Book: 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Book Info: Published by Razorbill; 170 pages

Source: an e-book via the library

Genre: YA/Contemporary

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Goodreads Summary: Clay Jenkins returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers 13 cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker–his classmate and crush–who committed suicide two weeks earlier. On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he’ll find out how he made the list. Through Hannah and Clay’s dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

I wanted to like this book, I really did.  But I couldn’t.  I found myself getting more irritated as the book went on.

I get feeling like suicide is your only way out, and normally, I’m really sympathetic towards characters who struggle with depression and suicide.  But I couldn’t muster up any sympathy for Hannah.  When she’s narrating her reasons why, she comes across as really angry and intent on blaming everyone around her.  So instead of sympathizing with her and feeling her desperation and pain, I felt like she had this whole “look at what you made me do” attitude.

Her reasons why seemed so simplistic, and I don’t blame people for thinking she had no reason to.  Everyone has their own breaking point, and this just happened to be Hannah’s.  Yeah, stuff happens, like rumors and bullying, but it doesn’t mean it’s okay to spread rumors or anything.

But anyway, Asher made it seem so simple and easy when most of time, it’s not as simple as 13 reasons.  There wasn’t enough context, and had the entire book focused on Hannah, instead of her narrating her reasons and Clay’s thoughts on the tapes, I think we might have gotten more insight into Hannah’s life.  All you get is 13 reasons, and nothing else.  I can’t help but wonder if there is a bigger picture, because I want to believe there is.

I did like the idea of her recording different memories, and the idea of the tapes being passed along.  I try not to be all nit-picky, but where on earth did she find tapes?  And where are a bunch of teenagers going to find a Walkman?  I guess it’s going to be dated in a year or two anyway, no matter what technology is being used.

But Clay’s reaction to Hannah’s narration didn’t work for me, especially when you learn that he didn’t actually do anything to hurt her.  And poor Mr. Porter, who ended up on the list because Hannah didn’t actually tell him what she was really thinking.  She pretty much baited him into giving her the answer she wanted to hear.

Even with all of my complaints about the book, there were a couple things I liked.  One, you never know how your actions and words can affect others.  Yes, you may be joking, but the other person might not see it that way.  And two, if it seems like someone is suicidal, talk to them.  Or tell someone who can help them.

Overall, I give it a 1 out of 5.  So much of the book didn’t work for me, and it can  something that’s already stigmatized much more so.