Review: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Title:Thirteen Reasons Why

Author: Jay Asher

Published: June 14, 2011 by Razorbill

Book Description:

You can't stop the future. You can't rewind the past. The only way to learn the secret. . . is to press play.

Clay Jensen doesn't want anything to do with the tapes Hannah Baker made. Hannah is dead. Her secrets should be buried with her.

Then Hannah's voice tells Clay that his name is on her tapes-- and that he is, in some way, responsible for her death.

All through the night, Clay keeps listening. He follows Hannah's recorded words throughout his small town. . .

. . .and what he discovers changes his life forever.

My Thoughts:

Have you ever wondered if your actions, no matter how small or big it is, had impact on other people? Well this book will make you reflect about it specially on the crucial times of being a student.

We all know that in school there will always be those people who will be your friends and who will be the "douchebags". I don't know everyone's history on school but I think this book will affect you in one way or another. Why did I say that? Because I was.

I already know that this book will be an emotional one even before buying it. I read the synopsis and said to myself I should prepare myself. Now it's just a matter on how much toll it will take on my emotions.

So we are introduced to 2 main characters here on the first few chapters, Clay and Hannah. You will not be spoiled, Hannah committed suicide as said in the description. The only question is why? What are the events that made her decide to end her life. That is the whole point of this book. Clay discovers who, what, when, where and why did she made that decision. And Clay is included in the reasons, he just doesn't know why.

Thirteen Reason for Thirteen People. 

The way Jay Asher told her story through cassette tapes us quite unique. It makes that part feel organic in a way. His writing style in this book quite honestly is a little bit confusing at first since the POV of Clay and Hannah is constantly alternating so you need a little bit more concentration while reading. But it totally works, it creates a dynamic between the alive Clay and the non-existing Hannah anymore.

What I really like about this book is the lesson it teaches us. It makes us wary of are actions in the past and maybe the actions we will do in the future. It makes us think how we interact to other people and say to ourselves "Is what I am doing wrong or right?" It questions are actions.

The simplicity of the story which is grounded in reality and also the fact that it really happens in our society (young or adult) makes this book one of my favorite among all the books that I have read in my entire life.

I highly suggest you read this book but I warn you prepare yourself  emotionally.

I give this book 5 whales.