Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of Long Way Down. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Will, carrying his dead brother's gun to take revenge, rides an elevator for sixty seconds while ghosts of people killed by gun violence visit him. When the doors open in the lobby, his brother Shawn's ghost asks, “You coming?” and the book ends before we learn what Will decides.
Quick facts
– Book: Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
– First published: 2017
– Type: A young adult novel in verse
– Tone of the ending: Open and haunting
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Fifteen-year-old Will's brother Shawn has been shot. Will believes he knows who did it, and he follows “The Rules”: don't cry, don't snitch, get revenge. He takes Shawn's gun from a drawer and gets into the elevator of his apartment building, heading down to find the shooter.
What Happens at the End of Long Way Down
On each floor, someone gets in: his friend Dani, his uncle Mark, his father, and others, all killed by guns, each tied to a chain of revenge. Buck, the friend who gave Shawn the gun, reveals that Will might be wrong about the shooter. The ghosts make Will see that following the rules has killed every one of them. At the lobby, Shawn's ghost appears, and the cigarette smoke clears as he asks “You coming?” The story stops there.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Every ghost died because of the same rules.
- Will may have the wrong person.
- Shawn's question can be read as an invitation or a warning.
- The ending puts the choice in the reader's hands.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Will | His choice is left unknown |
| Shawn | Will's dead brother |
| Buck | The friend who gave Shawn the gun |
| Uncle Mark | Will's uncle, killed in an earlier cycle |
What the Ending Means
The ending asks readers to imagine breaking the cycle of violence. By stopping at the moment of choice, Reynolds makes the decision feel urgent.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Some readers believe Will walks away, while others fear he goes through with it. Some read Shawn's question as asking Will to join him in death.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Cycles of violence. The ghosts show how revenge creates more deaths.
Grief. Will's pain is the fuel for his plan.
Choice. The open ending makes his choice the point of the book.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of Long Way Down as open and haunting. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Jason Reynolds to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are open and haunting will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Jason Reynolds closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Book Versus Adaptation
A graphic novel version illustrated by Danica Novgorodoff keeps the same open ending.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading Long Way Down with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about cycles of violence, and do you agree with Jason Reynolds's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as open and haunting, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces cycles of violence and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Jason Reynolds leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in Long Way Down often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of Long Way Down earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
Check price of Long Way Down on Amazon
Books to Read After Long Way Down
- The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
- Ghost by Jason Reynolds
Related: Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds: Summary and Key Takeaways · 15 Books Like Long Way Down You’ll Love
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of Long Way Down?
Will, carrying his dead brother's gun to take revenge, rides an elevator for sixty seconds while ghosts of people killed by gun violence visit him. When the doors open in the lobby, his brother Shawn's ghost asks, “You coming?” and the book ends before we learn what Will decides.
Is the ending of Long Way Down happy or sad?
Most readers call it open and haunting.
What does the ending of Long Way Down mean?
The ending asks readers to imagine breaking the cycle of violence.
Is the ending of Long Way Down the same in the adaptation?
A graphic novel version illustrated by Danica Novgorodoff keeps the same open ending.
Who wrote Long Way Down and when was it published?
Long Way Down was written by Jason Reynolds and first published in 2017.
Is Long Way Down worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy young adult novel in verses. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Jason Reynolds prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read Long Way Down before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.