Thirteen Reasons Why
by Jay Asher
"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."
Clay Jensen discovers 7 cassette tapes on his front porch after returning home one day. Once he begins to listen to these tapes, he realizes that a recently deceased classmate, Hannah, has sent them to him. Hannah had taken her own life and now was sending these tapes to the people she believes are responsible in part for her death, and Clay happens to have made the list. Readers follow his journey through the tapes, through each story of how peers of his contributed to the death of a classmate who was silently begging for help. Each person, whether in a small or large way, added to Hannah's desire to end her own life. Through revealing each story, readers realize just how much all of our actions impact those around us, whether we intend for them to or not. As Hannah states in this heartbreaking novel, "No one knows for certain the impact they have on the lives of other people. Oftentimes we have no clue." (Kindle 156)
Thirteen Reasons Why is an extremely interesting read. As a reader you hear the first person recollections of secrets and hidden stories, as told by a young girl who committed suicide. Yet simultaneously you are experiencing the same happenings through the ears of Clay, and getting his personal thoughts on the events as well.
There were two aspects of the novel that stuck out to me as extremely positive for readers. First of all, this young adult novel truly causes readers to assess their everyday actions. As you see the events that led to Hannah taking her own life, it becomes evident that a lot of the people involved had no idea the immense impact that their actions had on her. Many of those who received the tapes, whom as Hannah states herself "are one of the reasons why" she chose to kill herself, had no clue that they had negatively effected Hannah in such a way. Clay is no exception. We see his inner thoughts, consistently pondering what he could have done to make this select list. As Hannah addresses another member of the list she declares, "I'm sure you have no idea why you're on here, Alex. You probably think you did a good thing right? You voted me Best Ass in the Freshman Class. How could anyone be angry at that? Listen." (Kindle 36). The importance of this is that as readers we ask ourselves how we treat others. Could we possibly be affecting others in the same negative way without even realizing it? Boys hitting on girls while objectifying their bodies, girls using each other to climb the social ladder, drinking, rumors; these are all occurrences that most teens witness at some point or another during their high school careers. Yet this book could serve as a wake up call to the effects of such actions, and could even be a cause for teens to steer away from these types of situations after considering the possible repercussions. The second positive aspect of this novel is a much less significant part of the novel. To avoid spoilers I will not say more than to state that the ending to this novel provides hope; Hope that the devastating death of a classmate and her choice to bring these issues to light may actually be the reason that people reach out to help others who may feel the way she did. Ultimately her message may save a life that is in jeopardy. At one point Clay reflects on the stories he has heard, "The signs were all there, all over, for anyone willing to notice." (Kindle 234) He recognizes these signs and due to this, he may be able to recognize them in others around him before it is too late.
While assessing the book in regards to the ten criteria of the Image and Encounters Profile, this novel did prove to be a bit problematic in some aspects. It upheld some of the ten criteria such as depicting acceptance not ridicule and illustrating characters in a realistic manner. I believe that by making the novel so culturally relevant to a large amount of high schoolers (through including such a wide range of experiences for Hannah, making it easy for many teens to relate to this book and to it's characters) Jay Asher depicts Hannah in a "one of us" mentality and in a mostly positive light. Yet, this novel to me promoted much more pity than it did empathy. Hannah is consistently sharing stories of people hurting her. She is always stating things such as, I bet you didn't even know how much you hurt me...or how could you do such a thing to another person. It is constantly asking us to feel sorry for Hannah. The author sets up this pattern at the beginning of the novel when Hannah explains, "As I was telling the story, I was thinking the same thing to myself. A kiss? A rumor based on a kiss made you do this to yourself? No. A rumor based on a kiss ruined a memory that I hoped would be special. A rumor based on a kiss started a reputation that other people believed and reacted to. And sometimes, a rumor based on a kiss has a snowball effect." (Kindle 30) From this point on, Hannah seems to have no power in what happens to her and she states all that people have taken from her and done to her. The only power she seems to be given is obtained by killing herself and making the tapes. Which I found extremely problematic and also made me question what message this would send to a teen who may be considering suicide themselves. I also question how positively Hannah is displayed throughout the novel, as a teen suffering from depression. Readers often see Hannah as someone who is vindictive and revengeful on those who hurt her and often times the novel seems to provoke feelings of anger toward Hannah for making the tapes and hurting the people on the list, some of which whom never meant to hurt her.
The ten criteria are:
Clay Jensen discovers 7 cassette tapes on his front porch after returning home one day. Once he begins to listen to these tapes, he realizes that a recently deceased classmate, Hannah, has sent them to him. Hannah had taken her own life and now was sending these tapes to the people she believes are responsible in part for her death, and Clay happens to have made the list. Readers follow his journey through the tapes, through each story of how peers of his contributed to the death of a classmate who was silently begging for help. Each person, whether in a small or large way, added to Hannah's desire to end her own life. Through revealing each story, readers realize just how much all of our actions impact those around us, whether we intend for them to or not. As Hannah states in this heartbreaking novel, "No one knows for certain the impact they have on the lives of other people. Oftentimes we have no clue." (Kindle 156)
Thirteen Reasons Why is an extremely interesting read. As a reader you hear the first person recollections of secrets and hidden stories, as told by a young girl who committed suicide. Yet simultaneously you are experiencing the same happenings through the ears of Clay, and getting his personal thoughts on the events as well.
There were two aspects of the novel that stuck out to me as extremely positive for readers. First of all, this young adult novel truly causes readers to assess their everyday actions. As you see the events that led to Hannah taking her own life, it becomes evident that a lot of the people involved had no idea the immense impact that their actions had on her. Many of those who received the tapes, whom as Hannah states herself "are one of the reasons why" she chose to kill herself, had no clue that they had negatively effected Hannah in such a way. Clay is no exception. We see his inner thoughts, consistently pondering what he could have done to make this select list. As Hannah addresses another member of the list she declares, "I'm sure you have no idea why you're on here, Alex. You probably think you did a good thing right? You voted me Best Ass in the Freshman Class. How could anyone be angry at that? Listen." (Kindle 36). The importance of this is that as readers we ask ourselves how we treat others. Could we possibly be affecting others in the same negative way without even realizing it? Boys hitting on girls while objectifying their bodies, girls using each other to climb the social ladder, drinking, rumors; these are all occurrences that most teens witness at some point or another during their high school careers. Yet this book could serve as a wake up call to the effects of such actions, and could even be a cause for teens to steer away from these types of situations after considering the possible repercussions. The second positive aspect of this novel is a much less significant part of the novel. To avoid spoilers I will not say more than to state that the ending to this novel provides hope; Hope that the devastating death of a classmate and her choice to bring these issues to light may actually be the reason that people reach out to help others who may feel the way she did. Ultimately her message may save a life that is in jeopardy. At one point Clay reflects on the stories he has heard, "The signs were all there, all over, for anyone willing to notice." (Kindle 234) He recognizes these signs and due to this, he may be able to recognize them in others around him before it is too late.
While assessing the book in regards to the ten criteria of the Image and Encounters Profile, this novel did prove to be a bit problematic in some aspects. It upheld some of the ten criteria such as depicting acceptance not ridicule and illustrating characters in a realistic manner. I believe that by making the novel so culturally relevant to a large amount of high schoolers (through including such a wide range of experiences for Hannah, making it easy for many teens to relate to this book and to it's characters) Jay Asher depicts Hannah in a "one of us" mentality and in a mostly positive light. Yet, this novel to me promoted much more pity than it did empathy. Hannah is consistently sharing stories of people hurting her. She is always stating things such as, I bet you didn't even know how much you hurt me...or how could you do such a thing to another person. It is constantly asking us to feel sorry for Hannah. The author sets up this pattern at the beginning of the novel when Hannah explains, "As I was telling the story, I was thinking the same thing to myself. A kiss? A rumor based on a kiss made you do this to yourself? No. A rumor based on a kiss ruined a memory that I hoped would be special. A rumor based on a kiss started a reputation that other people believed and reacted to. And sometimes, a rumor based on a kiss has a snowball effect." (Kindle 30) From this point on, Hannah seems to have no power in what happens to her and she states all that people have taken from her and done to her. The only power she seems to be given is obtained by killing herself and making the tapes. Which I found extremely problematic and also made me question what message this would send to a teen who may be considering suicide themselves. I also question how positively Hannah is displayed throughout the novel, as a teen suffering from depression. Readers often see Hannah as someone who is vindictive and revengeful on those who hurt her and often times the novel seems to provoke feelings of anger toward Hannah for making the tapes and hurting the people on the list, some of which whom never meant to hurt her.
The ten criteria are:
- Promotes empathy not pity.
- Depicts acceptance not ridicule.
- Emphasizes success rather than, or in addition, to failure.
- Promotes positive images of persons with disabilities or illness.
- Assists children in gaining accurate understanding of the disability or illness.
- Demonstrates respect for persons with disabilities or illness.
- Promotes attitude of "one of us" not "one of them."
- Uses language which stresses person first, disability second philosophy, i.e. Jody who is blind.
- Describes the disability or person with disabilities or illness as realistic (i.e., not subhuman or superhuman.)
- Illustrates characters in a realistic manner.
Blurb from Sherman Alexie: "Thirteen Reasons Why is a mystery, eulogy, and ceremony. Twenty or thirty times, I snapped the book shut when a sentence, an image, or line of dialogue was too beautiful and painful. But I, afraid and curious, would always return to this amazing book. I know, in the years to come, I will often return to this book."