Review #11: 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Synopsis (from amazon.com):
When Clay Jenson plays the casette tapes he received in a mysterious package, he's surprised to hear the voice of dead classmate Hannah Baker. He's one of 13 people who receive Hannah's story, which details the circumstances that led to her suicide. Clay spends the rest of the day and long into the night listening to Hannah's voice and going to the locations she wants him to visit. The text alternates, sometimes quickly, between Hannah's voice (italicized) and Clay's thoughts as he listens to her words, which illuminate betrayals and secrets that demonstrate the consequences of even small actions. Hannah, herself, is not free from guilt, her own inaction having played a part in an accidental auto death and a rape. The message about how we treat one another, although sometimes heavy, makes for compelling reading.

Review:
There is so much more to this book than the above synopsis alludes to. This book is not only about the way we treat one another and the decisions we make, but also deals directly with the issue of suicide and those left behind. I think the biggest question that those affected by a suicide is why? Why did it happen? Why did it happen? What led to the person's choice to take his/her life? And maybe most of all, what could I have done to stop it from happening?

All of these questions are going through Clay's mind before he even receives the tapes. He had a crush on Hannah, and he didn't ever really act on his feelings, although she apparently liked him as well. Upon listening to the tapes, Clay gets the answers he so desperately wanted, no matter how hard they are to listen to.

This book was a fascinating read, and incredibly well done. The subject matter may not appeal to everyone, but if you give it a chance, I assure you it will be well worth your time.