Read, read, read this book. When you're done reading it, buy it. After you buy it give it to the nearest 9th-12th grader you know. Then buy another one to keep for yourself. Until you find another 9th-12th grader. In between buying and giving tell every adult who even knows a kid to read it.
Th1rteen R3asons Why is one of the best books I've ever read. Period. The narrative, the style, the language, the characters, the suspense, the drama, the first page, the last page; everything. I picked it up today at about 1pm and read it until I finished it (it's 8:20pm).
Jay Asher tells the story in a dual first person narrative. His narrators are Clay and Hannah. Clay is listening to Hannah's story as she tells it on tape; while he listens, he remembers her and learns about her. Clay doesn't want to know this story, but he must listen and learn. He must listen because Hannah is dead and he's one of the reasons.
Their story is amazingly told. Hannah's reasons, small ones by themselves, are overwhelming together. Clay's anguish and desperation as he learns about them is crushing. I understood Hannah, but I felt Clay. His struggle to change her course, knowing that it was over, and still trying to stop it was so real that I felt myself mimicking his reactions before I realized it. Just as I was ready to stop reading because I didn't want to see what was coming next, Clay would want to stop the tape. And just like Clay, I had to finish the story.
Read, read, read this book. When you're done reading it, buy it. After you buy it give it to the nearest 9th-12th grader you know. Then buy another one to keep for yourself. Until you find another 9th-12th grader. In between buying and giving tell every adult who even knows a kid to read it.
Favorite Quotes:
"Around the opposite sex, especially back then, my tongue twisted knots even a Boy Scout would walk away from."
"At school there are few loves that compare to the one between Tony and his car. More girls have dumped him out of car envy than my lips have even kissed."
Overall Opinion:
It is hauntingly desperate and vibrant in its desperation.
Rating:
Read, read, read this book. When you're done reading it, buy it. After you buy it give it to the nearest 9th-12th grader you know. Then buy another one to keep for yourself. Until you find another 9th-12th grader. In between buying and giving tell every adult who even knows a kid to read it.
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