Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this bestselling novel is about a teen girl's reasons for committing suicide, sent via audio tape to 13 people after her death. It includes discussion of rape, voyeurism, underage drinking, sexism, revenge, and survivor's guilt. With suicide being the scary topic that it is, parents will probably want to check out the book and discuss with their teens.
Families can talk about media and suicide. How is it sensationalized on TV, in the movies, and on the Internet? Is it sensationalized here? The idea of confronting people who've wronged you and really getting them to listen is a powerful one. Can you think of ways to do this that don't go to Hannah's extreme? Do you know the warning signs of depression and suicide? Parents may want to go online with teens to learn more together.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Terreece Clarke
First-time author Jay Asher's story presents the dark side of teen life: drinking, sex, rumor mills, suicides, cries for help, inept or absent adults, and the mean spirit that surrounds the general high school student body. Here everyone's either a victim, an enabler, or a perpetrator, and some of the characters are all three, including Hannah Baker. Her tapes and reasoning are, at times, just as selfish and mean as those she accuses. And while we see some of the 13 not showing much remorse, the majority are already burdened with "should haves" when Hannah's tapes arrive.
Teens will identify with the sometimes-oppressive culture of high school. Some parents may worry that the book could act as a "how-to" for teens. But for those seriously considering taking their own life, there's usually more than one trigger -- as Hannah's story so vividly illustrates. For any teens who've had dark thoughts of their own, the aftermath of Hannah's decision and the conclusions Clay reaches will hopefully make them think again. Hannah's message is to "be careful how you treat people, you never know how it will affect them." And the book's message goes beyond Hannah's tapes: Inaction -- whether to stop a crime or a rumor or talk to a troubled student, friend, or child -- is just as damaging as deliberately inflicting pain.
From The Book
"It should arrive at this address tomorrow," she says. "Maybe the day after tomorrow." Then she drops the box into a cart behind her.
I should have waited till after school. I should have given Jenny one final day of peace.
Though she doesn't deserve it.
When she gets home tomorrow, or the next day, she'll find a package on her doorstep. Or if her mom or dad or someone else gets there first, maybe she'll find it on her bed. And she'll be excited. I was excited. A package with no return address? Did they forget, or was it intentional? Maybe from a secret admirer?
"Do you want your receipt?" the clerk asks.
I shake my head.
A small printer clicks one out anyway. I watch her tear the slip across the serrated plastic and drop it into a wastebasket.
There's only one post office in town. I wonder if the same clerk helped the other people on the list, those who got this package before me. Did they keep their receipts as sick souvenirs? Tuck them in their underwear drawers? Pin them up on corkboards?
Plot Summary:
When Clay Jensen receives audio tapes in the mail, he's horrified to hear his dead crush's voice coming out of the stereo. Hannah lists 13 reasons why she killed herself and the 13 people responsible for it. Clay is wracked with guilt as he waits to hear how he could have been involved in her tragic decision.
Related Books:
More Teen Reads on Tough Topics:
Breathe My Name by R.A. Nelson
Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin
Related Web sites:
Thirteen Reasons Why
Reviewed: 03/13/2008
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentA girl describes how she gave in to a rapist's sexual advances. There is sexual innuendo, kissing, and inappropriate touching -- a boy grabs a girl's butt. |
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ViolenceA girl is raped, a teen is killed in a car crash, a girl commits suicide, there's a fight among a couple of teens, some property is vandalized. |
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LanguageSome swear words typical of teen banter among themselves. |
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Social BehaviorMost of the teens in this book are selfish and self-absorbed, and several are destructive, while the adults are almost non-existent or cartoonish in their attempts to engage students. There are sexist remarks when several high school boys are deliberately hurtful in their interaction with girls. |
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CommercialismTypes of cars and food products mentioned. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoLots of underage drinking. |
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