Thirteen Reasons Why

I just finished Thirteen Reasons Why. All I can say is "Wow." It was so moving, so surprising. Hannah's story changed something in me, something permanent. I wish I could go back and say those words, the secret- the absolute dire- words that others needed to hear. But, I can't and that's what's so sad.

One day, Hannah Baker, normal teenage- high school- girl, doesn't show up for school. She's just another no-show, until the words get out that she killed herself, one day, for "no reason" she takes a handful of pills and she's gone. Then two weeks later, Clay Jensen, receives a box of tapes on his front door. Compelled to listen, because really... who listens to tapes anymore?, let alone packages them up and sends them around to random people?, he pops in the first of seven tapes and hears the voice of Hannah Baker crackle into the headset. She's going to tell the listeners why she killed herself and surprise, if you received them, then you're one of the reasons why, one of thirteen reasons why. The rules- you must listen to each tape and pass them along to the next person in line- or a second set will be released and then everyone will hear what it was exactly that you did to help Hannah seal off her life. And so the story begins...

Excerpt from "Thirteen Reasons Why" : In the back of our class, Mrs. Bradley also had a paper bag. It hung with the rest of ours on the spinning bookrack. We could use it - and she encouraged it- for notes about her teaching. Critical or otherwise. She also wanted us to recommend topics for future discussions. So I did just that. I wrote a note to Mrs. Bradley that read: "Suicide. It's something I've been thinking about. Not too seriously, but I have been thinking about it." That's the note. Word for word. And I know it's word for word because I wrote it dozens of times before delivering it. I'd write it, throw it away, write it, crumple it up, throw it away. But why was I writing it to begin with? I asked myself that question every time I printed the words onto a new sheet of paper. Why was I writing this note? It was a lie. I hadn't been thinking about it. Not really. Not in detail. The thought would come into my head and I'd push it away. But I pushed it away a lot.

Are you, or someone you know, considering suicide? Then know that there is help, visit The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline's website: www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org or call 1-800-273-TALK.

Title: Thirteen Reasons Why
Author: Jay Asher
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