Library Reads:Jay Ashers's Thirteen Reasons Why

In Jay Asher debut novel he finds a unique way to work around the narrative perspectives to make it from one person's while capturing the thoughts and feelings of another person's mind by incorporating tapes they have left behind. While this does take some getting used to it the way he tries to depict two people's live is unique, and appreciated as a way to mix up the way people might think of how you go about narrating someone's life.

Hannah Baker leaves thirteen reasons on tapes for those she feel were apart of her suicide in some way for them to listen to. While most the people affected her negatively, Clay finds he is one of the few on the tapes that she felt kindly to before taking her own life. Hannah shares how her first kiss, and the implications after that continued her on a downward spiral after the students begin a rumor of her sexual reputation around school. As Clay listens he is given the burden of knowing who these students are, and his own part he could have played before she died.


Thirteen Reasons Why is a strong book for an author to make himself a name. It deals with some very tough topics, and also gets dark.  Considering the recent rise of teen suicide and bullying though it also seems to hit at a time it is relevant. Basically the book seems to explore the domino affect of how something continued to grow from person to person, male and females both responsible until it leads this girl to consider that her only chance to get away from it is to take her own life, but also let the ones left behind know they will still be accountable for what they have done.

Hannah Baker doesn't start off too likable for some reason. While she is definitely has a reason to think what she releases on the tapes for some reason being spiteful just isn't appealing to read especially since Clay has also this thrown on his shoulders just for almost essentially bumping into her, and interacting like a normal teen. You do wish that someone would stand up for these people that Hannah has come in contact with that have hurt her. It turns out she isn't the only one who has been mistreated as she reveals so if she doesn't say something then who will?

The book does read depressing most the time, but it does keep you intently fascinated as you read by the characters. There are some moments you can barely put down the book as you get lost in reading it. Clay is the one that you end up feeling the most for, so the ending you hope at least ends up okay for him. The lesson within that Jay Asher pulls out is also a good one in the hopes of improving the way teens interact with each other.

Thirteen Reasons Why is a book unlike most on the young adult shelves these days. The tone is quite dark the whole through, but the ending pulls hope from a very grim situation. The book becomes more about what Clay can do to learn from this afterward instead of Hannah. What has been done there can't be changed. You also do hope that justice finds it's way to those who were revealed to be the ones who were seeking to damage the lives of others.

Rating 8 of 10.