NPR’s Book of the Day: ‘Long Way Down’ and ‘The Hate U Give’ – Modern Classics on Gun Violence

Date: September 19, 2025
Host: Andrew Limbong

Episode Overview

In this episode, NPR’s Book of the Day highlights two contemporary novels now considered staples on school reading lists for their unflinching portrayal of gun violence and the complex lives of young people. Host Andrew Limbong introduces interviews with Jason Reynolds (author of Long Way Down) and Angie Thomas (author of The Hate U Give), who discuss their novels' real-world inspirations, thematic depth, and the importance of honest storytelling without resorting to clichés. Both authors offer insights into the lived realities behind their fiction, aiming to humanize their characters and empower young readers.

Segment 1: Jason Reynolds on Long Way Down

Interviewed by: David Greene
Timestamps: [01:25]–[08:34]

Key Discussion Points

The Story and Its Structure

• Long Way Down follows Will, a young man confronting the loss of his brother to gun violence and wrestling with the "rules" of his world (no crying, no snitching, always seek revenge).
• The bulk of the narrative unfolds during a 60-second elevator ride where Will is confronted by ghosts from his past, evoking a "Christmas Carol" dynamic.
  • Reynolds: “What we can do with devices like using ghosts of the past is... create a space where... it’s about us, a community, thinking about those of our family members and our friends who we’ve already lost to this thing...” [03:19]

Avoiding Clichés in Depicting Gun Violence

• Reynolds stresses the importance of complexity and humanity in portraying people involved in cycles of violence.
  • Reynolds: “The truth is... people who pull the triggers are terrified.” [03:56]
  • He resists narratives that suggest perpetrators are cold or emotionless, instead exploring the fear and circumstances influencing their choices.

Reynolds' Personal Connection

• Reynolds shares a personal story about losing a close friend to violence at age 19 and the emotional fallout for his group of friends.
  • Reynolds: “The news hit like a Mack truck... I was fully aware that we could all leave that house, go and search for whoever we think may have done this and end their lives. And that I would have been able to go home that night and sleep like a baby.” [05:09]
  • His friend's mother intervened, telling them, "no other mother needs to feel what she feels in that moment," an act that ultimately redirected the group away from retribution.

Writing in Verse and Accessibility

• Long Way Down is written in poetry, making it approachable for reluctant readers, particularly young men and boys of color.
  • Reynolds: “I need my young brothers who are living in these environments [and] the kids who are not... to have no excuses not to read the book.” [06:33]
  • The format is intentionally non-intimidating to engage all readers: “You can finish this in 45 minutes... so that we can get more young people reading it and thinking.” [06:33]

Memorable Author Statement

• Reynolds: “I know there are a lot, a lot of young people who hate reading. I know that many of these book haters are boys. I know that many of these book hating boys don’t actually hate books. They hate boredom.... Even though I’m a writer, I hate reading boring books too.” [07:56]

Segment 2: Angie Thomas on The Hate U Give

Interviewed by: Lulu Garcia-Navarro
Timestamps: [09:12]–[16:13]

Key Discussion Points

Realities Inspiring the Story

• Thomas wrote The Hate U Give to reflect the difficult conversations her own family had about how to interact with police, mirroring discussions in many Black households.
  • Thomas (reading): “When I was 12, my parents had two talks with me. One was the usual birds and the bees. The other talk was about what to do if a cop stopped me.” [09:27]
  • The book’s protagonist, Starr, faces her father’s advice firsthand after witnessing the fatal shooting of her friend, Khalil, by police.

Starr Carter’s Dual Identity and Code Switching

• Thomas examines code switching through Starr’s navigation between her predominantly Black neighborhood and her mostly white, affluent school.
  • Thomas: “There’s this whole thing that we call code switching. At Starr’s neighborhood, Starr is known as Big Mav’s daughter.... There’s Williamson Starr, who does not speak about where she’s from.” [10:42]
  • This tension mirrors Thomas’s own experiences navigating between environments, “fighting against a stereotype of being a Ghetto girl” in college. [11:36]

Influence of Real Events and Characters

• The character Khalil and Starr’s journey are shaped by news stories of police violence, such as those involving Oscar Grant and Michael Brown.
  • Thomas: “There was inspiration from a lot of these cases that we see with unarmed black people losing their lives.... I know Khalil’s. I see Khalil’s every single day." [13:03]

Path to Activism and Empowering Young Readers

• The book’s progression shows Starr finding her voice and sense of activism, but Thomas stresses activism comes in many forms.
  • Thomas: “I also want them to realize and understand that activism has different forms.... I hope that it helps readers understand... that they can find their voices as well and that their voices matter.” [14:03]
  • The message: Every young person’s voice matters in the fight for justice.

The Meaning Behind the Title

• Inspired by Tupac Shakur’s “THUG LIFE” tattoo, which stands for “The Hate U Give Little Infants Fs Everybody.”
  • Thomas: “What society feeds into, youth has a way of coming back and affecting us all.... In the novel, we see that in the form of riots and... anger and frustration. Even we see it in Starr and how she feels after seeing this unfortunate tragedy take place.” [14:55]

Literary Influence and Writing Goals

• Thomas aspires to evoke the same mix of emotions in readers as Tupac did through his music: “I want to make you think at times, I want to make you laugh at times, I want to make you cry at times.” [14:55]

Notable Quotes

• Jason Reynolds:

  • “The people who pull the triggers are terrified.” [03:56]
  • “I was fully aware that we could all leave that house... and end their lives. And that I would have been able to go home that night and sleep like a baby.” [05:09]
  • “Even though I’m a writer, I hate reading boring books too.” [07:56]

• Angie Thomas:

  • “I knew I had to fight against a stereotype of being a Ghetto girl. And I had to fight even harder to show that I was intelligent and that I was capable of being there, just like my counterparts.” [11:36]
  • “I want to write like Tupac rapped.” [14:55]
  • “What society feeds into, youth has a way of coming back and affecting us all.” [14:55]

Segment Timestamps

• Jason Reynolds / Long Way Down:

  • Excerpt reading: [01:43–02:24]
  • Elevator and ghost metaphor: [03:03–03:19]
  • Personal connection to gun violence: [05:00–06:26]
  • Rationale for poetry format: [06:26–07:22]
  • Author manifesto on reading: [07:56–08:32]

• Angie Thomas / The Hate U Give:

  • Thomas reads opening: [09:27–09:42]
  • Code switching & dual identity: [10:42–11:29]
  • Real-life inspiration (Oscar Grant, Michael Brown): [12:14–13:03]
  • Activism & finding one’s voice: [14:03–14:55]
  • Tupac and title meaning: [14:55–16:06]

Takeaway

This episode provides a powerful look at two groundbreaking novels that invite readers—especially young people—to grapple with grief, identity, community, and the multifaceted impact of gun violence. Jason Reynolds and Angie Thomas both emphasize the importance of accessible, honest storytelling to foster empathy and activism. Their works serve as both mirrors and invitations: reflections of reality, and calls to find and use one’s voice.