Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Thirteen Reasons Why by: Jay Asher

PLOT: Clay Jensen, a somewhat shy California high school student, returns home from school one day to find an anonymously-sent package sitting on his doorstep. Upon opening it, he discovers that it is a shoebox containing seven cassette tapes recorded by the late Hannah Baker, his classmate and emotional crush who recently committed suicide. The tapes were initially mailed to one classmate with instructions to pass them from one student to another, in the style of a chain letter. On the tapes, Hannah explains to thirteen people how they played a role in her death, by giving thirteen reasons to explain why she took her life. Hannah has given a second set of tapes to one of their classmates, the identity of whom Clay later discovers, and warns the people on the tapes that if they do not pass them on, the second set will be leaked to the entire student body. This could lead to the public embarrassment and shame of certain people, while others could face physical harassment or jail time. Through the audio narrative Hannah reveals her pain and suffering, and the slide into depression that ultimately leads to her suicide.

OPINION: This book was an easy and great read. I couldn't put it down I had to know what happened. I was thanking an old co-worker who let me borrow this book and he told me something even better. He said the book was being made into a movie & that the lead part was going to Selena Gomez. That is awesome she will play a great Hannah. I felt for Hannah the entire book. She only wanted someone to reach out to her and be a friend. Instead she trusted the wrong people and was done dirty on all different levels. I also felt for Clay he wanted to be close to her but was so shy and too scared to show his true feeling. The ending was fitting & I didn't want it to be over.