Thirteen Reasons Why

Thirteen Reasons Why – Jay Asher

High school student Clay Jensen comes home one day to find a mysterious package on his porch. Inside are seven cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, a classmate he cared about, who recently died by suicide. On the tapes, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she made her decision, and Clay is one of them.

Thirteen Reasons Why, the debut novel by Jay Asher, follows Clay over the course of one night as he listens to the tapes and follows a map Hannah left, visiting the places around town where key events in her story took place. As he listens, he learns how a series of incidents involving classmates, including rumors, betrayal, humiliation, harassment and sexual assault, affected Hannah, and he struggles to understand his own part in her story.

The novel alternates between Hannah’s voice on the tapes and Clay’s reactions, creating a tense and emotional narrative that explores the impact of bullying, the importance of kindness and the ways in which people can fail to notice when someone is struggling.

The book became a bestseller and was adapted into a television series. It has prompted important conversations about bullying and mental health, while also being criticized by some mental health professionals for its portrayal of suicide.

Thirteen Reasons Why is a powerful but difficult read suited for older teens and adults. It deals directly with suicide, sexual assault and bullying, which may be very distressing. Readers who are struggling are encouraged to reach out to a trusted person or a mental health professional for support.