Th1rteen R3asons Why by Jay Asher

Clay receives a shoe box of tapes (not c/d's) in the mail. There are seven. Six are double sided, the last has only one side. In the box is also a map of locations referred to on the tapes. They are high school student Hannah's story. Hannah had committed suicide a short time earlier. On each tape she relates one more incident, by one more classmate or adult in her life that leads her to the feeling she has nothing left to live for. Clay is someone who tried to reach out to a girl who would not reach out to him and not one of the those whose very real teenager like thoughtless or even cruel deeds leads ultimately to her death. Nevertheless Clay and readers are compelled to hear the tapes and feel the emotions. So many of the things that happened to Hannah have happened to us, the readers as well. Or, perhaps we were the ones who mistreated a fellow student. Maybe this book will open some eyes and cause us to think twice before acting. Maybe, as Clay did it will cause us to reach out to someone we didn't think we had the courage to get to know.
JDW4/28/08