Th1rteen R3asons Why in Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge

Jan 07, 2012 Barb Novak rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, audiobook, realistic-fiction

I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did.

The premise is interesting. Hannah Baker commits suicide. Before she swallows the pills, she mails a shoe box of seven audio tapes to a classmate. Each side of each tape features Hannah talking about a person in her life (13 people total) whose actions impacted her in an irreversible way. The tapes are mailed from person to person until all 13 people have listened to them. Hannah wants each person to hear - from her - how they impacted her life. T I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did.

The premise is interesting. Hannah Baker commits suicide. Before she swallows the pills, she mails a shoe box of seven audio tapes to a classmate. Each side of each tape features Hannah talking about a person in her life (13 people total) whose actions impacted her in an irreversible way. The tapes are mailed from person to person until all 13 people have listened to them. Hannah wants each person to hear - from her - how they impacted her life. The story is narrated by Clay; his interaction with Hannah is featured somewhere in the middle of the tapes.

Thirteen Reasons Why is not a feel good, "here's what you can do to prevent suicide," bullies repent kind of story. The reader only gets Clay's perspective about Hannah's recordings, and Clay's interactions with Hannah were positive. It would have been interesting to experience the recordings through a character who mistreated Hannah.

And, I really struggled believing some of Hannah's experiences. She isn't overtly a victim of bullying. She's more of a victim of gossip. She has her first kiss, and the boy tells stories about it to others in school. These stories lead her peers to think she's a slut which leads to other demeaning sexual experiences - like being groped in a restaurant booth. The gossip impacts her self-esteem which impacts her ability to stand up for others, too. At one point, she has an opportunity to stop a date rape and chooses not to.

Thirteen Reasons Why is being challenged in a couple of local school districts. Both are using the novel with ninth grade students. At one point, I was recommending this book (based on other's recommendations and reviews) to middle school students. After reading it, I will be very selective about which middle school kids I recommend this to. And, I have mixed feelings about whether the book warrants teaching at any grade level. It's a book worth talking about in a small group setting. The sexual situations and language are graphic, but they are necessary to move the story forward.

I respect that Jay Asher didn't use this novel to tell a preachy or obvious story about suicide, and I really enjoyed the structure and organization of the novel. In the end, though, it just didn't work for me.

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Jun 05, 2017 Jennifer rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: do-not-own, quick-read, young-adult, library

3.5 stars bumped to 4.

I read this after watching the Netflix series, and while I thought both were well done, the Netflix series definitely hit me harder, and I think did a better job of showing how one person's decision can impact so many others. I can see how teenagers reading this book would be seriously affected - whether they're in Hannah's position, or just someone that knows a person that needs help. Honestly, I would wager that most high-schoolers could identify with Hannah at some poin ...more

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Jul 07, 2011 Tara rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: loved-it, personalgrowth, peaked-my-interest, favorites, ya-teen

It didn't take me very long to read this book, I think probably 2 or 3 days. I need to digest it before I even begin to attempt to write a review. First thoughts -- great YA/teen book! In many ways, I wish this book had been around when I was teen. I will write a review in the coming days, I feel like there are some parts I need to reread before I sit down and write about this book. I loved it though, I can definitely say that and the subject matter isn't exactly one that leaves you with a "warm ...more

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May 04, 2010 Nicole rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, 2012

This is written for a teenage audience, and I suppose the point is for that audience to read it and consider that their actions have a ripple affect and that they should stop and consider the way they treat people.

However, as an adult reading this, I was annoyed at the teenage angst used as an excuse for suicide. Yes, there are a lot of parts of your teenage years that stink, and minor things seem to be the biggest events in the world. However even when I added up her 13 reasons, they really did ...more

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Mar 07, 2010 Terri rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: all_part_of_the_job

i'm sorry...i felt like i should like this book...i didn't ...more

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Jul 14, 2011 Jamie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read, mymap

While this is a depressing book and topic, it was a different way to write the story that made it interesting. This book makes you think twice how your actions and words could impact someone.

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