Thirteen Reasons Why

Reader reviewed by Kayla (Midnight Twilight)

Hannah Baker is dead. All Clay knows is that she took pills. When a mysterious package arrives at his house he doesn't know what to make of it. There are seven cassettes inside it, with a number written in blue nail polish on each side, except for the last, it was one sided. Thirteen sides, thirteen connections that all helped lead to her suicide. When Clay starts listening he doesn't know what's going on. These are all people who hurt her in some way, all he did was have a crush on her. As Clay listens he learns more about Hannah and himself.

I heard so many good things about this book that once i got home from the book store (buying it) i wanted to read the first few pages and see if it measured up to how good i thought it'd be. Well, after i started reading i couldn't stop. This book was so amazing. The characters were very well developed, and the plot was very understandable and easy to follow. This book nearly brought me to tears.

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.

Reader reviewed by Megan

Th1rteen R3asons Why
Jay Asher

What do you do when you find out that you caused someone to commit suicide? Theres not much that Clay can do when he finds a box of tapes sitting in front of his door. He is even excited since there is no return address. However, not only does the first tape reveal his crush Hannah talking, who had killed herself, but he is stopped cold when he hears her say

I hope youre ready, because Im about to tell you the story of my life. More specifically, why my life ended. And if youre listening to these tapes, youre one of the reasons why.

What else can he do but to continue to listen to the thirteen tapes? He follows her story through the town and learns not only Hannahs story, but his part in it as well.
As you might have guessed already, I hardly have the words to describe this novel. Jay Asher presents Hannahs story in a clear, raw form, and doesnt shy away from what her story is all about: suicide. The reader is brought face to face with the knowledge that even the littlest of things can affect others immensely. I absolutely loved this novel, and it has now become my number one favorite.

Reader reviewed by Kelsey

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Bakerhis classmate and crushwho 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.


Incredible. It was so unique and creative and just wonderful. I absolutely loved this book. I like that it was like reading from two differnt peoples perspectives at once. Clay Jensen was the perfect person to view in their perspective. Hannah Baker was so different. When I closed the book and set it down I couldn't help but to get teary eyed. I didn't want it to end. I wanted to know what Clay would react to Bryce and what he would say to the others and I wanted to know if Skye was really suicidal as I was getting from the end of the book and if Clay really did help her or if it was to late. This book will having me looking at my school mates for warnings it will have me aware of suicidals in the future. I really loved this book and highly recommed it to other teens.

Reader reviewed by Rin

A girl, Hannah, who's just died has sent about 13 tapes, telling the story which provoked her suicide.

Clay Jenson, Hannah's crush, recieves the tapes and spends one night listening to her heart-wrenching story. A story that tells all the reasons why she chose to die. And each of the tapes are about one of the people which provoked her suicide. And Clay is on one of those tapes.

This novel shows how even small incidents can impact someones' life drastically. And it also shows an accurate potrayl of suicide.

I'd recommend this to everyone as everyone can relate to it and be touched by the story.

5/5

Reader reviewed by Jax

The story of Hannah Baker is told in this brilliant first novel by Jay Asher. Through a series of cassette tapes (who even uses those anymore?) the story of Hannah's suicide is told to the boy who misses her most, Clay.

This book goes through thirteen stories about thirteen different people that Hannah encountered in her life, and the reasons why they impacted her. It really opens up your eyes, showing you how one person and one single moment of the day can really affect someone else. The effects we have on people are hardly realized, but Asher does a fantastic job of portraying the high school experience and the crazy things that can happen, through the eyes of a girl who took drastic measures for not so drastic reasons. Definitely a perfect read for someone who is going through high school drama.

Reader reviewed by Lauren

This book was really good. Very different from the rest but still good. A girl has commited suicide, and she sent around a bunch of tapes to people who were kind of to blame for her death. This story is from the point of view of one of the recipiants of the tapes. This person, this boy didn't do anything wrong though. He liked her. He never betrayted her, but listening to these tapes made him feel guilty that he didn't try harder to stop her and save her.

Reader reviewed by the book muncher

One day Clay Jensen comes home from school to find a shoe box package with no return address. At first hes excited, but when he opens the box, he finds seven cassette tapes. And when he plays them, he finds that they were recorded by a classmate named Hannah Baker, a girl who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

Recorded on the tapes are thirteen reasons why Hannah chose to end her life. The reasons are all linked to specific people, and the tapes are passed onto those people in the order they are on Hannahs list. They are all, in some way, responsible for Hannahs death. Clay stays out the whole night, listening to the sounds of Hannahs voice leading him throughout the town, basically reliving select experiences from Hannahs life that lead up to her decision to end it.

Hannahs narration is interwoven with Clays actions and memories, which sometimes makes the story confusing to read. However, it does help to better understand both Clays and Hannahs emotions. Hannahs reasons for suicide are hard to read for Clay, who alternates between blaming himself and blaming Hannah for not letting Clay reach out to her. It was hard for me to read as well, and I cried many times while reading.

For a debut novel, Thirteen Reasons Why is exceptionally well written for such a serious topic. It is often difficult to address things such as suicide because many people dont want to discuss it. However, I think this book was wonderfully written. This novel thoroughly demonstrates the consequences of even the smallest actions and what the piling up of problems can cause, which Hannah refers to as the snowball effect. There are so many life lessons to be learned from this novel. I highly recommend this book because it has truly changed the way I think.

Reader reviewed by Mary

What leads someone to commit suicide? A question that people find hard to answer. Because the answer is something some people don`t want to hear. You may not know it but you may have done something that negatively impacted someone.


So Clay Jenson is surprised when he receives thirteen little tapes from Hannah Baker, his classmate who committed suicide. Hannah of the tape, explains that each person who receives this tape has caused her to commit suicide. The rules of the tapes are: Listen and then pass it on. And Clay starts listening and learns the truth about Hannah`s life...



This book is a truly touching story. It was very well written and even though Hannah you know that Hannah is going to kill herself at the end you`ll find yourself wishing that she hadn`t.