt power structures at his school, leading to devastating consequences.

The Chocolate War and Long Way Down have similar features like Social Issues, Young Adult Fiction, but The Chocolate War lacks the following features like Poetry, Urban Fiction. The Chocolate War is Paid while Long Way Down is Unknown.

Rating: 4.3

A semi-autobiographical YA novel by Sherman Alexie, about a Native American teenager who transfers to an all-white school, exploring identity, resilience, and hope.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and Long Way Down have similar features like Social Issues, Young Adult Fiction, but The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian lacks the following features like Poetry, Urban Fiction. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is Paid while Long Way Down is Unknown.

Rating: 4.7

9: Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Paid

A novel by Walter Dean Myers, written as a screenplay by a teenager on trial for murder, exploring the criminal justice system, identity, and perception.

Monster and Long Way Down have similar features like Social Issues, Young Adult Fiction, but Monster lacks the following features like Poetry, Urban Fiction. Monster is Paid while Long Way Down is Unknown.

Rating: 4.5

10: Dear Martin by Nic Stone

Paid

A novel by Nic Stone, following a Black teenager who writes letters to Martin Luther King Jr., exploring race, police brutality, and social justice.

Dear Martin and Long Way Down have similar features like Social Issues, Young Adult Fiction, but Dear Martin lacks the following features like Poetry, Urban Fiction. Dear Martin is Paid while Long Way Down is Unknown.

Rating: 4.7

11: Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead

Paid

A coming-of-age novel by Colson Whitehead, set in the 1980s, following a young Black teen's summer in a Long Island beach community, exploring identity, class, and adolescence.

Sag Harbor and Long Way Down have similar features like none, but Sag Harbor lacks the following features like Poetry, Social Issues, Urban Fiction, Young Adult Fiction. Sag Harbor is Paid while Long Way Down is Unknown.

Rating: 4.1

12: The Stranger by Albert Camus

Paid

A novel by Albert Camus, exploring existentialism through the story of Meursault, a man who is indifferent to society’s norms and becomes entangled in a senseless murder.

The Stranger and Long Way Down have similar features like none, but The Stranger lacks the following features like Poetry, Social Issues, Urban Fiction, Young Adult Fiction. The Stranger is Paid while Long Way Down is Unknown.

Rating: 4.2

13: Rumble Fish by S.E. Hinton

Paid

A novel by S.E. Hinton, following a troubled teen trying to escape his brother's shadow in a world of street gangs and violence.

Rumble Fish and Long Way Down have similar features like Social Issues, Young Adult Fiction, but Rumble Fish lacks the following features like Poetry, Urban Fiction. Rumble Fish is Paid while Long Way Down is Unknown.

Rating: 4.3

14: All American Boys by Jason Reynolds & Brendan Kiely

Paid

A novel by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely, addressing police brutality and racial injustice through the perspectives of two boys—one Black, one white—after a violent incident.

All American Boys and Long Way Down have similar features like Social Issues, Young Adult Fiction, but All American Boys lacks the following features like Poetry, Urban Fiction. All American Boys is Paid while Long Way Down is Unknown.

Rating: 4.7

15: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Paid

A classic novel by S.E. Hinton, about teenage gang rivalry in a divided society, highlighting themes of loyalty, identity, and the struggles of growing up.

The Outsiders and Long Way Down have similar features like Social Issues, Young Adult Fiction, but The Outsiders lacks the following features like Poetry, Urban Fiction. The Outsiders is Paid while Long Way Down is Unknown.

Rating: 4.7

16: Go Ask Alice by Anonymous (attributed to Beatrice Sparks)

Paid

A controversial novel presented as the diary of an anonymous teenage girl struggling with drug addiction, offering a stark look at the dangers of substance abuse.

Go Ask Alice and Long Way Down have similar features like Social Issues, Young Adult Fiction, but Go Ask Alice lacks the following features like Poetry, Urban Fiction. Go Ask Alice is Paid while Long Way Down is Unknown.

Rating: 4.2

17: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Paid

Harper Lee's classic novel addressing racial injustice and moral growth through the eyes of young Scout Finch in the American South during the 1930s.

To Kill a Mockingbird and Long Way Down have similar features like Social Issues, but To Kill a Mockingbird lacks the following features like Poetry, Urban Fiction, Young Adult Fiction. To Kill a Mockingbird is Paid while Long Way Down is Unknown.

Rating: 4.9

18: I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez

Paid

Erika L. Sánchez's novel about a teenage girl grappling with cultural expectations, family secrets, and her identity after the unexpected death of her sister.

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter and Long Way Down have similar features like Social Issues, Young Adult Fiction, but I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter lacks the following features like Poetry, Urban Fiction. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter is Paid while Long Way Down is Unknown.

Rating: 4.5

19: Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid

Paid

Jamaica Kincaid's coming-of-age story about a young girl in Antigua navigating adolescence, maternal relationships, and colonial influences while seeking her own identity.

Annie John and Long Way Down have similar features like none, but Annie John lacks the following features like Poetry, Social Issues, Urban Fiction, Young Adult Fiction. Annie John is Paid while Long Way Down is Unknown.

Rating: 4.2

20: The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

Paid

Sandra Cisneros' collection of vignettes depicting a young Latina girl's experiences growing up in Chicago, capturing themes of identity, community, and aspiration.

The House on Mango Street and Long Way Down have similar features like none, but The House on Mango Street lacks the following features like Poetry, Social Issues, Urban Fiction, Young Adult Fiction. The House on Mango Street is Paid while Long Way Down is Unknown.

Rating: 4.6

21: Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen

Paid

Ben Mikaelsen's YA novel about a troubled teen sentenced to Alaskan wilderness exile, where he confronts inner demons and seeks redemption through encounters with a mystical bear.

Touching Spirit Bear and Long Way Down have similar features like Social Issues, Young Adult Fiction, but Touching Spirit Bear lacks the following features like Poetry, Urban Fiction. Touching Spirit Bear is Paid while Long Way Down is Unknown.

Rating: 4.6

22: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Paid

Angie Thomas' impactful YA novel following Starr Carter, who witnesses a police shooting of her friend, tackling racism, police brutality, and activism.

The Hate U Give and Long Way Down have similar features like Social Issues, Young Adult Fiction, but The Hate U Give lacks the following features like Poetry, Urban Fiction. The Hate U Give is Paid while Long Way Down is Unknown.

Rating: 4.8

23: A Separate Peace by John Knowles

Paid

John Knowles' classic novel set in a boarding school during WWII, exploring themes of friendship, jealousy, and the loss of innocence between two boys.

A Separate Peace and Long Way Down have similar features like none, but A Separate Peace lacks the following features like Poetry, Social Issues, Urban Fiction, Young Adult Fiction. A Separate Peace is Paid while Long Way Down is Unknown.

Rating: 4.3

24: Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger

Paid

J.D. Salinger's classic novel following Holden Caulfield's journey through New York City, exploring themes of teenage angst, alienation, and identity.

Catcher In The Rye and Long Way Down have similar features like none, but Catcher In The Rye lacks the following features like Poetry, Social Issues, Urban Fiction, Young Adult Fiction. Catcher In The Rye is Paid while Long Way Down is Unknown.

Rating: 4.0