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Thirteen Reasons why

Asher, Jay, 1975- Book - 2008 Teen Fiction / Asher, Jay, Teen Book / Fiction / Social Issues / Asher, Jay None on shelf No requests on this item Community Rating: 4 out of 5

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When high school student Clay Jenkins receives a box in the mail containing thirteen cassette tapes recorded by his classmate Hannah, who committed suicide, he spends a bewildering and heartbreaking night crisscrossing their town, listening to Hannah's voice recounting the events leading up to her death.

REVIEWS & SUMMARIES

School Library Journal Review
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Summary / Annotation
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COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Great submitted by xjasx on June 16, 2012, 11:50pm A really good book, I was lenient on reading this at first, but after A LOT of convincing I read it and you would not be dissapointed

Good submitted by ColeenT on June 24, 2012, 9:13am I thought it was a good read.

Amazing submitted by saira29 on July 13, 2012, 12:29pm I loved this book it's really sad

wow submitted by unknown on July 30, 2013, 3:08pm Called "eerie, beautiful, and devastating" by The Chicago Tribune, Thirteen Reasons Why centers on high school student Hannah Baker and her classmate Clay Jenson. Before committing suicide Hannah recorded a series of tapes and sent them to the 13 people she believes contributed to her death--including Clay. Told through Hannah's tapes and Clay's thoughts as he listens to her voice from beyond the grave, Jay Asher's novel is a "a stealthy hit with staying power" exclaimed The New York Times, with an Amazon customer noting that, "Even if we’re not on the list, we feel the same horror, frustration, and powerlessness as Hannah’s listeners do, all thirteen steps of the way.” Both brilliant and devastating, Thirteen Reasons Why is a powerful novel about the ways in which people hurt, help, and love one another.

Parental Advisory: suicide.

Creepy submitted by zidrissu on August 21, 2013, 2:51pm Spoiler Alert: SO when I first read this someone had let me borrow it but when they took it back I hadn't finished however I was near the very end. What I do know is I felt really bad for Clay, the main character, who is being "haunted" by this dead girl who is bringing on revenge to people who bullied her and people she is disappointed in for the most part. (Clay never bullied her she just wish he had tried harder to socialize with her even though he was shy and she was his crush............)Basically its a chain of letters and cassette tapes, some of which are addressed to just a particular person. Quite frankly I was wondering where her parents were because the system she created to "haunt" these individuals was complex and well thought out, meaning there should have been enough time for a responsible adult or individual to intervene. It also means she had enough time to really think about choosing suicide which makes this book even more unfortunate. I don't advise this for sensitive people and quite frankly I wouldn't let some teens read it. That's just my opinion. However I did enjoy the mystery and suspense of it all, not her death.

Eh. submitted by Zulayka on August 29, 2013, 6:21pm It was kind of irritating. I found the ending very disappointing and just weird. I didn't find it creepy or exciting, I got bored cuz it was soo predictable and was annoying me. Blaming people for your death is just weird and pathetic own up for your actions. But whatever if you like that kind of thing read it.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! submitted by Lizzy on June 30, 2014, 10:46am I FREAKING LOVED THIS BOOK *FLIPS OUT*

Loved it submitted by Motomori on July 17, 2015, 11:54am I really enjoyed reading this book. Despite the fact that some people that it was creepy or irritating, I thought it was a very good book about how even the little things you do can affect a person greatly. I'm not sure if this will help start a worldwide revolution of respect and kindness towards others, it would be a good start to talk about this in schools. Not just with textbooks, but have an ACTUAL discussion about students/teachers points of view on the subject.

Sad submitted by jmao on June 22, 2016, 1:27pm I loved this book, and I'm glad that it addressed certain topics.

Mental Health submitted by Kobeske on June 21, 2017, 9:10am I read this book to give me insight into the issues teenagers are dealing with. Mental health issues are a real problem for today's teens.

Amazing submitted by syedaayeshar on July 6, 2017, 10:31am Amazing and a good book

really sad submitted by KOH on August 29, 2017, 8:56pm Could be a trigger for depressed people. I don't recommend it.

It was okay submitted by cordeliar on June 16, 2018, 4:01pm The beginning of the book didn't make sense because the main character was commenting on things that he had nothing to do with. Once we got closer to his story, it got more interesting and his comments made more sense.

Very sad submitted by lguenthner on June 17, 2018, 2:27pm Do NOT READ this. In all fairness, it is a good book, but it could trigger depressed and unstable people to commit suicide as well. It will also make you cry.

Mistake of a book submitted by EJZ on June 24, 2018, 9:53am Ugh. After reading a few YA books I picked this little mistake up. Plodding through the first third of the book, I finally realized it wasn't worth my time.

The big problem is the girl you are supposed to empathize most with, Hannah, is hard to listen to. She reads like one of those preachy friends who post lots on Facebook about how "real friends will always make time for you," when they are the themselves flaky as all get-out.

It feels like a trivialization of depression and suicide, which is unfortunate.

meh submitted by priscilladu on June 27, 2018, 12:16pm I wasn't a fan of the book in general. The story is meaningful and sad, but it wasn't that interesting.

Good submitted by zmclaugh on July 27, 2018, 8:37pm This is thought provoking and intense.

It was alright submitted by c_zhang on June 27, 2019, 10:20pm Not the best. It glorifies mental illness and parts of the story don't make sense.

Eh submitted by Serena1118 on July 23, 2019, 6:31pm Glorifies mental illness too much

Terrible submitted by zora on July 28, 2019, 4:57pm This glorifies mental illness. I would not read this book whoever you are. This gives people without mental health problems the wrong view of them and those with it a distorted reality to what they "should" act like.

Good book submitted by jasonc1177 on July 31, 2019, 7:44pm good book....

No submitted by autumnmist on August 15, 2019, 3:53am Wasn't my favorite book. Now I am a huge fan of the show. But the book was sad and not at all detailed.

13 Reasons submitted by Clown81 on August 31, 2019, 4:32pm Why.

Worthwhile book featuring a suicide submitted by mickplu on July 3, 2022, 6:48pm This could also be used as a middle-grade novel. I picked this book up at our Friends of the Library sale and I was pleasantly surprised that the book did not depress me as it deals with the suicide of a high school student who leaves behind cassette tapes explaining her decision. There's much to be learned from the book and the author included a question and answer section at the end.

Amazing submitted by Jooyeon on July 2, 2023, 5:47pm I was curious what the thirteen reasons were when I read the back and how they could be so devastating, which is why I read this book, but everything so well connected and the reasons were very relatable. Definitely one of my favorite books.

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PUBLISHED
New York : Razorbill, 2008.
Year Published: 2008
Description: 288 p.
Language: English
Format: Book

READING LEVEL
Lexile: 550

ISBN/STANDARD NUMBER
9781595141712
1595141715
159514188X
9780451478290

SUBJECTS
Suicide -- Fiction.
High schools -- Fiction.
Interpersonal relations -- Fiction.