Customer Reviews

Thirteen Reasons Why

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I think I'm too old to read this book.
I'm 33.
I probably would have thought this book was good, 15yrs ago.
It's so NEGATIVE, I can't stand it.
I'm only halfway through, and I seriously just want it to END.
I'm sorry I wasted my money.

I would recommend this book to anybody, but believe that all teenagers MUST read it. It will truly make you reevaluate your actions (although, I don't believe the protagonist was fair to all people)

Thirteen Reasons Why was written by Jay Asher and originally published in October 2007 by Razorbill.

The story follows what started out as a normal day for Clay Jensen. He is a good guy who is smart and well liked, so he thinks nothing of it when he receives a package one day. When he opens it up he finds seven cassettes from his former crush Hannah Baker who has recently committed suicide. When he listens to the tapes he hears that there are thirteen reasons why she took her own life and he happens to be one of those reasons.

“I hope you're ready, because I'm about to tell you the story of my life. More specifically, why my life ended. And if you're listening to these tapes, you're one of the reasons why. The rules are pretty simple. There are only two, rule number one: you listen, number two you pass it on.”

Now Clay must listen to the cassettes as hard as it is to find out how he impacted Hannah’s life. He doesn’t know how he fits in but he will follow the rules and see what those thirteen reasons are.

What a hauntingly beautiful book. I don’t know why I waited so long to read it (I guess it’s because I thought the subject matter was depressing) If you haven’t read it yet I highly suggest that you do. This book is a great example of the importance of treating people with respect and how truly fragile humans can be.

The story is told through dual narration from both Clay’s thoughts and Hannah’s recorded words on the cassettes. At times it is a little confusing because Clay is thinking something and Hannah is talking about something else.

I found it very hard knowing from the get go that nothing would change the outcome for our character and that the ending would not be a happy one. It is especially heart breaking because Clay genuinely loved Hannah from afar but neither of them really got the courage up to talk to each other even though they spent so much time together at work. I was angry that Hannah was kind of selfish to put the people through this especially Clay and really only reached out for help partially. She had made up her mind to take her life and so it felt like she didn’t really want to get help. Sometimes I sympathized with Hannah and other times I wanted to scream at her.

Clay really starts thinking of all the things that he can remember about Hannah and it makes me think about things that have happened in my life as well. You need to be aware that action and/or inaction can truly have a big effect on others. Ths is a good story to get teens talking about suicide and also to get them talking and thinking about bullying, guilt, love etc. I think that this would be a great addition to junior/high school curriculum to start an awareness and dialogue between teens. We need to make these students realize that what they say and do is important.

Universal studios purchased the film rights in February 2011. Hopefully the movie will get made and do the book justice. It’s such a great story that could really impact people’s lives. I would rate this book 4.5/5. Have you read this book?? Let me know what you thought.

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This book is incredibly written! I was reading this in class, and I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!! It has moments that make you want to cry, or moments that will make your jaw drop. It is the BEST book that I have EVER read. I HIGHLY recommend this book!! All types of readers will like this story. It is one of those books that I want to read over and over again.
READ THIS BOOK!! YOU WON'T BE SORRY!!

Enjoy

Received very quickly; like 4 days. Book was in excellent condition. Have not yet read but it seems to be a very promising read. Looking forward to reading it.

This book is great. A must read for teens and parents. A dose of reality in a way that makes you want to keep reading. Really makes you look inside yourself and see how even small things can affect people so immensely.

I don't often write introductions to my reviews. In fact, the last time I can remember doing so was with the wonderful PUCKER by Melanie Gideon, which I read in 2006. However, THIRTEEN REASONS WHY, the debut novel from author Jay Asher, is the type of book that begs an introduction. So if you'd like to skip down to the third paragraph for the "meat" of the story, I won't hold it against you -- but you'll be missing something important.

If you have the chance to only read one novel this year, THIRTEEN REASONS WHY should be that book. It's sad, amazing, heartbreaking, and hopeful, all at the same time. I dare you to read it and not become so immersed in the story that you lose track of time and your surroundings. You'll cry, several times, while reading this story. You'll have no choice but to think about your actions, and wonder what type of effect they have on other people. And, in the end, you might also find the need to say "thank you."

Now, on to the story...

When Clay Jensen finds a package on his front porch, he's excited. A package, for him? With no return address? What could it possibly be? What Clay finds is a shoebox full of cassette tapes, each marked as "Cassette 1: Side A," "Cassette 1: Side B," etc. Of course he rushes to the old radio/cassette player in his dad's garage to check out these mysterious tapes.

And soon wishes, wholeheartedly, that he'd never picked up that stupid package from his front porch.

What he hears when he inserts that first tape is the voice of Hannah Baker. Hannah, the girl he'd crushed on for longer than he could remember. The girl he went to school with. The girl he worked at the movie theater with. The girl who had changed, drastically, in the last several months. Hannah Baker, the girl who committed suicide.

Clay soon realizes that these tapes aren't just a suicide note, aren't, really, even a clear-cut rendition of why she did what she did. Instead, these are thirteen reasons -- thirteen people, to be exact -- who created a snowball-effect of events that led Hannah to believe that suicide was her only option. But why is Clay on that list? How could he possibly be one of the reasons that she killed herself?

As the day goes on, Clay becomes obsessed with listening to the tapes. And what he hears frightens him, disturbs him, and, in the end, leads him to realizations that he never would have expected. As Clay listens to the role that thirteen people, including himself, led in the ultimate death of Hannah Baker, his view of the world, and himself, changes drastically.

You will love this book, because you won't be able to help yourself. You will feel what Clay feels. You will, in a very strong way, experience the highs and lows of Hannah's life right along with her. And there is nothing, in my opinion, that could speak better for the authenticity of a book. Read THIRTEEN REASONS WHY. And then, if you're like me, you'll read it again. And, hopefully, none of us will ever forget it.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

Okay so I read a few reviews on this book, and was dying to read it. And to summarize, it was ok, but I definitely think Thirteen Reasons Why is over rated.

I'll start with all the good stuff, the idea behind the book is pretty creative and original. The narration is shared between Clay and Hannah (through the tapes) which allows for two different views on all of the events in Hannah's story, and some extra insight in Hannah's life, as others see her. Secondly, the way Asher ties all thirteen tapes together is pretty interesting.

I think the message behind the story is that small events in our everyday lives are significant in the big picture, which is an important message, but makes for a novel that does not have much of a climax. Actually I was rather disappointed with Clay's tape, hoping to find a huge significance in his role in Hannah's suicide, but I ended up disappointed to see his story was one of the most boring.

All in all, Thirteen Reasons Why is a decent read (I didn't have to give up on it after all), but don't expect a page turner that will keep you dying to read more.

When I first saw this book around, I avoided it like the plague. I know people who've had to deal with family members taking their own life (and it's awful), so I'm really sensitive about reading a book that revolves around suicide. But now I wish I'd picked this one up sooner.

Thirteen Reasons Why is an amazing book! Everything about it is just so breathtaking and well-executed and shockingly realistic. As Hannah's telling her story, you get attached to this beautiful girl and find yourself rooting for her to live even though you already know the outcome.

I adore Clay! He's such a genuinely sweet guy; the kind of guy that girls have crushes on and moms just love. So that's why I couldn't help but continuously wonder what his part in Hannah's death could've possibly been. After all, Clay had a crush on Hannah before she died.

But there's not just thirteen separate reasons why Hannah Baker decided to do what she did -- they're all connected like an intricate web that I wouldn't be able to write better if I tried. This book shows that suicide isn't caused by just one big reason, but many little ones. I couldn't stop reading until I knew the whole story!

Nothing short of amazing, Thirteen Reasons Why is a beautiful, thought-provoking, and devastating book that kept me up all night. Even if you're hesitant to pick it up like I was, I wholeheartedly recommend that everyone reads it! People have said that this book has saved their life and I don't doubt it one bit.

BUY or BORROW?: Buy it! It was one of the most touching books I've read this year, and I'm so happy that there's going to be a movie coming out starring Selena Gomez! She's such an awesome actress and I think she'll do great as Hannah. :)

How do I know this was a good book and not just a biased opinion on my part? I'm 64 and I had a spirited conversation with a fourteen year old friend who loved this book as I did. It's one I will go back and read again now that I know how the pieces fit. To say more would be to spoil it.