Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
GoodReads Blurb:
Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious
box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen
cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed
suicide two weeks earlier.
On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why
she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out
how he made the list.
Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay
Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation
that will deeply affect teen readers.
My Semi-Quick Opinion:
I read this book two years ago now. I remember I read it during the months of May and June. This book deals with a very serious issue: suicide. I haven't seen this issue dealt with too often in Young Adult. But I think it really should be. Many teens commit suicide or consider committing suicide.
Obviously this book has some very heavy content. I like that is told in dual narratives. You get to see Clay's perspective as he listens to these tapes. Listens to the reasons why this girl decided to kill herself and his thoughts. You also see Hannah's perspective. You see this perspective when Clay hits play on the cassette tapes.
You get frustrated with Hannah. You simultaneously feel sympathetic and frustrated. (At least I did). Sympathetic because she felt it had to come to killing herself and frustrated because you feel that she could have done something more. Reached out more maybe. (I'm also thinking of a specific scene here).
Even thought the synopsis says it will deeply affect teen readers I think it would deeply affect any reader. And even thought the content is heavy I think that anyone should give this book a chance. (But perhaps you should be at least 12 or 13). Overall, phenomenal book. And I think you should most definitely read this.
<3 Amanda Leigh
I liked this book but I thought the narrator's reasons for suicide were a little iffy. I too, empathize with your frustration with Hannah. She felt a bit drama queeny but at the same time you feel sorry for her regarding her coping mechanisms.
ReplyDeleteYes I agree with you. But at the same time we never know who affects who how. Which is what makes things so hard. But not utilizing the resources she had, even though it is hard, is what frustrated me.
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