"Thirteen Reasons Why" By: Jay Asher

"Clay finds a bunch of tapes leaning against his front door. Excited, he tears them open and pops them in his dad’s old stereo. But when he listens to them, he discovers they’ve been recorded by Hannah, a girl who committed suicide a few weeks before and each tape represents 13 reasons – and 13 people – why she chose to take her own life."

I read this in two sittings. Of course after reading the cover I had to, what a hook. Apparently Asher got the idea for the book while in a museum listening to those tapes that lead you through whatever the museum is showing. What a great idea! At first I imagined that this book would fall into the many cliche's of young adult suicide fiction. I assumed there would be an evil step dad that takes advantage of Hannah Baker ( the girl who kills herself), or that she was raped etc. But this book managed to play with common themes such as gossip in a different way. I appreciate this more than I can say.

Also this book was not about a relationship gone wrong, Clay Jensen was not Hannah's boyfriend, dealing with guilt. He was less connected than that. Yet at the same time every one of the thirteen people she addresses in these tapes, they are all connected - To Hannah - to the end of her life.

I also liked the way that Asher chose to write this book; Hannah’s story is interwoven with the few hours Clay spends listening to it. I think, without Clay’s ‘present life’ interjecting, it could be too much, too emotional. It gives the reader a break, like Clay sometimes needs to take a break. This book was a journey with Hannah and Clay, but also with the others she addresses - Imagine being called out for who you are, and what you have done by a dead girl.

This book accomplished so many things, brought out so many emotions in the characters, and in me. I felt sad, about what one girl went through. I felt angry with how people take advantage of, and abuse each other in a time (high school) when we all need each other so much. I was angry with Hannah, I wanted her to seek revenge more, and get even, and become strong. But she was only strong enough to make the tapes and then end her life. She leaves Clay in a sense the strong one, because he has to move on after her life and the tapes. This book made me look again at myself, my own strengths, my own denials of self. This book brought on tears, suspense, rage, anger, and even happiness - yes happiness, because this book dealt with a difficult issue in a delicate but harsh way , tender, but unflinchingly testing readers to read between the lines.

What a depressingly happy way to begin a new year. Read it!