Thirteen Reasons Why
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Would this be ok for a thirteen year old?
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Marcia
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rated it 5 stars
Jul 04, 2011 10:55AM
I do agree that there are verry graphic and adult scenes in this book. But after being a mother of two girls who are now 18 and 19, I know that 13 year old girls no longer play with American Girl Dolls. It is ashame that our children don't get to stay children during their coming of age years. I'm not sure that a middle school library would be the best place for this book, but I am all for letting a 13 year old read it and discuss what they have read with a parent.
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I am 13 right now and my parents bought this book for me. It takes a lot of maturity and courage to read it but this turned out to be one of my favorite books. The subject is very untouched and it may be good, and very imformative for a girl my age to read. You can learn a lot about the topic of suicide through this well written book.
I read it at 12 is wasn't that bad.
So it has a "couple" of adult scenes in it. They are no worse than what the kids see on TV every day, or even hear on the radio in the rather explicit hip hop songs they play on the radio all day. It's a matter of perspective :) Even my 11 year old son knows all about the birds & the bees just from watching music videos & listening to the older kids talk!
It all depends on your child. Some may be able to handle the book at twelve or thirteen but some might not. The book deals with suicide and the cause of it. The subject is definitely not to be taken lightly.
I read this when I was 13 and I understood it all. There wasn't anything bad. It was just really sad.
The sad thing is, is that there are children as young as 11 committing suicide due to bullying etc. So maybe it could be thought of more as a rude awakening type of education for our youth. Personally I though this was a uniquely written story and really got me thinking. It was a while ago when i read it but i do not remember it being overly vulgar. I would think it ok for a 13 year old.Hope this helps. I actually listened to it on audio and really enjoyed it.
As a teacher of 13 and 14-year-olds, I would not recommend it. The content is very heavy and disturbing and most kids of this age are not ready developmentally for it. Middle school, no. High school, yes.
I read it when I was 13 and I thought it was fine. Yeah it could disturb some people, but it didn't bother me at all.
Hey, I am thirteen and I read these types of books. It really depend on where they're at.
Absolutely not! I think the issue itself being suicide is too heavy a subject. I was 18 when I read this book and it affected me a lot. Personally I’m a very emotional person so it was definitely a tear jerker. I mean I guess it all depends on the 13 year olds maturity level but overall there are a lot of other strong topics in the book like rape and suicide itself that I don’t believe to be appropriate for young readers.
I work at a library, and there are several 13 year olds that have read and checked this book out. I would say that it would depend on the maturity of the child. It's not very graphic, as say Picoult's 19 minutes, but it is deep and thought provoking.
there is a bit of sexuality, drinking and drugs i beleive.
I think that it would depend on the thirteen year old. Some would be okay with it, like my sister who thought this book was really good, but then others may find it too much of an emotional and mature book. I would, myself, let a thirteen year old read it and if they didn't like it then it'd be up to them to decide whether they would want to continue with it or not.
I think it would be ok for a thirteen year old 2 read... I read it when I was 13
I think to read this book the person would have had to have read a mix of books before, to get used to understanding different emotions. If you don't read much and then just randomly pick this book up (as a 13 year old) it would be confusing and depressing. But I think if you've read other books before it would be ok. I read this book at fourteen and liked it. But I said what i said based on experience. One of the first novels I read that was longer than a hundred pages was Twilight. I read that at 11. And let's face it, Twilight's story isn't very deep. But it scared me to death. I read some other books, and when I went back to it, I realized it wasn't as bad as I thought, after getting used to the way different authors describe different situations, I was able to look at the story differently. But IDK, that's just my opinion.
It's fine for a thirteen year old to read. I mean, unless they've never been exposed to anything whatsoever. But really, just because you read a book about suicide doenst mean YOU'RE going to want to commit suicide, and it's no different for a thirteen year old. It's slightly mature, but most thirteen year olds could read it, I think. I know when I was thirteen I read books slightly more mature like this and it never made ME want to follow their example.
i'm 12 and i read it. BUT if you don't usually read books for young adults that include death, violence and things like that, don't read it.
i almost commited suicide after reading this. im 13.
I think it's fine. I read it, and I'm eleven. The content was quite mild compared to other things I've read- and my parents will let me watch almost any movie or show. I think it's perfectly fine for even a super protected 13 year old
I read this book when I was about 13 or 14 and I thought it was fine for my age. It does depend on the maturity of the child however. If your 13 year old is mature enough then they should be just fine. I know many young teens who have read this book and they were fine. Again it depends on the maturity of the child.
i think i am mature enough. and this is all about being sensitive on touchy subjects or not. if u find some things close to your own story, this book might be affective in bad ways...
Considering this book is aimed at 12-15 year olds, I would say yes. Most of the kids in my 7th grade year read this book, and they all loved it. My personal opinion is don't limit what your kids read (to an extent,) because really, they need to learn about stuff like this one way or another. This book has a really settling ending and comes full circle, kids will be left happy with the ending and feeling like they are better prepared and happy with it.
Well,I am 13 and I just got finished reading it so yeah(: In my opinion I thought it was really good. I'm more mature for my age though. (;
no one is reading my post. i mean it. i almost KILLED MYSELF after reading it.though still, its my fav book
well obviously you took it a different way. That's to be expected. I'm sorry it gave you that reaction, but if you aren't against 13 year olds reading it... the point is you didn't, you are still here. You had connections with it and that scared you into suicidal thoughts. But as you thought it over you realized you shouldn't and learned a valuable life lesson. That's the point of this book.
as i said, i think it was very proffesionally written. i already was depressed.
Some things can be triggering, but we can't put everyone in a protective bubble. Guidance would be helpful, which is why I think it would be a good book to read in school (well, one of the reasons). That's what teachers are for.
Well, Im 12 and I read it when I was 10!
Pam wrote: "I work in a middle school library and have girls asking for this book all the time but we don't have it because of the content. That said, I liked it and would probably let the students who are as..."Its true!
i read it when i was thirteen but i'm really mature for my age. i think that it would not be okay for your average thirteen year old to read it.
Selin,Can you tell us why this is one of your favorite books even though it made you more depressed? Did it help you in any way?
After reading this book I would probably give it to a 14 year old or above. Unless they feel they are matuart and responsible already!
I think its ok for a 13 year old to read this. Especially girls, they could learn a lot from Hannah's story. About peer pressure, self esteem and how you could help someone in need.
ummm...it depends on the 13 year old. I read it when I was 12, but I was also watching Halloween when I was 7. It is a pretty intense book, but it's really good and it definitely sends a message. I think younger kids would find it kind of boring, just cuz it is more intense and depressing, but I think it would be fine for a middle schooler.
i think 13 year olds are going to find out sooner or later
I think it depends on the maturity of this 13 year old; Can they handle the more serious style of writing?
it depends on there personality i mean im 12 and it wasnt that bad
Quite honestly, I read worse books in fourth grade.
It depends on the thirteen year old. The best advice is to read the book first. If there are any themes you want to talk to your kid about or you don't feel are appropriate you'll know.
I would only recommend this book to 13 y.o. who are mature and could handle this. I was only 13, 14 now, when i read this book. I was scared for a little, not anymore. I know it won't happen to any of my friends, they're all happy. If the 13 y.o. isn't mature enough then they probably shouldn't read something this emotional and deep.
Over all I would have to say that this book was really good. I enjoyed the emotion and "love" between Clay and Hannah. I didn't want the story to end!! :)
I read this book recently and think it would be a good one for my daughter to read when she is 13 or so (8th grade), with plans to discuss it with her. It sends a message that I think is important for teens.
I gave it to my twelve-year-old daughter to read, but she and I talked about it as she read it. I thought it had an excellent message about exclusion and gossip mongering and what affect that has on the person being gossiped about and excluded. There are things she told me that she would do differently than Hannah, and that made me feel better about her reading it, too. We also discussed the date rape and drinking so that she understands what can happen at unsupervised parties. I know she's only 12, but the girl in the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson was only 14, because in that book the main character is raped at a party between her 8th and 9th grade years. Speak and Thirteen Reasons Why are actually very similar books, except the girl in Speak finally does tell someone what happened to her before she decides to end it all, like Hannah does in 13 reasons why.
mmm id choose to wait on that, the message is easily understood but hannahs life struggles and what she goes through seems to be on the mature side..id find another book like this one. but if you are edging toward letting a 13 year old read this, you can read it first (if you havnt already) and deceide then based on how well you know the 13 yr old.
Madelaine wrote: "i'm fourteen right now, but i just recently turned fourteen last thursday. i first want to say, overall, it was a really good book and i would recommend it for girl teens who can handle something d..."Wow Madelaine well said. The book made me feel sad and empty much the way a sucicide leaves a person feeling. I am not sure I would recommend it for 13, the main character was older (17-18) probably better to leave it for a couple more years.
I read it at 13 and it wasnt much more than u would get at school and I recommend this book to all. Also it shows you that little things can hurt it even stopped people I know from bullying
i think it would matter on the person. an immature 13 year old? no. but one who likes to read and understands things at a high school level then yes. but i would still wait till high school because its very deep. and i think you wouldnt understand it anyway. it might make you sick
It depends. I was bawling my eyes out at the end... So if you don't care about crying, go for it, if you rather save your tears then don't. But it toatlly gave me another view on the world.
i was also bawling my eyes out!! it is deep as many of you have mentioned but i have to say, i personally understood it very well. i mean i've read books that are for adults cecelia ahern (i've read all her books except for p.s. i love you which my parents won't let me read) and those cover things like miscarriage and death and things like that, which are quite deep if you ask me... but still. if you devore books that are for young adults orv even adults and if you are mature... then i guess you could :)
Not only is it okay for a 13 year old, I think it should be required for all middle schoolers. I am a middle school librarian and have it on my shelf. It is about a girl that has committed suicide, but the content is not too adult, just serious. This book shows how minor acts of bullying can add up! A great lesson for kids to learn!
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