Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Thirteen Reasons Why is a young adult fiction novel mainly about a boy named
Clay Jensen who mysteriously receives an unnamed package out of nowhere. It turns
out that this package contains thirteen cassette tapes that contained the reasons, or
rather the people who led Hannah Baker into committing suicide. She says that anyone
listening to the tapes are included in the thirteen reasons why she took her own life, and
that they should listen to the tapes to find out why.

The book examines issues such as mental health, bullying, and the
consequences of our choices. First of all, the book shows us how humors can gravely
affect a person’s life. It shows how one simple rumor can affect the way people look at
you and their treatment towards you. An example can be seen in the first tape where
Hannah shares a kiss with Justin Foley, but the story is exaggerated and results into a
rumor where Hannah is seen as a slut. This might be just one of the simple false
countless rumors out there, but it became the start of Hannah Baker’s hellish life in
school.

Another concept that the author wants us to realize is how our actions can
greatly have an impact on others. For us, it might just be something small or minor, but
for them, it may be something that deeply scars or affects them. The book is trying to
make us see the importance of how we treat others and the actions that we say or do to
them can have an impact on their lives. It makes us reevaluate our actions and try
treating people with kindness since we never know what they may be going through.

One of the most common yet overlooked issue these days is bullying and was
highlighted in the novel as well. Extreme bullying on Hannah Baker was shown and it
soon had a snowball effect upon her life. Hannah experiences social exclusion, sexual
assault, and hurtful rumors behind her back which deeply affected her mental health.
Lots of external factors she couldn’t control piled up and eventually led her to take her
own life. The cassette tapes are witnesses to the hardships she experienced in school
and are a way of making those who did wrong against her hold accountable of their
actions.
 Lastly, the book reveals how people turn a blind eye to suicide and mental
health. One chapter concerning ‘Peer Communications’, shows the attitude people had
about suicide when Hannah secretly asked for it to be discussed in class. It was an eye-
opener as to how many teenagers view and overlook suicide. Another scene which
proves this is when Hannah’s teacher tries to talk to her about her thoughts about
committing suicide and instead of helping, only makes it worse for Hannah. Inadequate
help from adults and complacence from teens regarding suicide is what makes it more
frequent in teens.

Overall, Thirteen Reasons Why is a thought-provoking and powerful novel that

tackles difficult and important issues related to mental health, bullying, and personal
responsibility. It urges the reader to recognize the importance of all human life, and how
powerful words can be for men and women in varied circumstances around the world.