Yes, Long Way Down Is Banned!
ISBN: 9781481438254
📖 Why You Should Read This Book
Reynolds tells the story of a boy deciding whether to avenge his brother's murder in 60 seconds of an elevator ride. It takes 300 pages and hits like a bullet.
Long Way Down takes place in sixty seconds. Will, a fifteen-year-old, gets into an elevator with a gun tucked in the waistband of his jeans. His brother Shawn was just murdered, and the Rules say: no crying, no snitching, always get revenge. On each floor, the elevator stops and a ghost gets on, each one connected to the cycle of gun violence that has torn through Will’s life. By the time he reaches the lobby, he has to decide.
A Newbery Honor Book, Coretta Scott King Honor Book, and Printz Honor Book, Long Way Down has been challenged for its depictions of violence and profanity. It is one of Jason Reynolds’s most widely banned titles, appearing repeatedly on PEN America’s index of challenged books despite being written specifically to reach at-risk teens.
Why Was It Banned?
Where Was It Banned?
Read It Anyway
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Long Way Down banned?
Yes, Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds has been banned or challenged in 12 documented instances across 4 states in the United States, including Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Iowa. It remains one of the most frequently challenged books in America.
Why was Long Way Down banned?
Long Way Down has been challenged and banned for the following reasons: Violence, Profanity. These challenges have come from school boards, libraries, and parent groups seeking to restrict access to the book.
Where is Long Way Down banned?
As of 2025, Long Way Down has been banned or challenged in Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Iowa. Notable bans include Keller ISD (2022), Duval County Public Schools (2023), Central Bucks School District (2023).