Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher

Cover:

Bibliographic Information:

Title: Thirteen Reasons Why

Author: Jay Asher

ISBN:  978-1595141712

Publisher: Razorbill

Copyright: 2007

Reader’s Annotation:

How would you react knowing you played a role in someone's suicide?

Summary:

Clay received a package in the main, which contains a series of cassette tapes.  When he goes to play them, her realizes they are from Hannah Baker, a girl who recently committed suicide.  Each tape side contains a story about a specific person who somehow contributed to her suicide.  She leaves instructions for the listeners to listen to the tapes, then give them to the next person on the list; failure to follow the instructions will result in the tapes being publicly released for everyone to hear.  As Clay listens to the tapes, he reflects on the specific stories and the people involved; he also follows a map that Hannah has included to accompany the stories.  Clay gets to his story and realizes he did not do anything negative, in fact Hannah found him to be kind.  Once Clay listens to all the tapes, he has to decide if he is going to pass them on to the next person on the list.

Critical Evaluation:

The subject matter of this book is very intense.  The story involves a lot of difficult situations, include sex, substance abuse, and bullying.  However, these topics are not discussed in a way that is lurid; they are central to the story, and handle in a way that makes sense within the plot.

The narration of the story slips from Clay, as he is recounting his experience with the whole situation, and Hannah, as she tells her stories in the tape.  This leads to a very unique style of story, in that a character is speaking from beyond the grave.  However, because Hannah is telling her stories while emotionally heightened, she comes across as a bit of an unreliable narrator.  All we know of the other people in Hannah’s stories is what Hannah tells us; for the most part, they are not all the well-developed throughout the rest of the book.

There is a bit of ambiguity in the story that can be frustrating for readers.  For example, the other people on the tapes are an important part of the story, and we never learn what happens to them at the end of the book.  There is a decided lack of resolution.

Still, Asher has created a very strong story.  Both Hannah and Clay are very thoroughly developed, which is important since they both serve as narrators.  Readers are left wanting more regarding the other characters, however, both in terms of development and resolution to their stories.

Author Biography:

(from author’s Amazon page)

Jay Asher's debut YA novel, Thirteen Reasons Why, has appeared regularly on the New York Times bestsellers list for the past nine years. It has sold over 2.5 million copies in the United States alone and is currently in production to be a thirteen-part series on Netflix. His second YA novel, The Future of Us, was coauthored with Printz Honor winner Carolyn Mackler. He is also the author of the forthcoming What Light. His novels have been translated into thirty-five languages. Visit his blog at www.jayasher.blogspot.com and follow him on Twitter @jayasherguy.

Genre(s): 

Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Curriculum Ties:

Pennsylvania State Standard CC.1.3.9-10.K

Read and comprehend literary fiction on grade level, reading independently and proficiently.

Booktalk Ideas:

A discussion on the warning signs of teen suicide

A discussion about resources available for teens struggling with suicidal thoughts

          

Reading Level:

Lexile 550

Interest Age: 

14 and up

Challenge Issues: Could be challenged based discussion of bullying and suicide, as well as teen substance use and sexuality.

  If this book were challenged I would:

·         Listen to the concerns of the person raising the challenge

·         Consult the library’s collection development policy

·         Explain how this work meets a library need based on the collection development policy 

·         Consult YALSA’s Dealing with Challenges to Young Adult Materials

·         Consult reviews on VOYA, Amazon, Common Sense Media, and Kirkus

·         Discuss any awards or notable commendations the book received

·         Explain the library’s commitment to intellectual freedom as discussed in the ALA Library Bill of Rights

·         Give the patron the procedure for a formal challenge should they seek to pursue it

Why was this book selected:

Teen suicide continues to be a large issue, both locally and nationally.  A girl in my library’s school district died due to suicide several years ago, and many of the library regulars took it quite hard, as she was involved in the library a lot.  It is important that teens have access to books that discuss teen suicide, and the aftermath that other teens face, including survivor guilt.