For other uses, see Long Way Down (disambiguation). Long Way Down is a television series and book documenting a motorcycle journey undertaken in 2007 by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman, from John o' Groats in Scotland through eighteen countries in Europe and Africa to Cape Town in South Africa.
What is the plot of Long Way Down?
Long Way Down is the story of 15 year old Will, whose older brother was just killed. Will must decide if he’ll follow neighborhood code to keep quiet and seek revenge on Shawn’s murderer, or if he’ll make another decision. He gets Shawn’s gun and begins the elevator ride from his apartment down to the ground floor.
When was long way down by Jason Reynolds published?
Long Way Down is a young adult novel in verse by Jason Reynolds, published October 24, 2017 by Atheneum Books. The book was longlisted for the National Book Award and was named a Printz Honor Book, Coretta Scott King Honor Book, and Newbery Medal Honor Book, alongside other awards and positive reviews.
What happens in'long way down'?
In 'Long Way Down,' The Ghosts Of Gun Violence Chill A Plan For Revenge Jason Reynolds' new book follows a 15-year-old who must make a crucial decision after the murder of his brother, all in the time it takes for an elevator to travel 60 seconds to the ground floor. Jason Reynolds' new novel Long Way Down is focused on a moment of decision.
Where did Ewan McGregor go on Long Way Down?
Long Way Down. Opening title shot for Long Way Down. Long Way Down is a television series, book and DVD documenting a motorcycle journey undertaken in 2007 by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman, from John o' Groats in Scotland through eighteen countries in Europe and Africa to Cape Town in South Africa.
What city does Long Way Down take place?
Long Way Down is a television series and book documenting a motorcycle journey undertaken in 2007 by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman, from John o' Groats in Scotland through eighteen countries in Europe and Africa to Cape Town in South Africa.
What is the setting of the book Long Way Down?
The book Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds is a unique free verse poetry book. Long Way Down has one main setting in this story, an elevator. In this elevator, Will, the main character, is greeted by ghosts who knew his older brother Shawn.
Where does will live in Long Way Down?
The Holloman's apartment on the eighth floor is where Will lives with his mother and where Shawn used to live with his family too. This is where Will finds the gun that Shawn had stashed away.
What is the Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds about?
About The Book. An ode to Put the Damn Guns Down, this is New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds's electrifying novel that takes place in sixty potent seconds—the time it takes a kid to decide whether or not he's going to murder the guy who killed his brother. A cannon. A strap.
Is Long Way Down a true story?
Long Way Down is fiction, meaning that the characters and events are made up. Though Long Way Down was inspired by author Jason Reynolds' life and experiences, it is not a retelling of a specific moment in time with real people.
What is Buck's real name in Long Way Down?
JamesWhen Will meets Buck's ghost in the elevator, Buck is wearing a T-shirt commemorating his own death. Though his real name was James, he acquired the nickname Buck because he couldn't grow any facial hair as a young man.
Why does Long Way Down take place in an elevator?
The elevator in Will's building represents his sense of feeling trapped—trapped by “the Rules” of his violent neighborhood, and trapped in his grief over his brother Shawn's death.
Who killed Wills brother in Long Way Down?
3" Will believes it was Carlson Riggs who shot his brother because Riggs recently joined the Dark Suns gang and because he had to show he belonged with them. And because of the crime shows Will has watched with his mom. He always knew who the killer was. It is his special gift.
How old was Dani when she was killed Long Way Down?
eight years oldDani was Will's childhood best friend until she was accidentally killed at eight years old in a revenge shooting gone wrong.
What does Dani symbolize in Long Way Down?
After Dani's death, Shawn begins to teach him The Rules. Dani represents Will's loss of innocence, and it is her death that marks the true loss of his childhood.
Why was Shawn crying in Long Way Down?
After many years of being taught not to cry or express his grief in a way that doesn't harm others, Shawn openly weeps in front of his brother. It isn't clear why Shawn is crying—it could be for his own life, the lives of all the people he lost, the fate he was dealt, or Will's current predicament.
Is there a movie for Long Way Down?
A Long Way Down (originally titled Up & Down) is a 2014 black comedy film directed by Pascal Chaumeil, loosely based on author Nick Hornby's 2005 novel, A Long Way Down.
What is the theme of the book Long Way Down?
Long Way Down thoroughly explores the theme of revenge. Will is seeking revenge for his brother Shawn's murder. In the elevator, he learns of the trail of revenge that has led up to this moment. Will's father and brother both engaged in acts of revenge and may have lost their own lives in consequence.
Why is Long Way Down banned?
“Long Way Down” by Jason Reynolds Reason for ban: gun violence and language. “Long Way Down” is a book written in verse with the majority of the plot taking place in the span of 60 seconds.
Who is the main character in Long Way Down?
William (Will) HollomanThe 15-year-old protagonist and narrator of the novel—the story is told through poems in Will's voice.
Who killed Wills brother in Long Way Down?
3" Will believes it was Carlson Riggs who shot his brother because Riggs recently joined the Dark Suns gang and because he had to show he belonged with them. And because of the crime shows Will has watched with his mom. He always knew who the killer was. It is his special gift.
What happens to Will and Tony when Shawn dies?
When it happens, Will and his friend Tony are outside, wondering if they’ll grow taller now that they’re 15. Suddenly, gunshots ring out and they get down like they’re supposed to. When they stand up, Will sees that Shawn is dead.
What does Buck say to Will about the elevator?
When Will nervously grumbles about the slow elevator, Buck quips that it’s a long way down and laughs at Will’s insistence that he has work to do. Buck says Will doesn’t have it in him, and asks if he checked that the gun is loaded.
What does Frick say to Buck?
Frick pipes up and says that he was supposed to rob Buck as his Dark Deed, but when he approached Buck, Buck just laughed. When Buck then swiped at Frick, Frick got scared and shot him. Will asks what any of this has to do with Shawn, and Frick replies that Shawn followed the Rules.
What happens on the sixth floor of the elevator?
On the sixth floor, a beautiful young woman gets in. Will tries to check her out, but the gun digs into his back and makes him wince. The girl scolds Buck for smoking in the elevator and then asks Will why he has a gun. Will is disturbed—the girl can see Buck’s ghost and somehow knows Will has a gun.
What did Shawn teach Will?
The next morning, Shawn taught him the first Rule (no crying). When Will tried to follow it, he wanted to punch something. Now, in the elevator, Dani again asks Will why he needs the gun, and Will says he’s going after Riggs. He explains the Rules to Dani so she doesn’t think he’s being violent for no reason.
Why does Will not love Shawn?
But Will realizes that he doesn’t love Shawn any less because he’s crying —he’s still Will’s favorite and only brother. Shawn makes a pained, grinding sound as the elevator reaches the lobby. The doors open and all the ghosts step out after the smoke. Will stands in the elevator, wet, tear-stained, and afraid.
What happens the morning after Shawn's death?
The morning after Shawn’s death, Will digs into the middle drawer and fishes out the gun. It feels about as heavy as an infant, and Will knows that with it, he can follow Rule No. 3 and take down Carlson Riggs, a former friend of Shawn’s whom he believes is also Shawn’s killer.
How old is Will in Long Way Down?
Long Way Down is the story of 15 year old Will, whose older brother was just killed. Will must decide if he’ll follow neighborhood code to keep quiet and seek revenge on Shawn’s murderer, or if he’ll make another decision. He gets Shawn’s gun and begins the elevator ride from his apartment down to the ground floor.
What is the name of the book that takes place in sixty seconds?
A burner. A heater. A chopper. A gat. An ode to Put the Damn Guns Down, this is New York Times bestseller Jason Reynolds’s fiercely stunning novel that takes place in sixty potent seconds—the time it takes a kid to decide whether or not he’s going to murder the guy who killed his brother. A cannon. A strap.
How long does it take to put the gun down?
Long Way Down. An ode to Put the Damn Guns Down, this is New York Times bestseller Jason Reynolds’s fiercely stunning novel that takes place in sixty potent seconds—the time it takes a kid to decide whether or not he’s going to murder the guy who killed his brother. A cannon.
What is Goodreads for?
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Where did the long way down take place?
Long Way Down is a television series and book documenting a motorcycle journey undertaken in 2007 by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman, from John o' Groats in Scotland through eighteen countries in Europe and Africa to Cape Town in South Africa. It is a follow-up to the Long Way Round of 2004, when the pair rode east ...
What is the long way down?
Long Way Down. This article is about the TV documentary series. For other uses, see Long Way Down (disambiguation). Long Way Down is a television series and book documenting a motorcycle journey undertaken in 2007 by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman, from John o' Groats in Scotland through eighteen countries in Europe and Africa ...
Where did McGregor and Boorman go on Star Wars?
In Tunisia, McGregor and Boorman visited the set of Star Wars and then rode into Libya. However, American producer David Alexanian and cameraman Jimmy Simak were unable to obtain the necessary entry visas and were forced to fly from Tunisia to Egypt.
What was the road surface like in East Africa?
The quality of road surfaces throughout east Africa were surprisingly smooth, but sections were rough, bumpy or had sandy terrain, with some travel through a small river and mud wallow. The shock absorbers bore the brunt, with both McGregor's and von Planta's bikes suffering broken springs.
What were the problems with the Long Way Round?
Given their experiences on the Long Way Round, which included problems with Russian visas, a "fine" for a missing stamp in their carnet, and delays of up to twelve hours, major preparation and planning went into the transit between countries. Although the American crew members were barred from entering Libya, this was anticipated ahead of their arrival. Upon arrival in Tunisia, the team bribed the local authorities with a few bottles of vodka to aid their passage into the country. It was assumed this would become a regular occurrence while travelling through Africa. However, although delays of a few hours were common, there were few significant problems at crossing points as they travelled further south.
Will there be a third season of The Long Way Up?
In March 2017 during a Reddit AMA, Ewan said there were "no plans at the moment" to do a third installment of the series. On 6 August 2018, Boorman tweeted a tease that the Long Way Up, a trip from Tierra del Fuego to Alaska, would happen "if all goes well".
Who was the cameraman on Long Way Round?
They were accompanied by the same key team members from Long Way Round, including cameraman and director of photography Claudio Von Planta and cameraman Jimmy Simak (who also oversaw music supervision and soundtrack production), and producers Russ Malkin and David Alexanian.
How many pages are there in Long Way Down?
This Study Guide consists of approximately 48 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Long Way Down.
Where does Will live in the Holloman's apartment?
The Holloman’s Apartment. The Holloman’s apartment on the eighth floor is where Will lives with his mother and where Shawn used to live with his family too. This is where Will finds the gun that Shawn had stashed away.
Where is Shawn shot in the movie?
The basketball court is where Shawn is shot on the way home from the corner store where he picked up his mother’s eczema cream. This is also where Frick killed Buck and Tony witnessed it, having been practicing basketball.
Where does Buck go in the elevator?
Buck enters the elevator on the seventh floor. He talks to Will about the gun he gave to Shawn.
Is Long Way Down based on a true story?
Long Way Down is fiction, meaning that the characters and events are made up.
Why is Long Way Down a good book?
Timely and Intense. The novel gives a heartwrenching, emotional, intense look at teenage gun violence and how cycles of violence can tear apart families and communities. Will’s feelings in the wake of his brother’s murder—sorrow, anger, confusion, and the obligation he feels to get revenge—are so complex and honest.
What does the elevator symbolize in Long Way Down?
The elevator in Will’s building represents his sense of feeling trapped —trapped by “the Rules” of his violent neighborhood, and trapped in his grief over his brother Shawn’s death.
Who killed buck in Long Way Down?
Buck was killed when a man named Frick attempted to rob him. Around the time of his death, he passed his gun down to Shawn, along with the chain that Shawn was wearing when he died.
How does William describe anagrams that still make sense together?
How does William describe anagrams that still make sense together? He says same letters, different words like brothers. What is the significance of “The middle drawer”? It’s to keep him and his mother out and his gun in.
What are the rules in Long Way Down?
In the novel Long Way Down, by Jason Reynolds, Will, the main character, has been taught to live by the rules: don’t cry, don’t snitch, and take revenge. After his brother Shawn’s murder, Will sets out to get revenge on the killer, Riggs.
What is Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds about?
It’s a novel in free verse that tells the story of an African American teen boy at a crossroads. Determined to avenge his 19-year-old brother’s death, Will, age 15, takes his brother’s gun out of their shared bedroom to kill the person he’s certain is the murderer, but it’s a long way down in the elevator.
Reading Group Guide
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What is the story of Long Way Down?
Jason Reynolds' new novel Long Way Down is focused on a moment of decision. It happens in an elevator — teenaged Will is on his way to take revenge for the murder of his brother, but his plan is interrupted by a few visitors on the way down to the ground floor.
What I wanted to do in telling a tale about gun violence?
What I wanted to do in telling a tale about gun violence is not create one-dimensional characters that fall into cliches, and so I think what we can do with devices, like using ghosts of the past, is we can create a space where the writer, the author — quote-unquote me — doesn't have to teach a lesson. Instead, it's about us, a community, thinking about those of our family members and our friends who we've already lost to this thing, and allow their haunting to be the thing that creates our psyche and our conscience.
How old is Will in Long Way Down?from goodreads.com
Long Way Down is the story of 15 year old Will, whose older brother was just killed. Will must decide if he’ll follow neighborhood code to keep quiet and seek revenge on Shawn’s murderer, or if he’ll make another decision. He gets Shawn’s gun and begins the elevator ride from his apartment down to the ground floor.
What is the name of the book that takes place in sixty seconds?from goodreads.com
A burner. A heater. A chopper. A gat. An ode to Put the Damn Guns Down, this is New York Times bestseller Jason Reynolds’s fiercely stunning novel that takes place in sixty potent seconds—the time it takes a kid to decide whether or not he’s going to murder the guy who killed his brother. A cannon. A strap.
What does Frick say to Buck?from litcharts.com
Frick pipes up and says that he was supposed to rob Buck as his Dark Deed, but when he approached Buck, Buck just laughed. When Buck then swiped at Frick, Frick got scared and shot him. Will asks what any of this has to do with Shawn, and Frick replies that Shawn followed the Rules.
What happens on the sixth floor of the elevator?from litcharts.com
On the sixth floor, a beautiful young woman gets in. Will tries to check her out, but the gun digs into his back and makes him wince. The girl scolds Buck for smoking in the elevator and then asks Will why he has a gun. Will is disturbed—the girl can see Buck’s ghost and somehow knows Will has a gun.
What does Buck say to Will about the elevator?from litcharts.com
When Will nervously grumbles about the slow elevator, Buck quips that it’s a long way down and laughs at Will’s insistence that he has work to do. Buck says Will doesn’t have it in him, and asks if he checked that the gun is loaded.
What did Shawn teach Will?from litcharts.com
The next morning, Shawn taught him the first Rule (no crying). When Will tried to follow it, he wanted to punch something. Now, in the elevator, Dani again asks Will why he needs the gun, and Will says he’s going after Riggs. He explains the Rules to Dani so she doesn’t think he’s being violent for no reason.
Why does Will not love Shawn?from litcharts.com
But Will realizes that he doesn’t love Shawn any less because he’s crying —he’s still Will’s favorite and only brother. Shawn makes a pained, grinding sound as the elevator reaches the lobby. The doors open and all the ghosts step out after the smoke. Will stands in the elevator, wet, tear-stained, and afraid.
Overview
Future trips
In the final pages of the Long Way Down book, there is a mention of "Long Way To Go"; however, this is not the intended title for a third series but a reference to the continual support that UNICEF needs for its work. In the DVD extras, while preparing the bikes for cargo, Ewan McGregor refers to a possible future trip in South America, perhaps called Long Way Up.
On the Late Show with David Letterman (17 February 2010), McGregor said he was not planning …
Route
The team travelled from their base in Shepherd's Bush, London, to John o' Groats at the northern tip of Scotland to begin their journey. The start was nearly delayed after Boorman, frustrated by an official at Gatwick Airport, made an off-the-cuff comment regarding bombs and was detained for questioning. After being released without charge, he took a later flight to Inverness, and the journey began as scheduled. The team took four days to ride from John o' Groats back to Londo…
Border crossings
The team anticipated problems at the various borders crossings, particularly in Africa. Given their experiences on the Long Way Round, which included problems with Russian visas, a "fine" for a missing stamp in their carnet, and delays of up to twelve hours, major preparation and planning went into the transit between countries. Although the American crew members were barred from entering Libya, this was anticipated ahead of their arrival. Upon arrival in Tunisia, the team bribe…
Breakdowns and accidents
The quality of road surfaces throughout east Africa were surprisingly smooth, but sections were rough, bumpy or had sandy terrain, with some travel through a small river and mud wallow. The shock absorbers bore the brunt, with both McGregor's and von Planta's bikes suffering broken springs. As the only spare had been fitted to McGregor's bike, von Planta rode in a support vehicle while his bike was sent ahead for repair. McGregor and von Planta also came off and damaged t…
UNICEF
During the trip, the pair visited three UNICEF facilities to promote the work done by the organisation. In Ethiopia, they visited a land mine awareness project and met children injured by mines. In Uganda, they met former child soldiers of the Lord's Resistance Army and saw the work being done to rehabilitate them. In Malawi, they visited care centres for children orphaned by AIDS. Both McGrego…
Music
The title song was performed by Welsh group Stereophonics and is identical to the Long Way Round theme, with the lyric "round" replaced with "down".
The soundtrack features music drawn substantially from the catalogue of Real World Records, which produced the accompanying album. Co-director of photography Jimmy Simak also acted as music supervisor and soundtrack producer for the series.
See also
• List of long-distance motorcycle riders