Thirteen Reasons Why - A Book Review

Thirteen Reasons Why

                         by Jay Asher

Hannah Baker committed suicide.  This book, however, is not really a story about her death.  During the high school years of Hannah’s life there was a series of what may be termed “unfortunate events”.   This book is about these events, the twelve key individuals who were responsible for or involved in thesethirteen events, and how all this led to Hannah’s decision to end her life. 

My question, as I previewed this book, was why would someone want to read about nasty things that teenagers do to each other to cause this amount of upset and destruction?  Possibly someone who has had these things done to them?  Possibly someone who has entertained thoughts of ending their own life?  The fact of the matter is that everyone, no matter how blessed and privileged their life has been, has had fleeting (or not so fleeting) thoughts of suicide.  What if…??  This story leads you through a year of change, adjustment, shock, betrayal, indecision, fear and regret that authenticate Hannah Baker’s decision to die.  Many of these events initially seem harmless until the ripple effects take place.  How does one event lead to and amplify the next?  How do people feed off each other’s actions or inactions?  How do these occurrences build to the peak of becoming completely unbearable?

This book is not only extremely well written, it is unique.  The storyline is like no other I’ve seen.  It is captivating not only in its content, but in its structure and presentation.  The book cover quotes Sherman Alexie, a Spokane/Coeur d’Alene Indian, writer, poet, and filmmaker, as saying the book is, “A mystery, eulogy, and ceremony.”  I believe it is also a triumph!

Knowing the subject of this story may interest individuals that are contemplated suicide, the publisher has included the suicide hotline information on the back jacket cover, 1-800-SUICIDE, www.hopeline.com.   There is also a suicide prevention guide to help people identify someone who may be at risk of committing suicide, http://helpguide.org/mental/suicide_prevention.htm.  You can locate more information on a blogsite of stories, experience groups, confessions, and questions and answers at http://www.experienceproject.com/stories/Think-About-Suicide/117704.  If you would like to know more about Jay Asher, you can find it at http://www.discomermaids.blogspot.com/.