Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher....wow! This book will really get you thinking about how what we say or do can affect other people's lives. It can seem inconsequential at the time, but may have a huge impact.
This is the story of Clay. He receives of shoebox full of cassette tapes and when he listens to them, he is shocked to hear Hannah Baker's voice. He is shocked because Hannah Baker committed suicide a few weeks before. As he listens through the tapes, it is explained that each person on the tape contributed to Hannah's suicide in one way. It is like a really creepy chain letter, each person must pass the cassettes to the next person on the list and if they are sent out a set will be released for everyone to hear.
The tape starts out with Hannah's first kiss. No, her first kiss wasn't so awful that she had to run out and kill herself. Instead a rumor was formed that shaped Hannah's life from that point on. I believe she referred to it as a "snowball effect". That rumor took shape, people began making assumptions, they tried to do things with Hannah, started more rumors and the list goes on. The way that Asher writes Clay and Hannah's narrative is very powerful. I like that we can hear what Clay is thinking and how he wishes he would have paid more attention to Hannah and that he could have saved her.
I think that parents and teens should read this book to facilitate the discussion on how our behavior can affect other people. It is no secret that high school is rough and this book proves it. In fact, many parents may not even realize how tough high school is getting - I'm sure it is much more difficult today than even when I graduated (2002).
My book came with thirteen questions for Jay Asher and I liked how he said (paraphrasing since I don't have the book) that one of his favorite compliments was a girl saying that this book made her want to "be wonderful". I think that is a great theme to come away with after reading this book....it really does make you want to be more kind and pay attention to how you affect other people.
Please, please, please read this book and let me know your thoughts!
Monday, February 23, 2009
February 22, 2009: Thirteen Reasons Why
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2 comments:
Hey, Alicia. How are you? Do you think this book would be okay for fifth graders? We are having an awful problem with calling names and spreading rumors with our fifth grade students. We've had assembly after assembly, talks with the principal - kids still out of control with this. Thanks, Christine
Christine - I don't think this book is for fifth graders, there is sexual reference in there...but you should definitely read it :)
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