Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher

As Clay Jensen comes home one day, he finds a package for him containing tapes. As he listens, he recognizes Hannah Baker's voice and the reason he received these tapes. Hannah tells Clay that he was responsible for her horrible death. As Clay listens to the tapes and goes to the spots in town that Hannah tells him to, he finds out secrets that alter his life. Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher, is a powerful book that explains a girl's loss in humanity. I learned a lot from this book like what rumors and drama can do to a person's life. I recommend this book to any teenager who loves a little amount of suspense and drama. - Reviewed by CL, grade 9. .

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

I really enjoyed reading this book because it was interesting to find out why someone might commit suicide! Most of the book was pretty much Clay listening to the tapes. I would recommend this book to everyone! It was an exciting mystery and the suspense was killing me, waiting for the moment when Hanna would mention why Clay is one of her reasons. I felt scared for Clay and I couldn't stop reading. The author did a great job of drawing in the reader and making them interested. I honestly haven't read a book this good in a long time, I liked it a lot!

-Reviewed by Melody N., grade 9.
Central Library

Anonymous said...

best book ever

Anonymous said...

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher is about a boy named Clay Jenson who gets a mysterious box on his front porch. Inside he discovers thirteen 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. So all night he listens to the tapes and follows Hannah's recorded words throughout his small town. The journey is dark, as we experience Hannah's descent from the excitement of moving to a new place and first love, to disillusionment in those she thought to be her friends, to loss of trust and privacy, to disappointment in herself and finally to ultimate self-destruction.
This book is personally one of my favorite books. It is mesmerizing, suspenseful, and addictive. The approach is brilliant. I was hooked from the start and I felt some of the male protagonist's frustration, not knowing just who's gonna be blamed, and why he made the list. The suicide topic is important if a bit depressing and the mystery element keeps the reader plunging along. This book was spectacular. I couldn't put it down. I loved Hannah's voice, and thought it was really creative how Asher did a simultaneous narrative. This book was engrossing and will stay with me a long time.
Reviewed By: Emily R., Grade: 9
Montrose Crescenta Branch Library

Anonymous said...

This book has two main characters, Clay and Hannah. We follow Clay as he listens to Hannah’s suicide tapes. Hannah, Clay's crush, committed suicide and she has thirteen reasons why she did it. She recorded 7 tapes explaining how little things added up to her decision. Almost everybody she knows is a part of her suicide. People are supposed to listen to the tapes and pass them on to the next person on her list. This story is sad and heartbreaking.
Personally I thought it was amazingly done and very realistic. There weren't any embellishments or glorification, it was true portrayal of teen suicide. We go through the story with Clay while he is listening to Hannah's tapes. The narration goes back and forth between the tapes and what Clay is doing/thinking. I really though this was a great way to pace the story and build up the suspense. And every single page is full of suspense. I really could have stayed up all night reading it.

Reviewed by Iren H., grade 10
Glendale Central Library


Teen Speak said...

Clay Jensen returns home from school one day when he finds a package in front of his door. He discovers that it's a shoe box containing seven tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who recently committed suicide by overdosing on pills. The tapes were mailed to a classmate with directions to pass them from one student to another, like a chain letter. In the tapes, Hannah explains to thirteen people how they played a role in her death, by giving thirteen reasons explaining why she took her life. Hannah has given a second set of tapes to one of their classmates and warns the people on the tapes that if they don't pass them on, the second set will be leaked to the entire school.

13 Reasons Why was a wake up call for readers. Making us aware of our actions and the people around us. It relates to teens because there are so many stories on suicide. Suicide and bullying are such a well-known topic that it is bringing awareness into our lives. However, it's still an issue. Reading about Hannah's story made me think twice about what i say and do.

Reviewed by Karla S., grade 9
Glendale Central Library

Teen Speak said...

Clay Jenson comes home to a set of cassette tapes in a package from a girl who committed suicide recently, Hannah Baker. Hannah lists the people that led her to commit suicide tape by tape. Hannah says that each person has to pass the tape on to the next or else a copy of all tapes will be released to the public by an anonymous person. Hannah gives Clay places to go around town so he'll see what she went through that led her to suicide. Clay stops at the park where Hannah got her first kiss, a diner, Hannah's house, Monet's cafe and much more. Hannah says that her life goes downhill like a snowball going down a mountain getting worse and worse.

"13 Reasons Why", by Jay Asher, is a great book that is focused on the topic of suicide. I would recommend this book to young adults and up because the topic might be a little too serious. I liked that it was detailed about the places Hannah was at that the incidents happened. I thought the way Hannah explained why she was being affected by the incidents so much was unclear. Other than that this book was amazing.

Reviewed by Elen S., grade 9
Glendale Central Library

Teen Speak said...

Th1rteen R3asons Why is about the tapes Hannah Baker records about the thirteen reasons why she commits suicide. In the tapes, Hannah tells the listeners to pass the tapes on to the next person mentioned in them. She starts with a boy named Justin who disappointed her, and goes on to list everything and everyone who played a part in her unhappiness and eventual suicide. Clay, a boy in Hannah's school, receives the tapes anonymously and has a life-changing experience listening to them.

The idea of the book is very interesting, and that was what caught my attention in the first place. Although it was sad and tragic, the book did not live up to my expectations. It was dull throughout and the main character became annoying. There was also a lot of repetition. That said, it was a unique book because it gave the story of Hannah's suicide in her own perspective. Overall, I would give this book a 7 out of 10.

Reviewed by Rebecca S., Grade 9
Glendale Central Library

Teen Speak said...

A boy named Clay Jenson one day comes home after a school day. He Arrives home and finds a box addressed to his name. When he plays the tape that was inside the box he hears Hannah Baker voice. Hannah was he’s classmate also a girl he had a crush on who committed suicide 2 weeks ago. On this tape Hannah explains that the tape has to be passed around to a list of people. These people on the list have some part in her decision her suicide. If they decide to not pass the tape around a copy of the tape will become public. Clay is on the list of people who need to hear the tape but before he can he has to wait he’s turn to hear why he is on the list.

This story is perfect for the person who loves to read a story that has a little about everything. It has the compents of love, loss, betrayal a little bit of everything. This story taught me to make sure that I make sure to treat people nicely because you never know what that person is going through and you might have a bigger impact on them then you really thing about. Always treat someone as kind as possible remember you can change their life forever.

Reviewed by Marta R., Grade 12
Glendale Central Library

Teen Speak said...

In the book Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher is about a boy in highschool named Clay. One day Clay goes home as usual after school and when he gets to his doorstep there Is a person sitting down with a package. When Clay opens the box it is has seven cassettes in it that were recorded by a girl named Hannah who had killed herself. The book is called thirteen reasons because there are thirteen reasons to why she committed suicide. After, Clay notices a boy named Skye who is showing signs of suicide and tries to stop him.

My opinion on this book is that it's very heart breaking. Suicide is a very delicate topic. I think that this book not only touched my heart but of others as well. No body deserves to commit suicide because of anyone putting them down or anything. I would recommend this book to my friends. I think they would like it. I think it was a good idea that Clay talked to Skye when he realized he was showing signs of suicide and could prevent it.

Reviewed by Jacqueline, Grade 9
Glendale Central Library

Teen Speak said...

Thirteen Reasons Why is a book about a teenage girl named Hannah Baker who was in a stage of life were she gave up on who she was because of who she was surrounded by thus leading to a point in her life were she could not take the accusations, assumptions, and most of all rumors. It all started with her moving into a new town the summer before freshman year. In her opinion she was a good kid, studied, friendly, and of course just like most teenagers had some fun as well. Hannah met this boy who was a year older then her also known as her first kiss, to Hannah at least. Well that boy named Justin took pride in having Hannah and decided to tell his friends they did more then just kiss. Thus, starting Hannah off as an easy target. School starts and Hannah already has a reputation everyone seems to believe without even hearing Hannah's side of the story. That was one of 13 reasons to why Hannah ended her life. The way she tells these 13 reasons is through tapes. Before she ended her life she told her side of the story, what she was feeling, and how no one seemed to feel what she was going through. The tapes were started with Justin her first kiss which connects to another 13 people that affected her life except for Clay. One of the 13 people who should have not been in those tapes rather was given an apology from Hannah.

Thirteen Reasons Why was all in all a good book. I thought that it dragged on for too long. I just wanted to know why the one person who was supposedly a good person, was in the tapes. The book although tells a good point about life. How we don't really know what a person is going through unless we see it from the inside. It tells us that we need to be cautious of what we say and believe about people. I defiantly would recommend this book to anyone who is feeling down about them self, teenagers, and young adults. Lastly, to anyone who is unsure about them self and is feeling lonely there is hope and don't be afraid to talk too people about anything!!


Reviewed by SB, Grade 12
Glendale Central Library

Teen Speak said...

Clay Jensen, a typical high school student, gets back home from his school to encounter an odd box with his name on it, filled with cassette tapes. The audio on the tapes is recorded by Hannah Baker, a fellow classmate who committed suicide a few weeks earlier. On the tapes, she states that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Each person who received a box is one of them. Frightened yet compelled, he continues to listen to the tape. As he listens, he experiences an emotional roller coaster as the inevitable truths and pieces of his life and of the others who received the tapes fit together to culminate and create the source of Hannah’s pain.

In this heartbreaking yet inspiring novel, Jay Asher demonstrated exemplary writing skills, using different nuances and ambiguities that contribute to a sense of suspense that is incredibly compelling. He weaves the complex personalities and thoughts of both of the main characters through a dual narrative that seamlessly flows. He demonstrates the ability to create a wide variety of characters that all serve a purpose and develop as the story allows it without making it seem like a forced transition or adding any cliches.
The incredibly thought out plot took me on a journey as I fell in love with the characters , cried for Hannah, felt sorry for Clay, and hated the antagonists. His message that all choices create a ripple effect in which that choice might have a considerable impact on society was truly inspiring and gave me a broader understanding of teenage suicide. One of my golden lines in this book is, “No one knows for certain how much impact they have on the lives of other people. Oftentimes, we have no clue. Yet we push it just the same.” Books like these make me wish that I could get to a point in my life where I can influence young kids and teach them to embrace their precious lives and maintain hope through adversity. One critique I do have about this book is that a few of the reasons did seem a little petty and might be offending to a reader who does experience these thoughts; however, these reasons did contribute to a powerful crescendo ending.

Reviewed by R.O., Grade 10
Casa Verdugo Library

Teen Speak said...

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher follows Clay Jensen in the day his life changes forever. The day he finds the tapes anonymously left on his doorstep. The tapes that justify the 13 reasons why, the 13 people why, Hannah Baker committed suicide. Not only is Clay unaware that he played such a significant part of Hannah's life, but he learns that he never really knew Hannah or the ordinary/seemingly innocent people at his school. Clay follows Hannah's voice and map around their town and tries to understand Hannah better in one day after her suicide than he ever did when she was alive.

All I can say about this novel is wow. I mean I completely understand why this book is so loved by teens. Although, in all honesty, I did expect a lot more out of this book (because naturally I had very high expectations) I am still very pleased with this book and very moved by its simple yet profound message. If there's one thing you learn from Thirteen Reasons Why, it's that every action, no matter how meaningless it may seem at the moment, has a significant effect, whether originally intended or not. After this novel, I'm going to be a lot more aware of what I say and do, and also to look out for other people more. If this novel doesn't make you become a more compassionate, aware, and overall more caring person, then you're reading it wrong. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the novel It's Kind of A Funny Story or Mitch Albom's writing.

Reviewed by Nayri T., Grade 12
Casa Verdugo Library

Teen Speak said...

A young girl named Hannah Baker had committed suicide during high school and recorded audio messages for the 13 people who lead her to the idea. After her death, the messages were sent to Clay Jensen, a boy in her school who had a crush on Hannah. The tape said that the audios must be sent to each of the 13 people or else a copy or the tape would be released to the public for everyone to hear. After listening to all the audios, it was clear to Clay why he was one of the reasons she killed herself.

I really enjoyed reading this because it wasn't like the other average books you would usually read. This book isn't a book with a happily ever after. It was sad, dark, and yet surprisingly light. Even though it didn't have a happy ending, it was nice and interesting to read. I would recommend this book to everyone because it was amazing and it taught a really great lesson. The lesson is that you should be kind to one another because you never know what's going to happen.

Reviewed by Milena A., Grade 9
Montrose Library

Teen Speak said...

This novel is all about a teenage girl named Hannah Baker who has committed suicide. Before she killed herself,she made a bunch of cassette tapes explaining why she has did this traumatic thing and she delivers the box of tapes to one of her closest friends Clay Jensen. While Clay listens to these tapes,Hannah explains to him the people who were involved with the bullying that she had to encounter in the past and the people who she had felt that made her commit this tragic end of her life. Examples of the people involved were Alex Standall,Jessica Davis,Bryce Walker,Justin Foley,and Zach Dempsey. Hannah also tells Clay to pass on the box of tapes to the next eight people who were involved in her life that way they can know the whole story.

In my opinion,I thought this book was somewhat written very bad and too literal for me to understand. This book had so much detail on the big scenes such as when Hannah and Bryce had a "moment". I suggest that if you have never watched the actual series yet on Netflix,read the book first that way you won't feel that you have been given spoilers. I think that maybe if I read the book first,I would've gotten the whole point of view of this novel but instead I watched the series first. All seasons so far. Also,this book was pretty long in explaining Hannah's backstory. There was even way more detail in the first two to three chapters rather than in the conflict or rising action. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone since you can get a view of what the story is by watching the series. So whichever teens are out there asking themselves "Should I get this book?",well then your answer can be yes and no at the same time.

Reviewed by Hannah R., Grade 9
Downtown Central Library

Teen Speak said...

“Thirteen Reasons Why” is a young adult novel written by Jay Asher. The novel mainly focuses on Clay Jensen, a young high school student. The story starts after Hannah Baker’s suicide, also a young high school student and who was friends with Clay Jensen. Before committing a suicide, Hannah left behind thirteen tapes explaining why she decided to end her own life. As the tapes are being played and explained, the novel changes between the past and the present. Explaining the cause and effect of how things changed.

The lessons that were taught to us while reading the book, made me to like it a lot. I think that everyone who is facing a hard time in their lives should read this book. I am sure that it will change their lives. This book made me feel the pain that Hannah Baker felt. This was possible because of how the book described what Hannah was feeling. It really reached out to the people who were reading the book.

Reviewed by Jonah, Grade 9
Glendale Central Library