Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers 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.
It's a story all high school students can relate to: feeling ostracized, stigmatized, rumor-ized. Sometimes it doesn't take much to bounce back from being "ized" but for some people, there is no bounce. Hannah Baker tells thirteen of the reasons she takes her life in a series of tape recordings. There is dual narration, which was authentic throughout the book. And there is a snowball effect that leaves a feeling of being trapped, like Hannah was.
I felt sorry for Clay. And I wondered what this book would have been like if told from any other tape recipient's point of view. How they may have rationalized their effect on Hannah.
It was compelling and I had a hard time putting it down. The companion website has some audio that enhances the experience.
1 comment:
I read this, I don't remember the details but i didn't like it. I don't quite know what the book's message is because it felt like the girl was blaming everyone for making her kill herself considering that suicide is such a selfish act that leaves a lot of people very guilty and hurt.
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