My Thoughts On Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why

*Spoiler Alert*

If you've been loitering on Facebook (who hasn't?) this past month or so, you may have seen the Netflix teaser for "13 Reasons Why". Yep, that one where a highschooler named Hannah Baker introduces herself blah blah blah, which didn't seem quiet out of the ordinary until she mentions that she is dead, and that she has made this set of tapes to sort of explain her thirteen reasons why she committed suicide. Creepy right? What a suicide note!

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Synopsis

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker—his classmate and crush—who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he’ll find out how he made the list.

Through Hannah and Clay’s dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

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So here's the thing: for various reasons I couldn't do Netflix here in the province so I decided to read the e-book version instead. As I was going through the first few pages, I kept thinking how I was just going with the fad and that maybe I'm not really that interested with the story. My thoughts about suicidal persons have always been like, "Too bad they couldn't handle the pressure". Or "Why would I listen to someone who is just trying to justify the deed?"

However, as the story progressed and as I played out the scenes in my head, I couldn't help but look back into my own memories in high school.  We all have different sets of circumstances. We all have our own struggles, whether it's on our family, our personal life, school, or financial level. At the very least, you could be having problems about how to approach your crush. Add the crazy high school situation to that and it's like a circus.

We also deal with things differently. Some of us take things in a stride, some of us find help in others, while some of us, unfortunately, just crumble. It's a reality and I'm so sorry that there are many out there who never get the help they needed on time. 

Hannah Baker.
I take no credit for this photo. I just found it on Pinterest, through Google.

Hannah Baker

On this book, Hannah records a set of tapes before she committed suicide. On these tapes are the thirteen reasons - persons - that made her commit suicide. They are a mixture of boys and girls, men, who have walked into her life and made some irreparable damages. There are them who spread false rumors, one who stalked her. Some used her while some took advantage of her, and abused her. Someone stole her only hope and someone couldn't find a way to listen to her and help her. And then something happened that she couldn't forgive herself.

Hannah talks about a snowball effect and how things just kept rolling up bigger and bigger until it all came crashing down. 

Here's where I mention the cliche: be mindful of even your littlest actions because it contributes to a bigger picture. You could be crushing someone's spirit, or blowing away someone's only hope just by doing one careless act. 

I am also a parent now and one day this little girl of mine will grow up and she will have to navigate the high school jungle. This book will remind me to always be there for her every step of the way. You know, not the prying type but someone that she can talk to. That no matter how everybody else makes her feel small, in Mommy and Daddy's eyes she is the most special girl.

Clay Jensen

Clay Jensen

Clay, oh Clay, who kept wondering why he was on the tape when he was pretty damn sure that he didn't do anything to hurt Hannah. Well, he was right, he never did anything to hurt Hannah. She said that herself on the tape.

However, he's also the classic example of someone who didn't hurt her but was also not able to do anything to help her. Not for the lack of trying though. He came in too late. By the time he was trying out to help Hannah, she has already made up her mind.

He had a crush on her. They shared a kiss. But he was too late.

The book ending was for Clay. He had lost someone he fancied one. He'll take his chance about this new girl that he liked or he might loose her again. :)

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Right now, someone out there could be going through something really tough and I hope he sees the light at the end of the tunnel.

XO,

Carissa

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