Thirteen Reasons Why

Bibliographic Information
Title: Thirteen Reasons Why
Author: Jay Asher
Type of Media: text
Publisher: Razorbill
Copyright Date: October 18, 2007
ISBN: 978-1595141712
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Curriculum Ties: Suicide Prevention
Reading Level: Lexile 550
Interest Age: 12-18






Plot Summary
Clay Jenson is excited to find a package at his front door but upon opening is confused to discover a stack of tapes which house the recordings of Hannah Baker, a girl from school who recently committed suicide. When he starts to roll the tapes he learns that Hannah recorded these to explain to thirteen people why she killed herself and to show them the role that they all played in her death. Each person is instructed to listen through the tapes and mail them on to the next person who appears in the story after them. Clay needs to find out what he had to do with it all and where in the storyline is he, could he have made the difference between life and death for Hannah?

Critical Evaluation
Asher takes an interesting approach to this book with the narration going back and forth between the voice of Hannah through the tapes and the present situation in which Clay is thinking through everything. This makes following the story a little bit difficult when you are first getting started but to contract that the unusual writing style the language is easier as it is written in words that all teenagers would use during normal conversation, and this balances it out nicely.
Even though the topic of suicide is a difficult one to broach Asher does so in a very mature way through the voice of a teen. He was very responsible while writing this story and it has the potential to do a lot of good for young people everywhere.

Reader's Annotation
The first question that most people think when they here of someone committing suicide is why. Well this book is all about answering that question for one teenage girl. Thirteen Reasons Why is a compelling heartfelt read that you will not want to put down.

Author Biography
Except for six months in Wyoming, I've lived my entire life in California. It was during those six months in Sheridan, Wyoming that I came up with the idea for Thirteen Reasons Why I've worked at an independent bookstore, a chain bookstore, an outlet bookstore, and two public libraries. Before those jobs, I worked at a shoe store, a trophy shop, and an airline. My very first writing award earned me a free fruit smoothie every day for a year. I've won a lot of awards since then, but that one tasted the best!

Asher, J. (n.d.). Author info. Retrieved from http://jayasher.blogspot.com/p/author-info.html

Book Talk Ideas

• Mental illness
• Impacts on simple decisions
• Ripple effect

Possible Challenges

• Suicide/ Mental Illness
• Rape
• Alcohol

Defense File

Have the library's selection policy and the Library Bill of Rights ready to hand out

Access to honest reviews from trusted sources

Know the awards, if any, the book has earned

Understand the material so you can explain the use of the book as a good talking point for serious and sensitive issues

A lot of times people just want their concerns heard, so make sure you listen

If they are still persistent be able to offer them a reconsideration form

 
Reason for Inclusion
Thirteen Reasons Why is a book full of emotion because it takes a hard look at difficult topics. Teens need books that face the subjects that adults are afraid of, this is why this book was included.