Linsey Lanier
Sally Kilpatrick
Sia Huff
Romily Bernard
Darcy Crowder
Marilyn Baron
Tami Brothers
Sandra Elzie
Carol Burnside
Debbie Kaufman
Maxine Davis
Tammy Schubert
Susan Carlisle
Pam Asberry
Lindy Chaffin StartThirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Thirteen Reasons Why
By Jay Asher
http://www.thirteenreasonswhy.com/
ISBN-10: 1595141715
Publisher: Razorbill (2007)
Genre: Young Adult
Clay Jensen has no idea the box he finds sitting on his doorstep is about to change everything. The moment he hears Hannah Baker’s voice on one of the seven cassette tapes inside, he knows his life will never be the same. Why? Because Hannah Baker committed suicide two weeks earlier. On these tapes she left behind the names of thirteen people and the roles they played in her life; thirteen reasons that ultimately led to why she did what she did.
Clay has no clue why his name is amongst the thirteen people and the only way to find out is to listen to them all. It would be easier to just toss the whole bundle into the nearest trash bin, but Hannah has a solution for that, too. Either listen and pass them onto the next person who follows your name or suffer the humiliation of the tapes being made public.
As Clay spends the night following a handmade map and listening to Hannah’s story, he discovers things about his friends and himself that he never knew was possible. He also learns how even the slightest wrong can escalate into something much bigger. When Clay finally gets to the role he played in Hannah’s decision, will he be able to continue on the path he’s traveled thus far or will he find the courage to save another lost soul from this horrible fate? You’ll have to “listen” to the very last tape and read through the very last “page” to find out.
~~~~~
I seriously went back and forth with myself on whether or not to read Thirteen Reasons Why. I have a family member and several friends who have taken the suicide route and I really didn’t know if I wanted to re-open some of those old wounds. Yet the blurb and a previous review called to me each time I saw the book in the stores until I finally broke down and bought it.
I’m glad I did. Thirteen Reasons Why is now a favorite and will hold a permanent spot on my keeper shelf. Jay Asher did an excellent job of keeping the reader engaged in both Hannah’s heart wrenching story and in Clay’s perspective as the world he knows crumbles around him. This is not just a story about the end of a young girl’s life. It is the story of how snide comments and over-embellished lies can have an avalanche effect into something one girl ultimately couldn’t cope with.
Every person will come away with a completely different take on this story. Some will not be able to relate to how these seemingly small incidents could result in someone taking their own life, while others will empathize with all the crap teenagers have to cope with.
Me? I came away with a better understanding of what someone in this position goes through and how my actions could sway someone’s decisions. I highly recommend this story. Not only is it an eye opening look at what goes through one’s head during such a tragic time, but Thirteen Reasons Why leaves the reader in such a state of suspense over Clay’s contribution to Hannah’s decision that you have to keep reading to find out what it is he did and how he handles himself after. I loved every word.
Rating(s): 5 Petit Fours and 1 Hot Tamale (a sexual encounter is described)
Tags: Jay Asher, Tami Brothers, Thirteen Reasons Why, young adult
About the author
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Tami Brothers | http://www.tamibrothers.com I’ve always wanted to live a fun, sexy and exciting life. But when my clumsiness left me with an aversion to high heels, my fear of wardrobe malfunctions cut out those plunging necklines, and my skydiving instructor politely suggested I take up golf; I decided the only way to keep from breaking my neck would be to write about such a life.
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July 3rd, 2010 at 12:13 am
Do you recommend for young adults to read?
July 3rd, 2010 at 2:32 am
Wow, Tami, I hadn’t heard about this book, but you make it sound wonderfully engrossing.
Anna, I just checked and Amazon has it listed as young adult level.
July 3rd, 2010 at 7:56 am
Tami,
Your review was wonderful and really made me want to read this book. It’s a timely topic in the news and a.book I think everyone could learn from. Thank you for bringing it to our attention.
Marilyn
July 3rd, 2010 at 9:13 am
Anna had a good question. My daughter is an avid reader. She’s thirteen years old. I wonder if she might get something out of this story.
I, myself, feel that it would be something I’d really get alot out of.
What an intriging topic. Your review makes me think about a friend I had in high school. When she was in 7th grade she came home to find her father’s body after he’d commited suicide. Unfortunately he’d chosen to end his life where she might find him. The tragedy shaped her character. How could it not?
She was a very good friend, a sweet person and seemingly happy teen, but now and again she’d get this far away look in her eyes. And there was no denying the extreme despair that shimmered in their depths.
Gosh, I sound like a romance writer.
Anyway, you’ve written a wonderful review Tami. I believe I’ll pick this book up.
Like Marilyn said, thanks for letting us know about it.
Have a fabulous Saturday,
Tamara
July 3rd, 2010 at 10:32 am
Like you, I’ve had suicide touch my life and would never pick up a book like this…. until you reviewed it. Now I too may circle it for a while and probably pick it up.
Thanks for a great review!
July 3rd, 2010 at 10:44 am
Hello!
My name is Hannah. I just found your site and am excited to follow it!
My sister read this book and loved it. I’ve also had others read it and love it, but I just haven’t haven’t gotten to it….too many good books, not enough time to read!
One question though, how do I sign up to be a follower through blogger? There isn’t any ‘Follow’ message on the top, so can I or not?
Thanks!
Hannah
July 3rd, 2010 at 10:51 am
Hey Ladies! Thanks a ton for commenting. This was seriously a tough decision for me to even consider reading this book, but I am so glad I did. I HIGHLY recommend it to both adults and young adults.
Anna, the answer to your question is YES. I am seriously keeping this book to read to my son (or have him read) because it points out how one small comment or little white lie can escalate into what Hannah ultimately did. This story has made me think twice about some of the snarky things I say and what effect it could have on someone else.
I’d say even a thirteen year old could read it but I would definitely read it first to make sure the maturity level can handle some of the sexual innuendos that Hannah has to endure. I will say that a friend of mine wouldn’t let her seventeen year old daughter read it because of the premise, but I really think that particular girl could get more out of it than her mother realizes (JMO).
I have another friend who let her fifteen year old read it and that girl quickly passed it onto some of her friends. At this point, I believe that book has been read by twenty or more people in the last month.
Something fun to know, Jay Asher came up with the idea while touring a house (kind of like the Biltmore house) and listening to the tapes that tell about the different aspects of the house. He wondered how it would be for someone to be listening to a voice that was no longer there. Kind of creepy, but cool.
Also, for those that are interested, if you go to Jay Asher’s website, you can listen to 1 to 2 minute snippets of each tape in “Hannah” voice. Those sent chills up my spine.
Seriously, this is a wonderful book. Sad, yet I am happy with the ending Jay Asher left us with. I was able to close the book and not dwell on how I would have written it differently. Since I do that with most books I read, that is really saying something.
Tami
July 3rd, 2010 at 11:03 am
Hey Hannah!
Welcome to the site. Glad you found it. I hope you get to read the book. It is seriously a good one.
About the follow button, we are working on that. Since we are with WordPress, they don’t have a button like Blogger does. BUT we are looking into a different Google feature. Just have to figure it out and get it added.
Thanks for that reminder. I’ll have to make it a priority!
LOVE your blog. I’ve signed up to follow it. Thanks for stopping by!
Tami
July 3rd, 2010 at 2:14 pm
Actually, Tami, we have a follow button of sorts. It’s at the top of the right sidebar. Click on the three black bands in an arc and choose the Google logo (Blogger is a Google product.) to set it up. That should work.
July 3rd, 2010 at 4:07 pm
You could follow with that, but there’s no Blogger feature. I think a lot of people would love it if you figured out a way to do that. Listen to me making ‘demands’ already….: / Sorry!
Thanks so much Tami! I replyed to your comment. It’s a lot of fun blogging, but even more so when someone’s reading : )
Talk to you soon,
Hannah
July 3rd, 2010 at 4:15 pm
Hi Tami,
Great review. I’ve heard of the book, but haven’t picked it up…yet. I’ve never known anyone, personally, who committed suicide, only dealt with the aftermath when doing ambulance years ago.
Thanks for sharing this.
Sandy
July 5th, 2010 at 10:23 am
Hey Guys,
Just getting back here after a great 4th of July weekend. Thanks a ton, Carol, for that information on the link options. I had no idea that did that…grin…
No worries, Hannah. You aren’t demanding. We love it when our readers tell us what they want. If we don’t know, then we don’t know what we need to aim for.
Hi Sandy! I loved this book and think you might like it as well.
Tami