Review: Thirteen Reasons Why

 

Title:  Thirteen Reasons Why

Author:  Jay Asher

About the Book:  Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box 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. 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. 

My Review:  I had heard alot about this book, from other blogger, before I ordered it.  My online book club decided to read it for our first book.  All I have to say is, what a way to start!  I read this one in less than a 24 hour period because I just couldn't put it down.  It had me that hooked!  When a book does that, I know it's a good one! 

One thing that I enjoyed about the book was the writing.  It was done so differently.  The author wrote from Clay's point of view, and also from Hannah's.  When the point of view changed, so did the typeset, making it easy for the reader to differentiate, not that you need that to tell the difference in the characters.  Clay is your typical high school boy, admiring a girl from afar and never telling her.  When will they learn?  Hannah is like many high school girls, troubled, but no one knows until it's too late.

There were times in the book when I thought, "just get on with it, already."  In the end, it was all worth it though.  You would think that someone who took the time to make tapes explaining all the reasons she was committing suicide would be reason enough to not do it.  Then, the question comes up, as with all suicides, "how did no one know; why couldn't anyone see hte signs?"  I'd imagine that everyone on the tapes is kicking themselves for not seeing it, not helping her.

The content of this book is definitely geared toward high school kids and up, although there are some very mature middle schoolers that would "get it."  Girl or boy, I think it's a must read for either gender because it is something that they will more likely than not, face in life.  It's sad that there are so many kids out there that have these feelings and no one ever knows about them.  I really enjoyed this book, even though the content is heavy.