Thirteen Reasons Why

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Overview

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers 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.

Jay Asher

Editorial Reviews

From Barnes & Noble

Two weeks before the events of this book, young Hannah Baker killed herself, but she left behind a sort of audio will that explained her reasons for taking her life. Each of those thirteen reasons involves cruel acts, misunderstandings, or guilty acts of omission that involve other students. Almost from the moment of its 2007 publication, Jay Asher's debut novel Thirteen Reasons Why has evoked widespread praise for its moving portrayal of the impact we have on one another's life. This international bestseller is now a paperback and a NOOKbook. (P.S. Teen sensation Selena Gomez has signed on to star in a Universal Pictures film version of this story.)

Booklist

...compelling reading

More Reviews (4) Fewer Reviews

Jennifer Lee

Clay receives a mysterious brown-wrapped package in the mail. When he opens it, he finds a handful of cassette tapes. After finding a cassette player (because, heck, it is 2007, who uses cassette players anymore?) he pops in cassette No. 1 and is shocked to find that his classmate, Hannah, is speaking on the tapes. . . . Hannah had killed herself just weeks before the package's arrival. As Clay listens, he finds that anyone who receives the package is one of the 13 reasons Hannah committed suicide. This page-turner will keep you up all night, as Clay pops in cassette after cassette, to find out what his role is exactly in Hannah's death. Could he really be somewhat responsible? You won't regret reading this book, and it won't take you very long. It is a fast read and will keep you on the edge of your seat, as you read on to find out more about the circumstances surrounding Hannah's death. Reviewer: Jennifer Lee

VOYA

Listening to the audio cassettes found propped against his front door, Clay is shocked to hear the voice of Hannah, who killed herself two weeks earlier. On the tapes, Hannah explains why she committed suicide and how the thirteen people named in the tapes contributed to her decision to end her life. Clay learns that he is among those named. High school senior Clay is the novel's main narrator, but the story belongs to Hannah. She describes in an authentic, if overly self-aware, voice how slights and misunderstandings snowballed until she could no longer cope. Hannah's reputation is questioned, her parents are distracted by financial problems, her friends use her, and when she reaches out for help, no one steps forward. Readers will immediately identify with Hannah's experiences in high school society. From Hannah, readers realize the impact of thoughtless actions and comments. As Clay finishes Hannah's story, he becomes more perceptive and sensitive to others. Teens will embrace Asher's debut novel because it is not condescending or preachy. Sex and drugs are plot elements but are not graphically described. Short sentences make it a quick, smooth read, yet there is depth to the novel. This provocative tale touches on universal topics of interest, is genuine in its message, and would be a good choice for high school book discussions and booktalks. The attractive cover art is aimed at female readers. But because the content appeals to both genders, more readers would be drawn to the book if it featured Clay on the cover. Reviewer: Judy Sasges

Children's Literature

Clay Jensen's first love records her last words. Clay returns home from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah's voice explains that there are thirteen reasons she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he will find out why. Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a first-hand witness to Hannah's pain, and learns the truth about himself, a truth he never wanted to face. What he discovers changes his life forever. This novel is the first for Jay Asher, and it is billed as a spectacular one. The reader learns that one cannot stop the future or rewind the past. This book is also billed as suspense. It may not be for everyone, and many may become bored and/or discouraged before the end, but, like other Razorbill books, it is challenging and interesting. Reviewer: Naomi Butler

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up High school senior Clay Jensen receives seven audiotapes in the mail. They contain the story of why Hannah Baker, a girl he adored, committed suicide. Each side is devoted to a person in her life and a reason for her death. Clay also has a map of places featured on the recordings. He spends a torturous night listening and wandering, unearthing the depth and causes of Hannah's unhappiness. His torment is private-how did he hurt a girl he treasured from afar-and empathic-her hurts and betrayals tear him apart. Clay's pain is palpable and exquisitely drawn in gripping, casually poetic prose. The complex and soulful characters expose astoundingly rich and singularly teenage inner lives, with emotions as raw as cut wrists. The mood is more serious than somber, and Clay's thoughtful synthesis of Hannah's increasingly explosive narrative saves the novel from melodrama. In fact, Hannah's and Clay's narratives are woven together so seamlessly that the characters appear to converse naturally from opposite sides of mortality. Compounded, the tapes build the plot in increasingly tense increments-Hannah's story is a freight train of despair and suspense that picks up speed as it moves to her final undoing. Like the protagonist in John Green's Looking for Alaska (Dutton, 2005), Hannah is an animate ghost; Clay's bereaved voice bears witness to her tragedy. The episodic structure is nicely suited to reluctant readers, but the breakneck pace and dizzying emotion are the true source of this novel's irresistible readability at all levels.-Johanna Lewis, New York Public Library

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781595141880
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
Publication date: 6/14/2011
Pages: 336
Sales rank: 5,114
Age range: 12 years
Lexile: 0550L (what's this?)
Product dimensions: 5.40 (w) x 8.20 (h) x 1.00 (d)

Meet the Author

Jay Asher

JAY ASHER has worked at an independent bookstore, an outlet bookstore, a chain bookstore, and two public libraries. Jay's first writing award earned him a free fruit smoothie every day for an entire year. More recently, Thirteen Reasons Why won him the Smartwriters.com Write-It-Now Award, and the 2003 SCBWI Work in Progress grant. He was also named one of the "Hot Men in Children's Literature" by the librarian-run website A Fuse 8 Production.

First Chapter

"Sir?" she repeats. "How soon do you want it to get there?"I rub two fingers, hard, over my left eyebrow. The throbbing has become intense. "It doesn't matter," I say.The clerk takes the package. The same shoebox that sat on my porch less than twenty-four hours ago; rewrapped in a brown paper bag, sealed with clear packing tape, exactly as I had received it. But now addressed with a new name. The next name on Hannah Baker's list."Baker's dozen," I mumble. Then I feel disgusted for even noticing it."Excuse me?"I shake my head. "How much is it?"She places the box on a rubber pad, then punches a sequence on her keypad.I set my cup of gas-station coffee on the counter and glance at the screen. I pull a few bills from my wallet, dig some coins out of my pocket, and place my money on the counter."I don't think the coffee's kicked in yet," she says. "You're missing a dollar."I hand over the extra dollar, then rub the sleep from my eyes. The coffee's lukewarm when I take a sip, making it harder to gulp down. But I need to wake up somehow.Or maybe not. Maybe it's best to get through the day half-asleep. Maybe that's the only way to get through today."It should arrive at this address tomorrow," she says. "Maybe the day after tomorrow." Then she drops the box into a cart behind her.I should have waited till after school. I should have given Jenny one final day of peace.Though she doesn't deserve it.When she gets home tomorrow, or the next day, she'll find a package on her doorstep. Or if her mom or dad or someone else gets there first, maybe she'll find it on her bed. And she'll be excited. I was excited. A package with no return address? Did they forget, or was it intentional? Maybe from a secret admirer?"Do you want your receipt?" the clerk asks.I shake my head.A small printer clicks one out anyway. I watch her tear the slip across the serrated plastic and drop it into a wastebasket.There's only one post office in town. I wonder if the same clerk helped the other people on the list, those who got this package before me. Did they keep their receipts as sick souvenirs? Tuck them in their underwear drawers? Pin them up on corkboards?I almost ask for my receipt back. I almost say, "I'm sorry, can I have it after all?" As a reminder.But if I wanted a reminder, I could've made copies of the tapes or saved the map. But I never want to hear those tapes again, though her voice will never leave my head. And the houses, the streets, and the high school will always be there to remind me.It's out of my control now. The package is on its way. I leave the post office without the receipt.Deep behind my left eyebrow, my head is still pounding. Every swallow tastes sour, and the closer I get to school, the closer I come to collapsing.I want to collapse. I want to fall on the sidewalk right there and drag myself into the ivy. Because just beyond the ivy the sidewalk curves, following the outside of the school parking lot. It cuts through the front lawn and into the main building. It leads through the front doors and turns into a hallway, which meanders between rows of lockers and classrooms on both sides, finally entering the alwaysopen door to first period.At the front of the room, facing the students, will be the desk of Mr. Porter. He'll be the last to receive a package with no return address. And in the middle of the room, one desk to the left, will be the desk of Hannah Baker.Empty.

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xhafizzy

Posted January 3, 2009

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Thirteen Reasons Why -- Were they worth it?

Someone get a box of tissues. It may be needed.

"Thirteen Reasons Why" is the kind of book that is not easy to write a review for. It's a difficult one to put down, but on the contrary, its emotional plotline creates a mental barrier, making each word an obstacle. It's not for the immature, the weak, or the queasy.

When Clay Jensen finds a package on his doorstep, addressed to himself but with no return address, he has no idea what he's getting himself into.

Inside he finds cassette tapes, with only numbers telling him anything about what's on them. When he pops one into a cassette player, wondering why in the world he's recieved something so out of date, he stops, stunned, horrified, and sickeningly elated all at once.

Out of the speakers flowed a voice familiar to him, one he thought he'd never hear again. He would hear it in his mind, warped over time in his memories. Never like this. Out of the speakers flowed the voice of Hannah Baker, the girl he almost fell in love with. Out of the speakers flowed the voice a dead girl.

He finds himself obsessed with carrying out Hannah's final wishes. He finds himself not only carrying them out but trying to understand them, to the last bit of punctuation. He knows that because he has this collection, he's involved. But he couldn't be why she died, could he?

In one night, he listens to thirteen stories, each about a different person. Thirteen reasons why Hannah found that her suicide was not only justified, but her only answer.

Referring to the headline of this review, were these thirteen reasons worth it? The answer is no. They weren't, and everyone knew it. Even Hannah.

But caught in what is referred to multiple times as the snowball effect by Hannah herself, believes it was worth it. (I'll never look at a snowball the same way again.) But what justifies her crime?

Dually narrated by Clay as he listens, and the carefully chosen words on Hannah's tapes, the book gets confusing at times.

But it subtly, yet powerfully, teaches so many lessons. It teaches each reader to realize what s/he is doing with every action s/he carries out. It teaches the reader to see everyone in the world in a new light.

Empathizing simultaneously with a hurt, betrayed, yet breathing boy, and a hurt, betrayed, yet dead girl, the world will spin.

It's a book you'll keep on a special shelf, something you'll ponder. You'll finish this book, you'll close it, you'll stare at it. You'll put it aside, and you'll cry.

I found myself mourning the loss of this girl. I found myself mesmerized by her voice, so unique. I found that I'll never underestimate someone who shows the signs of suicide again.

Will you?

123 out of 128 people found this review helpful.
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twilight_fanatic_01

Posted June 23, 2009

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Thirteen Reasons Why You Should Read This Book

1. It's wonderfully written
2. It keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time
3. You'll fall in love with the characters
4. You'll hate the antagonists of the book
5. At the end, you'll be cheering for Clay
6. At the end, you'll be crying for Hannah
7. It'll give you a greater understanding of teenage suicide
8. It's inspiring
9. It's unforgettable
10. At the end you'll be hungry for more
11. It's original and, well, quite awesome
12. You won't find books like this often
13. What are you doing reading reviews? Read the freakin' BOOK already!

104 out of 112 people found this review helpful.
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pagese

Posted March 24, 2010

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review from www.pagese.wordpress.com

This book caught my interest from the first time I saw it. I finally picked it up when I saw it at the library. Within the first couple pages I was hooked. They way the author presented this story was so real. I could feel Clay's emotions as he listened to each of the tapes. I wanted to reach out to Hannah and tell her that everything was going to be okay. I've read reviews that state they felt Hannah was placing blame on those 13 people. I never felt like that through the entire story. I felt Hannah was trying to point out that a person's actions DO affect others. Rumors, lies, bullying, etc are all ways that can cut a person down. I think Hannah hoped that through the tapes, she could make someone (even just one) realize their behavior can change. I was so raw in emotion towards the end, I needed to step back from the book for awhile and reflect over it. You know the outcome of the story, but part of you hopes for that glimmer of help. Something for Hannah to reach out and hold on to. I hope this book becomes a must read for teens. I think it has a very real portrayal of suicide and that things that may drive a person to believe that it may be the only option.

62 out of 62 people found this review helpful.
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theReader278

Posted June 29, 2011

I Also Recommend:

Excellent Read

I loved reading this wonderful book! It is a story that keeps you entertained for hours.

46 out of 49 people found this review helpful.
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TeensReadToo

Posted October 25, 2008

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Reviewed by Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius" for TeensReadToo.com

I don't often write introductions to my reviews. In fact, the last time I can remember doing so was with the wonderful PUCKER by Melanie Gideon, which I read in 2006. However, THIRTEEN REASONS WHY, the debut novel from author Jay Asher, is the type of book that begs an introduction. So if you'd like to skip down to the third paragraph for the "meat" of the story, I won't hold it against you -- but you'll be missing something important.

If you have the chance to only read one novel this year, THIRTEEN REASONS WHY should be that book. It's sad, amazing, heartbreaking, and hopeful, all at the same time. I dare you to read it and not become so immersed in the story that you lose track of time and your surroundings. You'll cry, several times, while reading this story. You'll have no choice but to think about your actions, and wonder what type of effect they have on other people. And, in the end, you might also find the need to say "thank you."

Now, on to the story...

When Clay Jensen finds a package on his front porch, he's excited. A package, for him? With no return address? What could it possibly be? What Clay finds is a shoebox full of cassette tapes, each marked as "Cassette 1: Side A," "Cassette 1: Side B," etc. Of course he rushes to the old radio/cassette player in his dad's garage to check out these mysterious tapes.

And soon wishes, wholeheartedly, that he'd never picked up that stupid package from his front porch.

What he hears when he inserts that first tape is the voice of Hannah Baker. Hannah, the girl he'd crushed on for longer than he could remember. The girl he went to school with. The girl he worked at the movie theater with. The girl who had changed, drastically, in the last several months. Hannah Baker, the girl who committed suicide.

Clay soon realizes that these tapes aren't just a suicide note, aren't, really, even a clear-cut rendition of why she did what she did. Instead, these are thirteen reasons -- thirteen people, to be exact -- who created a snowball-effect of events that led Hannah to believe that suicide was her only option. But why is Clay on that list? How could he possibly be one of the reasons that she killed herself?

As the day goes on, Clay becomes obsessed with listening to the tapes. And what he hears frightens him, disturbs him, and, in the end, leads him to realizations that he never would have expected. As Clay listens to the role that thirteen people, including himself, led in the ultimate death of Hannah Baker, his view of the world, and himself, changes drastically.

You will love this book, because you won't be able to help yourself. You will feel what Clay feels. You will, in a very strong way, experience the highs and lows of Hannah's life right along with her. And there is nothing, in my opinion, that could speak better for the authenticity of a book. Read THIRTEEN REASONS WHY. And then, if you're like me, you'll read it again. And, hopefully, none of us will ever forget it.

41 out of 43 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted March 10, 2009

Why?

The topic of death has always been quietly, eerily popular with teens. It doesn't really seem like a surprise, then, that 13 Reasons Why has become as reknown as it has. It has characters teens can relate to, mystery, suspense, heartbreak, and that chilling, lingering feeling of What Could I Have Done? What If?

But the book rubbed me the wrong way when I read it. Be it the wimpy protagonist or the subject of the book herself, the teenager who killed herself and send casettes to people she once knew.

The idea itself seemed like such a juvenile thing to do that I almost stopped reading in the first place. Leave it to a stuck up teenaged girl to kill herself - and then blame everyone else.

I just found myself thinking, wasn't it bad enough that she had taken her own life? Why would she want to spread her miserable ideas around and make everyone else feel just as worthless as she felt?

I'm not saying that the intended idea doesn't hit home - it does. The story is harrowing, the girl was tortured and posthumously berates all those around her. The message of loss and hitting rock bottom was felt.

But at the same time, Hannah recording 13 reasons why she killed herself instead of looking back at her own life and her own mistakes, it seemed to miss the target it wanted to hit.

40 out of 130 people found this review helpful.
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SamGNA

Posted August 22, 2009

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I Also Recommend:

Disappointed.

I think I was the rare person who did NOT love Thirteen Reasons Why. Unlike much of the excellent teen fiction that is being written, Thirteen Reasons Why rang false to me. The characters seemed hollow and like caricatures of real teenagers. The teens in the story acted like an adult's idea of how teenagers act. Worst of all, there is no sympathy to be found for the subject of the book, Hannah Baker, who killed herself and left behind tapes detailing why for those people who made her miserable. She came off perhaps worst of all the characters in the boo -- she seems petty and vindictive, having left tapes telling people that she killed herself because of them. We at least get to witness some of these characters experiencing remorse.

Perhaps the flattening of Hannah Baker's character is an affect of the fact that she is already dead when the book begins. We only know of her what she recorded on these tapes, but what is there isn't flattering. Hannah is the ultimate passive-aggressive, not really doing anything to help her cause. This book didn't make me feel anything but annoyance, and I would recommend many other teen titles before this one.

23 out of 64 people found this review helpful.
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JaneForman

Posted November 2, 2008

A Student Review

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher deserves a five star review. Asher did an excellent job putting a twist of realism into the novel. So real, it was almost eerie. Hannah Baker was an average high school student who unfortunately suffered through a horrible year. She describes it as a "snowball effect" which I found very interesting. Small tragedies started the snowball...then bigger ones resulting from the smaller...and even larger ones from the past. All of these occurences or "snowballs" soon became overwhelming and Hannah came to the decision of suicide. She left behind tapes that included the snowballs and the reasons behind her decision. As I read this book and "listened" to Hannah's tapes, I felt as if I was another name on her list, listening to her story. I was unable to put this book down, it was a thrilling emotional rollercoaster. As I read, I wanted to yell at Hannah and all of the other names on the list. I became connected with Hannah and even though I knew she was going to kill herself, I prayed and hoped that she wouldn't. Hoping maybe, just maybe she'd change her mind at the end. But no, if she wouldn't have committed suicide, this book would not have had the effect it did on me. The style which this book was written was very creative and intriguing. Jay Asher is a brilliant Author and I will deffinitley be checking out more of his work.

13 out of 14 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted July 24, 2010

As a mom...

I could only hope that every person in this world would read this and learn from it. It IS everything that i try to express to my girls every day.. this world is NOT just about us, its about each and every person out there that we encounter daily as well and how we go about ourselves within our world!

12 out of 12 people found this review helpful.
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Sweep

Posted December 8, 2008

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At a loss of words!

This book deserves an award or something. Its so realistically told that it makes you feel like your actually living through the characters (of both Hannah and Clay). This book... im at a loss of words... i feel that no matter how i describe this book, I wont be able to fully descirde my feelings towards it. Everyone (id say bout 8th grade and +), read this, you wont regret it, its a beautiful story.

9 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
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HarmonyJane

Posted July 14, 2010

Awful Book.

On the outside, this book clearly looks interesting and intriguing. It tells the story of a young girl who commits suicide, and the thirteen reasons why she did it. Since suicide is in fact a reality in today's teens, I thought I would read this book to see just what exactly a victim of suicides thoughts might of been.
However, Hannah Baker is one of the winiest, wimpiest, and stupidest girls in fiction I have ever read. I myself am a teenager, and some of the reasons why Hannah killed herself are things I have watched other people and myself go through. Going through some of those things sucks, but it isn't worth killing yourself over. I hate this book with a passion, all because of one of the main characters, which is Hannah herself. Hannah killed herself over typical, trivial teenager reasons. Did Hannah have an awful life? No, she had two parents who loved her, but it never showed her opening up to them. She was not poor, she probably lived in a normal, middle class house, while millions around the world struggled to have a life even a little like hers. She was not ugly, of course, she wasn't beautiful either, but Hannah who was supposedly at least a moderately pretty girl had severe self esteem problems that were most definitely not needed. Did Hannah reach out for help many times and realize that there were people out there going through some of the things she was? No. Hannah was not raped, injured, or had anything horrible truly happen to her. She let everything bad happen and then decided she was not able to take the responsibility, therefore decided to blame others for it. She then decided to unnecessarily torture others for it with hours of long tapes that they are all being blackmailed to watch.
I may be harsh, but I just really hated this book. I don't think it was realistic. Maybe I could of been more sympathetic if she had family problems or something, but none of this was ever presented.
The only good thing about this book is that while reading a lot of reviews, I see that it changed a lot of people for the better. That's good, it is true that your actions do affect others in many ways. However, if you believe that Hannah's reasons for suicide were right and you can emphasize with her, then what should people who have it much worse than her do?

8 out of 22 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted June 1, 2010

Infuriating

This book is horrible. When I first read the blurb, I thought, "What a witchy thing to do," and then my book club decided to read it. My reaction is the same after reading it. Hannah is the worst representation of a whiny, blame-it-all-on-everyone-else American teen. She should have watched "Slumdog Millionaire" and seen how many other young people of this world are treated and desperately struggle to stay alive. You are going to kill yourself because someone touched your butt? How about having your eyes burned out so you could make more money on the street for your pimp? And where are her parents in all of this? She lets the most important and influential people in her life off the hook with a simple paragraph about how they were busy fighting a Walmart-esque conglomerate, but condemns to hell a teacher with whom she spoke for five minutes and ran away from after he gave her valid options to contemplate? I think this book could even actually be dangerous because many of the reviews (by teens) seem to think that she actually had valid reasons for killing herself, whereas in reality her reasons were trivial. I kept waiting for something really bad to happen to her. You don't want boys to touch you? Go get a black belt and kick the crap out of the next one who tries. How's that for a reputation? She simply gave up, and blamed others for "not trying harder to reach her" after she rejected them. Is this what the author believes American teen girls are like? Wimpy, indolent, ineffectual blamers? I believe teen girls have to be fighters and militantly on their own side to get through this world. To waste 288 pages on this weak, vindictive, narcissistic character (who I believe the author flatters himself is a female Holden Caulfield) infuriates me.

8 out of 22 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted June 9, 2009

5 star book

I had to read this book for school and was hooked by the very beginning. The issue of suicide greatly affects teens. Thirteen Reasons Why helps people realize what you do and say to people affects them. Also, what you do not do or say does too.

8 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted October 28, 2008

oh wow.

When I first saw this book, I thought it would be really good. But after the first 3 tapes, it just dragged on and on. She killed herself without even a good reason. She had lots of friends, her parents loved her, she had a boy who liked her. Yeah she was teased a little about being a slut, but alot of people are. It's such a ridiculous reason.

8 out of 30 people found this review helpful.
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atran61

Posted August 13, 2010

13 Reasons Why

When I saw this on the shelves, I noticed it right away. When I read the back cover, it sounded very interesting.

This book is definitely a reread. I would also recommend this book to my friends and family. I felt like I was there, listening to the tapes. I also felt I was in Hannah's shoes. I could feel her pain. This book didn't make me cry, but I did say "oh my god!" and "wow..." a lot.

7 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
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LiteraryxLaureate

Posted December 27, 2010

Do Not Waste Your Time!

This book is one of the few books that have made me very mad when I finished reading. The girl, Hannah, is a whiny little teenager that didn't feel like talking to anyone about her problems, and decides to take it out on the people who have "wronged" her, even if it was as simple as spreading a rumor about her. I firmly believe that there is no reason for one to take their own life, and the 13 reasons why she did so were ridiculous and could have been helped if she had talked to someone, but she chose not to. I read this book in 9 hours, and I still wish I could regain those 9 hours of my life back.

4 out of 15 people found this review helpful.
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vampgirl00

Posted September 19, 2010

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Suspenseful, and emotional. A great read.

I'd heard a lot about the book before I decided I wanted to read it. I heard from friends that it was a great book but as usual it takes me a while to really listen to them. I was in english class and I noticed my english teacher had a couple copies of it in her room. So i figured I would read it. As I first started the book it was a really interesting plot. I think we all wonder if we know someone like Hannah. Someone who's dealt with so much in life that they are almost snapped. It's great to see how Hannah feels about things. I don't believe that Hannah is really blaming anyone. I just think she's saying how people can't really help her and that people did make her feel really overwhelmed and made her feel pain. I think she knows that it was the way she felt about life that caused her to end her life and not everyone else. With the emotions that Clay was obviously feeling, and how strong the tapes were and how emotional they were it really got me thinking. Thinking about life and about how I treat people. The book is an emotional ride and it kind of teaches you lessons on life and on people.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted July 31, 2010

A lesson for high school students

Reading this book as an adult, everyone can look back and remember their experiences in high school and how they affected us. Jay Asher does a wonderful job in telling Hannah's emotional journey to her breaking point, when she just could not take any more. I believe this book should be required reading at the high school level to make students think before they say anything about their classmates. I would recommend this book to all ages, it is suspenseful, powerful and unforgettable.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Gabriele_Mastro

Posted September 27, 2009

I Also Recommend:

Thirteen Reasons Why is AMAZING!

gabriele_mastro@yahoo.com
I am Gabriele Mastro, a student at Hewitt-Trussville High School in Alabama.
In Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, a boy named Clay Jensen comes home from school to a package with his name on it. When Clay opens this mysterious package, there are thirteen tapes in it. He is surprised to hear Hannah Baker's voice on these tapes, because Hannah had recently committed suicide. Hannah leaves instructions to listen to these tapes of thirteen reasons why she committed suicide and then to pass them on to the next person responsible for her death. Clay spends the night listening to the tapes, and finds out why Hannah committed suicide. Clay faces the truth that he wishes he never had to face.
I really enjoyed Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why. This novel was so suspenseful and made me want to keep turning the page. It deals with the serious issue of suicide, which I think can make some impact on the reader. It teaches to be more aware of how you treat others because you never know what others are going through in their life, and you would not want to add to their pain. It taught me that people do have an impact on others, whether you notice it or not. I would recommend this book to any girl.

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous

Posted November 30, 2008

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Insightful required read, IMO

This is an extremely insightful, well-written, and heart-wrenching book, which I'd highly recommend. I'd take away maybe half a star at most because the complete absolution of the viewpoint character, the only boy who remains utterly blameless, seems like a cop-out to me, as if he's on the list just to be the innocent one, so that the reader, looking through his eyes, can feel "innocent" as well, can feel some distance from the subject matter. It detracts from the lesson a little bit, for me. (Just a little.) But the emotions explored and the situations presented feel very true and real nonetheless. Some of the situations might be "R-rated," sometimes terrifyingly so, but really, if they were not, do you think this girl would have felt the need to commit suicide? And do we really think kids are not already going through this stuff every day?
(I especially admire that the author makes his readers aware of the nature of predators, using the character who collects sexual "conquests" like trophies, who dehumanizes his victims. Young ladies, if you find yourself with a young man who makes you feel as if you are not there, as if you are somehow less of a person than he is, listen to your gut feelings and get the heck out. Actually, young men, get the heck out too, it's not only girls who get victimized.) Read the book and learn something that could save your life.

4 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Thirteen Reasons Why You Should Read This Book

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Excellent Read

Reviewed by Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius" for TeensReadToo.com

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Disappointed.

A Student Review

As a mom...

At a loss of words!

Awful Book.

Infuriating

5 star book

oh wow.

13 Reasons Why

Do Not Waste Your Time!

Suspenseful, and emotional. A great read.

A lesson for high school students

Thirteen Reasons Why is AMAZING!

Insightful required read, IMO