From the Bookshelf of YAholics Anonymous!…

Thirteen Reasons Why

Jay Asher

Start date: June 1, 2013

Finish date: June 30, 2013

Discussion: Group Read

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What Members Thought

Jul 23, 2016 Katherine rated it it was ok · review of another edition

”'I hope you’re ready, because I’m about to tell you the story of my life. More specifically, why my life ended. And if you’re listening to these tapes, you’re one of the reasons why.'”

And I hope y’all are ready for my review, because I can already hear the cans of Haterade being opened as I type this.

The premise of this book is pretty simple: A high schooler named Hannah Baker commits suicide, but before she does that she records the thirteen reasons why she decided to do the deed, and how thirteen people were involved in that decision making, either directly or indirectly. And for the whole novel we follow a boy named Clay Jensen, who is listening to the tapes Hannah recorded, trying to figure out how this whole mess occurred and the part he plays in it.

To be perfectly clear, this is probably just the case of ‘It’s not you, it’s me’ type of scenario. One could argue that it’s because I have a heart of stone that’s as black as my hair (that’s debatable). Others could argue that I simply may be too old for this type of book (I’m a curmudgeonly, decrepit 21-year-old). I think it’s a combo of me being too old for this type of book and being mature to realize one very important thing: I didn’t agree with the main character’s decision.

**Haterade pouring intensifies**

My disagreement doesn’t come from a feeling of suicide being wrong, if that’s what you’re thinking. I think it’s tragic and I pity those who feel that it’s the only way to end their pain, but I’m not a religious nut who believes that those who do such a thing are damned, horrible, or any other of those names. No. The main problem I had with Hannah’s decision, and the entire premise of the novel, is that I thought those thirteen reasons she gave for ending her life were.... rather juvenile.

If I were a teen reading this from my teenage perspective, maybe I would’ve identified with it more. As an adult reading this from an adult perspective, I had a very different reaction. Lord knows the teenage years can be hard and difficult, but if we had every teenager committing suicide because of the reasons Hannah gives, we’d have no teens left. Hannah just didn’t win my sympathy or pity, and we’re talking about someone who pities Jeffrey Dahmer after reading My Friend Dahmer. When you’re pitying a serial killer more than a teenage girl, something’s wrong. All throughout the novel it was Hannah basically making a mountain out of a molehole, if I’m being blunt. And I lost all empathy, pity, or sympathy for her when (view spoiler) I’m sorry, I don’t care how broken down or beat you are, you don’t do that.

Another thing that I didn’t particularly like about this book was that it just focused on one perspective: Clay’s. I would’ve liked more inside perspective on the other twelve members on the tape and their reactions. Did they really get it? Do they realize the ramifications of their actions? From just getting one perspective, we don’t really, truly see how Hannah’s death affected others. It kind of makes the message of this book, over time, meaningless.

This isn’t necessarily a horrible book, just misguided. I honestly think it will depend on how old you are and your mindset towards these types of things. My take on it may be a bit (scratch that, a LOT) controversial, but that’s me looking at it from an adult perspective. That and it’s completely unrealistic in its portrayal of suicide and depression, but we can save that for another time when I have my child and adolescent development thinking cap on. It depicts suicide in an unrealistic way, had a character I found very hard to sympathize with, narrow perspectives, and most importantly, thirteen very uncompelling reasons why Hannah Baker ended her life. ...more

13 likes · Like · see review

Mar 20, 2015 Mkittysamom rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: neurodiverse, ya-luv-all, contemporary

Honestly I thought the book was just ok. Maybe because I am past my high school years but it seemed kinda petty. I was a wild child. I just don't get the parent part of this, I am a mother and will I be just as dumb to not notice or....? ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Dec 08, 2014 Rachel rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult

Wow what a book! Every time I picked it up I was completely sucked in, not paying attention to anything around me. Even though you sort of know the end, you have to keep reading! This is really heart wrenching, and it is not really a happy story, but it leaves a window of hope.

This is an excellent book for any teenager to read.

2 likes · Like · see review