Thirteen Reasons Why

-Jay Asher

Clay Jenkins returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers 13 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.

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Well. I read through this book like a freight train. I did not enjoy the subject matter, yet I cannot deny its remarkable pull on me to complete the book in mostly one sitting. First, I feel the subject matter was thoughtfully approached and the machinations of one narrator listening to another narrator on cassette tapes was unique and intriguing. Next, while I don't pretend to know the inner turmoil of a suicidal teen, I just didn't feel the story's reasons were enough to warrant suicide. Perhaps I am falling victim to what the author alluded to; when people hear "suicide" they think of people being selfish or seeking attention and they become impatient with the taboo subject as a way to distance themselves from it. Perhaps it is a remnant of self-preservation similar to being reluctant to approach or touch dead things - so the death and/or stigma of suicide doesn't contaminate. I don't know. Then, other reviewers have stated how this book helped them out of a dark place and I applaud that these readers were able to resist the darkness and prevail. Last, I do feel this is a thought-provoking novel and a good way for adults to approach discussion of suicide, signs of suicide ideation and suicide prevention with teens.

Heidi Y.