Written in free verse narrative, the book beings with Will’s brother getting shot in the streets of their neighborhood. After his death, Will finds his brother’s gun and sets out to find the guy responsible, in order to follow the rules:
“The Rules / No. 1: Crying / Don’t. / No matter what. / Don’t.” pg 31.
“No. 2: Snitching / Don’t. / No matter what. / Don’t.” pg 32.
“No. 3: Revenge / If someone you love gets killed, / find the person who killed / them and kill them.” pg 33.
The rest of the book takes place in a matter of sixty seconds as Will makes his way down his apartment elevator. At each floor the elevator stops and a ghost gets on to tell their story.
Reynolds’s book is captivating, heartbreaking, and relevant. Every word on the page is deliberate and hard-hitting. Each stanza being barley a page, some only a few words, make this book a fast but well-paced read. Exploring the world of gun violence and the effects on youth, Reynolds shares raw emotion in his text and his content. The conversations Will has are extremely deep and moving as he puts the pieces together of all the people and how they relate to each other. Will’s inner monologue give intense emotion and skepticism to his situation. It also helps understand his mind set with examples of what he was taught growing up and the community he comes from. The subject of teen violence is heavy but a necessary representation.
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