Long Way Down
Jason Reynolds
About this book
Long Way Down is a young adult novel in verse by Jason Reynolds about a fifteen-year-old boy who takes an elevator ride while carrying a gun after his brother is shot. Each floor brings an encounter that forces him to confront grief, revenge, masculinity, and the cycle of violence.
Why it was banned
Listed by PEN America's Index of School Book Bans as banned from libraries and classrooms in Clay County School District, Florida, during the 2022–2023 school year.
Censorship history
United States school ban context: PEN America's 2022–2023 index lists Long Way Down as banned from libraries and classrooms in Clay County School District, Florida, following an administration/formal challenge process. That is a concrete district-level removal of a widely taught YA novel about gun violence and grief. The case shows how schools can remove literature that helps students examine violence before they are asked to talk honestly about why violence happens.
Bans
| Country | Year | Reasons |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 2024 | ViolenceRacial |
