Thirteen Reasons Why

Reader reviewed by Chantel

Before taking her own life, she tapes 13 reasons why she did it.
She did because of the guy in the hot tub. She did it for the guy she liked, that she never knew liked her.
She did for 13 reasons you've got to read. It will make you think about how you treat other people.
and how you change thier lives with your words with meaning it.

Reader reviewed by stephanie

Clay Jensen found a shoe box filled with cassette tapes when he came home from school. The package had his name on it and when he opened it, he found that the cassette tapes were from his classmate, Hannah Baker, who had committed suicide just two weeks before. At first, he thought he had nothing to do with her death, however, when he pressed play on the first cassette, he found that he was one of the reasons why she had committed suicide. Her voice tells him that if he continues to listen, hell find out why. There are seven tapes with thirteen different people and thirteen different reasons why she had felt compelled to die. Before her death, he had received a map and using the map as a reference; he went and traveled to each of her appointed destinations. Through out the night, Clay traveled and listened to each of her reasons. He becomes a first-hand witness to Hannahs pain and learns the truth about himself something that he had never wanted to face. This book started as a flashback, the morning after he had finished listening to the tapes, and ended with Clay learning to overcome his weakness allowing him to spread out his hands and help others. This book has a strong sense of reality and will keep you hooked.

Reader reviewed by Vanessa

Summary: Clay has just received cassettes that tell the story of his used-to-be crush's life, Hannah, who committed suicide. She explains her thirteen reasons to end her life and Clay (as well as the other 12 people) have to hear them. Throughout the stories, the 13 people will learn what really happened and everything Hannah has been through.

My Thoughts:
Hannah was amazingly well written. I understood everything she said. Clay got kind of annoying because he kept thinking in his mind as he was hearing the tapes. The ending is good. Mr. Porter made me angry, what kind of counselor speaks like that? It was intriguing. It got more and more serious as the book went on because at first I was like why would you kill yourself for that? I liked how everything was interconnected (if this happens, then it causes this). It was a great book. Go read it now!

Reposted at whatvanessareads.wordpress.com

Reader reviewed by bookworm9

When Clay receives a box of audio tapes in the mail, he's shocked to find they're a narrative from Hannah Baker, a classmate-- and crush-- who recently killed herself. Then he's horrified when she says these tapes have come to him for a reason-- because he's one of the thirteen people who led her to her decision.

Over the course of a long and tortorous night, Clay listens to all thirteen tapes, which go into detail about what caused Hannah's suicide. The book is set up like an eerie dialogue, as Clay responds to Hannah's words, but she obviously will never hear him.

There are a few twists in the narrative, but the way the story is told is the novelty, not the story itself. Clay is guilt-ridden but otherwise non-descript, and Hannah is bitter and self-pitying. The ending is not the greatest (a little too neat in its parallels), but it's an interesting, if pretty depressing, read.

(I would call it a fourteen and up book, though... definitely not for twelve year olds!!)

Reader reviewed by abscae

Well, Mr. Asher, I must commend you. One of first books you've written, and the first YA book at that, has been a huge success. And I cannot deny you any of the praise: you deserve it all. I have to say, while I was not entirely thrilled by Hannah, I was astounded by your writing. It was deeply moving and inspirational, and let us hope that your words carry us all to think before we act towards others. This book led me to tears because it was such a heartbreaking tale.

It also disappointed me. Nothing to do with your writing at all, I know when you produce more books in the future, I'll the first one to check them out of the library. No, it has more to do with Hannah's character. While I felt that she deserved recognition, I don't think that her actions were justified. While I love the idea that created the story, I hate the plot behind it. The tapes were great, don't get me wrong. I just hated the fact that Hannah, a human being who had the ability to think for herself, blamed thirteen other people for her action. While she might be justified in blaming them for causing her hurt, those thirteen people did not know that their minor actions caused something so catastrophic. Granted, this novel is a phenomenal tale of that, showing others what the smallest action can do. However, in committing suicide and sending those tapes out, Hannah took out her anger. And in doing so, she doesn't even realize that she could hypothetically become 'one reason why' for another.

However, I have to recommend this book to others. It was dawning and a simply amazing read.

Reader reviewed by Stephanie

At first, Clay Jensen is pleasantly surprised when he receives a mysterious packaged shoebox in the mail, with no return address. It contains seven audio cassettes. Then, the excitement turns to shock and even a little fear when through the speakers comes the voice of Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush&who committed suicide just two weeks before.

Clay doesnt really want to listen on, but Hannah has prepared the story of thirteen people, thirteen people who influenced her life and drove her to end it. Why did this beautiful girl, whom Clay has always been too afraid to get to know better, do this to herself? What is the significance of the tapes?

You cant stop listening and you cant pretend that you didnt hear her shocking story. What Clay learns about Hannah and several other people last night will stay with him for the rest of his life.

THIRTEEN REASONS WHY is a crazy-cool concept. I couldnt put it down; I dont think its possible, once you begin to read Hannahs words, since, like the characters in the book, how can you guiltlessly ignore her tragic tale? Readers get to know Hannah, that poor lost soul, pretty well, and Clay pretty decently too, but unfortunately I wouldve liked a little more information about all the other secondary characters in the novel.