Citation: Asher, J. (2007). Thirteen reasons why. RazorBill.
Content Warning: suicide and suicidal ideation, rape, bullying.
After a suicide rocks the local high school, Clay Jenson is left wondering why Hannah Baker decided to commit suicide. After a package arrives on his doorstep, the reasons become all too clear. Hannah has recorded 13 reasons why she killed herself on cassette tapes and mailed to her “reasons” why. Clay is the first. As Clay listens to the tapes, he discovers the merciless bullying Hannah has suffered through and the bystanders, like himself, who did nothing to help prevent Hannah from suffering. A detailed and bleak tale of loss, Thirteen Reasons Why discovers the heartbreakingly cruel world of Hannah Baker.
No stars. I read this book because I wanted to see if it was as bad as the relatively newer eponymous show. While I think it has the potential to be a good book, I think it romanticises suicide in a deeply uncomfortable way.