Asher, Jay (2007). Thirteen Reasons Why. Razorbill. ISBN: 9781595141712. 304 pages. $17.99.
Author Website: http://jayasher.blogspot.com/
Reader’s Annotation: Clay is surprised when he receives a shoebox full of cassette tapes narrated by Hannah, a classmate who recently committed suicide, which blame people for her death.
Summary: Hannah’s suicide surprised everyone, especially Clay. Even more surprising was the shoebox full of cassette tapes he found on his doorstep one day. These tapes tell the story to led up to Hannah’s suicide, narrated by Hannah. Each side of the tape is another person’s story. Listen to what Hannah has to say and then pass them along to the next person. If you don’t pass them along, an anonymous third party with release them to the public.
Clay doesn’t understand why he is on the tapes. He really liked Hannah and can’t think of anything bad he had done to her. Now he must sit through tape after tape. Each story adding to Hannah’s bad girl reputation or her few cries for help. Clay sits through each one, taking Hannah’s tour throughout town while trying to understand why Hannah chose to end her life.
Reading Level: Grades 7 and up
Interest Level: Grades 8 and up
Review and Evaluation: Books about suicide are always difficult to read. Thirteen Reasons Why is no exception. Asher makes the book even more intense by forcing us to listen to Hannah’s analysis of the situation after she had already committed suicide. In other books on the topic, we can watch the events unfold the lead to the possible suicide. There is always that chance that the character may change their mind and not go through with it. In Thirteen Reasons Why, we know there is no chance of alteration. Hannah does kill herself, no matter what comes about on the tapes. I had an unjustifiable hope that the teacher Hannah speaks with at the end of the tapes would stop her plans and help her, but we all know that was not an option. Asher makes his readers feel as helpless as Hannah did.
Asher executed this book perfectly. It would have had a completely different feeling if we did not get to experience Clay’s interjections as he listened to Hannah’s story. I listened to the audio version of this book. It was by far the most powerful audiobook experience I’ve ever had. It’s so much easier to hear two distinct kinds of helplessness in each of the narrator’s voices.
One of the greatest things about this book is that Asher includes the reactions of people left behind by the person who committed suicide. In several books about suicide, the main character tells the story so we only know what they know. Asher makes sure the reader understand that the actions of Hannah affect several people. It may seem like revenge is a good idea to Hannah at the time of the tapes’ creation, but the reader can see that it was a severe form of expression. In the book, Hannah says, “No one knows for certain how much impact they have on the lives of other people. Oftentimes, we have no clue. Yet we push it just the same.” She is referring to all of those who she viewed as negatively impacting her life. In truth, that statement also describes the effect her death had on others.
Subjects/Genres: Bullying, Death, Realistic Fiction, Suicide
Bibliotherapeutic Uses: Thirteen Reasons Why should be highly recommended for those who knew someone who committed suicide, thinks one of their friends may be considering suicide, or those who are thinking about suicide. Asher manages to hit every person who could be affected by a suicide. This book includes the signs to look for as well as the aftermath you would leave behind if you went through with it.
Controversial Issues:
Suicide – There are those who may say that Hannah is justifying her death. By blaming others, she is saying that suicide was unavoidable.
- Defense – It’s true that Hannah is blaming others, but if Asher wanted to create a book full of truth, he had to have Hannah think those thoughts. Those are the thoughts of someone who is considering suicide. However, it is very clear that Hannah’s choices were not right. Throughout the book, the reader feels Clay’s feelings which are crying out for Hannah to find someone to help her.
Booktalk Ideas:
Think over the day so far. How many people’s lives have you affected? Were those interactions positive or negative?
Explain the butterfly effect.
Awards and Booklists:
- South Carolina Book Award for Young Adult Book (2010)
- Florida Teens Read (2008)
- Georgia Peach Honor Book (2009)
- Kirkus Reviews Editor’s Choice
- California Book Award
- Abraham Lincoln Book Award Nominee (2013)
- Gateway Readers Award (2010)
- Heartland Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature (2009)
- Iowa High School Award (2011-2012)
- Sequoyah Book Award
Readalikes:
- Looking for Alaska by John Green
- Hold Still by Nina LaCour
- Aimee by Mary Beth Miller
- Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
- By The Time You Read This, I’ll be Dead by Julie Ann Peters
- Remembering Raquel by Vivian Vande Velde
Professional Reviews:
Dobrez, C. (2007). Thirteen Reasons Why (book review). Booklist, 104 (1).
Staff reviewer (2007). Thirteen Reasons Why (book review). Kirkus. 1 September 2007.
Staff reviewer (2007). Thirteen Reasons Why (book review). Publishers Weekly, 254 (40), 55.
Why I Chose This Book: Thirteen Reasons Why is one of the most powerful books I’ve ever read. It is so meaningful that I truly believe that everyone can get someone out of it.
Young Adult Controversial Titles 