Author: Jay Asher
Publisher: Razorbill
Copyright: 2007
ISBN: 9781595141712
Reading Level/Interest Age: Grades 8-12
Genre: Issues--Bullying
Reader’s Annotation: Hannah Baker's "Thirteen Reasons Why" are 13 people whose actions contributed to her suicide.
Plot Summary
Hannah Baker was Clay’s longtime secret crush. Just weeks after they finally kissed, she committed suicide. Two weeks later, Clay arrives home to find a package with his name on it. Inside are cassette tapes Hannah recorded before she died. In the tapes Hannah details the incidents that led to her suicide, implicating 13 people whose actions contributed to her decision. Since Clay received the tapes, he’s one of the 13.
Clay has no idea what he could’ve done to make Hannah want to kill herself. To find out, he listens to the agonizing stories while walking around his town, visiting the scenes of the crimes per Hannah’s wishes. He learns how Hannah developed a reputation she didn’t deserve, and how people responded to that reputation in ways that made her feel ever more isolated and hopeless. Some of the incidents are petty, some criminal, but Hannah methodically reveals how they are all connected and how their emotional effects grew overwhelming.
Critical Evaluation
The novel’s compelling voices, tight plotting, and dark themes combine to make it a suspenseful, harrowing read. Asher has managed to create authentic voices for both Hannah and Clay, who trade the narration back and forth as Clay listens to Hannah’s voice and interjects his own thoughts. Both Hannah’s pain as she tells and Clay’s as he listens are palpable.
The biggest plausibility problem is the exactitude of Hannah’s narrative. It’s implied that she’s speaking freely, without a script, but she could hardly tell such a long and complicated story so precisely on the first try. Aside of this detail, Hannah’s narrative is brilliant. The chain of events she describes fits together perfectly—and disturbingly—and its effects on her are eloquently expressed and believable.
Although Hannah’s story definitely adds up to a lot of emotional pain, it’s not totally clear that it adds up to suicide. However, in light of several recent suicides of teen girls bullied for their reputations of promiscuity Hannah’s suicide is all too realistic. The book makes a very convincing case for how even small acts of meanness or callousness can have terrible consequences and how a reputation can ruin a life.
Curriculum Ties: Health--suicide
Booktalking Ideas
Read Hannah's introduction to the tapes.
Talk about statistics on teen suicide.
Challenge Issues: Disturbing subject matter, teenage drinking, sexual content
In the defense file, I will include my library's selection policy, ALA's Library Bill of Rights, ALA's guidelines on free access to libraries for minors (http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/freeaccesslibraries.cfm), and ALA's strategies and tips for dealing with challenges to library materials (http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/copingwithchallenges/strategiestips/index.cfm). I will also include my library's reconsideration form, in case challenges to this book cannot be defused with "tea and sympathy." Reviews for the file come from Kliatt (negative) and Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, and VOYA (positive).
About the Author
Author Bio:
Except for six months in Wyoming, I've lived my entire life in California. It was during those six months in Sheridan, Wyoming that I came up with the idea for Thirteen Reasons Why. I've worked at an independent bookstore, a chain bookstore, an outlet bookstore, and two public libraries. Before those jobs, I worked at a shoe store, a trophy shop, and an airline. My very first writing award earned me a free fruit smoothie every day for a year. I've won a lot of awards since then, but that one tasted the best!
Book Report Info:
Birth Date & Place: September 30, 1975 - Arcadia, CA
Siblings: one younger brother, Nate
High School: graduated from San Luis Obispo High School in 1993
College: attended Cuesta Community College and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (left during my senior year)
Marriage: married JoanMarie on September 7, 2002
Children: Isaiah Nathan was born on December 11, 2010 (12-11-10 So cool!)
Career: I write books and then I travel around the country talking about them (one part of my job is much less work and so much more fun)
http://jayasher.blogspot.com/p/author-info.html
Why is this title included?
It's on numerous lists, including Kirkus Best Young Adult Books, 2007; YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2008; YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, 2008; and Amazon.com's Essential Books for Young Adults.