From the Bookshelf of Topeka & Shawnee Co. Public Library…

Thirteen Reasons Why

Jay Asher

Start date: February 26, 2014

Finish date: March 25, 2014

Discussion: So Many Books, So Little Time

Discussion leader: Deb

Why we're reading this: March Selection for the Bean There, Read That Book Discussion Group
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So Many Books, So Little Time

My review of Wild
By Deb · 3 posts · 10 views

last updated Mar 07, 2016 08:02AM

These Things Hidden - A quick review
By Deb · 2 posts · 13 views

last updated Sep 02, 2015 07:48AM

What Members Thought

Aug 15, 2013 Deb rated it liked it

Disturbing topic but tackled in a unique way--Teen suicide explained through the voice of a girl named Hannah, who prepared a set of cassette tapes for a set of 13 people to listen to after her death. They are her "13 reasons why". The story follows one of these people, Clay, as he listens to the tapes and visits the places Hannah mentions in them. Stories of teasing, betrayal and abuse spew forth from the tapes, but at the end one may still be left pondering the big questions, "why did she do i ...more

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May 06, 2010 Laurie(Time Stand Still) rated it it was amazing

I bought this book in 2010 and it has sat on my shelf till last week. Last summer the high school girl, who watches my boys during the break, saw it and said I really needed to read it next, but there it sat. I had said to myself a few times that when I finished the book I was on I was going to read it next, but I didn't and there it sat. I made it a point last week, when I got close to finishing the book I was on, of putting this book on the corner of my desk to read next. I am so glad I did. I ...more

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Jul 27, 2011 Andrea rated it liked it

Shelves: fiction, young-adult

This was a difficult book to review, because I loved the concept, but did not like the execution. While I think that 13 Reasons Why is certainly a good book for teens and could prompt great discussions about suicide, I found that I had a very difficult time empathizing with Hannah. As a reader, I felt much more attached and sympathetic toward Clay, who I do not believe even deserved to be put through listening to her tapes. As the book progressed, and Clay continued to wonder why Hannah had not This was a difficult book to review, because I loved the concept, but did not like the execution. While I think that 13 Reasons Why is certainly a good book for teens and could prompt great discussions about suicide, I found that I had a very difficult time empathizing with Hannah. As a reader, I felt much more attached and sympathetic toward Clay, who I do not believe even deserved to be put through listening to her tapes. As the book progressed, and Clay continued to wonder why Hannah had not just said something directly to him (or anyone) about how she was feeling, you can’t help but agree with him. While there were clear warning signs that Hannah displayed, she also never outright said anything to anyone about what she was going through. Her character almost seemed judgmental or cynical at times, and while she obviously experienced some difficult events (particularly the later ones), I also felt that some of what played out was less than believable. For example, at one point she left a note for a teacher that said (in so many words): “I am contemplating suicide, could we discuss this in class?” Then the class apparently had a very short discussion, where the basic consensus was that the person who wrote the note should come forward publicly so they could give them “proper advice.” I cannot believe that any self respecting teacher would leave it at that without at the very least reaching out to the person in class, asking the student to talk to them or another trusted adult privately. Surely such a note would not be treated so lightly. All in all, I found it frustrating to go through the entire book knowing that Hannah did have the power to help herself so many times, but she didn’t. As Clay continuously asks, why didn’t she do something?

Aside from having a difficult time connecting with Hannah, the book itself was often hard and almost confusing to read. Although the words spoken by Hannah and Clay’s thoughts were separated, it was often difficult to go so quickly from one to the other without having to go back and re-read what was going on. I also had a hard time keeping track of all the various classmates that were introduced, as a lot of their characters blended together and I often had to flip back in the book just to make sure I was remembering each person correctly. Overall, I felt there was very little character development (even with the main characters), and I never really felt invested in anyone, except for the fact that I thought Clay did not deserve the pain brought on by the tapes. I also found the ending a bit predictable (obviously not the suicide, but Clay’s sudden realization in the last few paragraphs). This is one of those books where it is clear throughout that every character is introduced for a specific reason, so I thought the event in the last few pages was foreseeable from about halfway through the book.

Having said that, I do love the premise of 13 Reasons Why. The idea that every action has far reaching consequences is a great lesson for any teen, especially when so many fall victim to the same petty rumors and jokes to which Hannah was subjected. The book has provides a great opportunity for discussion and contemplation, and I really think many teens will love and learn from the book even though it does have flaws. In the end I did not hate the book, but I also wonder if it was as successful as it could have been.
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May 29, 2013 Melanie rated it really liked it

Thirteen Reasons Why is about why teen Hannah Baker takes her own life. It is told though Hannah Baker and the receiver of the tapes Clay Jensen. Suicide is something that has touched my life, and I'm always curious why someone would want to end it all - especially when they are young. I enjoyed the different way this story was told, and that made me appreciate it more than if it had been told in a more traditional perspective. ...more

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Mar 28, 2017 Katey rated it it was amazing

Shelves: media-tie-ins

Reading this book really gets a person thinking. As I was reading this, and thinking about everything that she went through, I wanted to be her friend. I wanted to step up and help her through everything she talked about. I'll be watching the Netflix series of the same title, and maybe more questions will be answered. ...more

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Mar 12, 2014 Miranda rated it really liked it

Shelves: bean-there-read-that

Like the narrator of this novel, I was sucked into Hannah's story and couldn't stop listening. I read the book in one evening, with a break of only a couple of hours in between the first and second halves. I was still thinking about it during my time away, and my mind has returned to it often today. One of the most surprising qualities of this read is that while it is a dark and powerful book about suicide, it didn't bring me down--it woke me up. It was also very eye-opening, and raises importan ...more

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Apr 09, 2017 Kelly rated it it was amazing

Such a deep and serious subject matter, but I think Asher did an excellent job of portraying the types of issues teens face and how badly lies and rumors hurt. I can't believe this book was published 10 years ago and I'm just now reading it. I've watched several episodes of the Netflix series and will continue to watch. ...more

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Apr 12, 2011 Kara rated it it was amazing

This is one of the most powerful books I have ever read. Everyone should read it no exceptions, breathtaking and life changing. Very few books I have read have moved me as such.

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