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13 Reasons Why Study Guide

This study guide is to be filled as you read the novel. Write the answers on another sheet of paper and
staple to this packet. Write legibly. You must write in complete sentences.

CASSETTE 1

Summary:____________________________________________________________________________
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Side A Questions:

1. Who is the narrator of the story? Who is speaking on the tapes?

The narrator of the story is Clay Jensen. The speaker

on the tapes is Hannah Baker.

2. What are the rules set for listening to the tapes?

Rule one – Listen to the tape.

Rule two – Pass on the tape to the next person.

3. How does the narrator feel listening to the tapes? What is his immediate reaction?

He feels sick and starts to panic. He clinches his

stomach and wants to cry.

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4. Who is the first “reason” on Cassette side A? Why?

Justin was the first reason on the cassette because he

betrayed her by spreading rumors.

5. What happened between Hannah and Justin?

Hannah and Justin started dating. They kissed, but

Justin spread rumors that “other things” happened.

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Side B Questions:

1. Who is the “reason on Side B? Why?

Alex Standall was the reason because he said

that she was on the hot list of the freshman
class. He started the list to get revenge on
Jessica.
2. What List did Alex Standall create? Describe how others reacted to it at first.

He created the list of who was hot and who was not
in the freshman class. At first, everyone thought it
was a joke.

3. What are the repercussions Hannah talks about? How do they affect her emotions?

People were touching her without her permission

and looking at her. She was uncomfortable with
all the attention.
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4. What happened to Hannah in the Blue Spot?

Someone touched her without her permission.

Three Memorable Quotes:

1.

2.

3.

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CASSETTE 2

Side A Questions:

1. Who is the “reason” on Cassette 2 side A? Why?

Jessica Davis is the reason. Jessica emotionally hurt

Hannah and believed all the rumors over her own
friend.

2. Who is Hannah’s assigned buddy in the beginning of the year?

Jessica Davis was assigned as her buddy.

3. What did the 3 people do at Monet’s? Describe their rituals/interactions.

Jessica, Hannah, and Alex went to Monet’s and drank hot

chocolate. They also placed their hands in the middle of
the table to play “olly-olly-oxen-free”.

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4. What was Jessica upset at Hannah for?

Jessica was upset with Hannah because of that hot or not list, and
because Hannah was on the hot side and Jessica was on the not side.

5. What other interpretation is there when Hannah talks about “scars”?

So the “scars” are the emotional effect that people’s actions

had on her. For example, Jessica’s fingernail scar is a
reminder of the backstabbing. The list left her depressed.

Side B Questions:

1. What’s the “reason” on side B? Why?

Tyler Downs was the reason. He was a

peeping tom.

2. What happened to Hannah’s parents after her death? How are they coping (or not coping)?

They stopped caring about their business and allowed delivery slips to pile up. They couldn’t deal

3. Where is Hannah as she is narrating side B?

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She is. outside Tyler’s window.

4. What trap do the girls set up to catch the Peeping Tom?

5. How did Tyler’s actions affect Hannah emotionally? What does her loss of privacy signify?

Three Memorable Quotes:

1.

2.

3.

Summary:____________________________________________________________________________
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CASSETTE 3

Side A Questions:

1. What is Courtney Crimsen’s true side, according to Hannah?

2. What does Courtney “need” Hannah for?

Courtney needed Hannah for a ride to the party. So that her parents won’t figure out where she
was going.

3. What does Tyler’s house look like when Clay sees it? What is symbolic about the window?

4. Who does Clay meet at Tyler’s? What happens between them?

Clay met Mark

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5. What does Hannah realize at the end of the tape? How are her realizations impacting her view on
life?

Hannah realized that people use people, People use

other people sometime there only friendly when they
need something. Everything she’s gone makes her
realize that she’s sick of her life and everything she’s
been though.

Cassette 3

Side B Questions:

1. Describe the Oh My Dollar Valentine’s event. What does Hannah’s reaction to it reveal about her
character?

Fill out a survey, a computer analyzes your answers, this it cross-

references with the other surveys. For $1, you receive the name of
your one true soul mate. For $5, you get your top five.

2. What connection is there between the rumors about Hannah and the survey results she gets? How
do people react to her in school at this point?

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3. Who is the “reason” on Cassette 3 side B and why?

Marcus Cooley was the reason.

4. Who is Jenny Kurtz? What was strange to Clay about her reaction to Hannah’s death?

She was the cheerleader who gave the results. Jenny was
stunned in silence and walked out of the room. Clay never
knew about their connection.

5. Describe Hannah’s experience in Rosie’s.

She waited over 30 minutes for him to show up. When he

finally did, she was stunned and surprised.

6. What are Hannah’s feelings towards her life at the end of Cassette 3? What are Clay’s feelings?

Hannah’s feelings are that she don’t want to live anymore

she wants to leave school and never come back.

Cassette 3

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Three Memorable Quotes:

1.

2.

3.

Summary:____________________________________________________________________________
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CASSETTE 4

Side A Questions:

1. What is Peer Communications? What purpose is it supposed to serve? What purpose should it
serve after Hannah’s death?

2. Explain the purpose for the compliment bag. How could it have helped Hannah?

3. Who is the “reason” in Side A and why?

4. Who finds Clay at Rosie’s and why?

5. What happens in the class discussion about suicide? What do the reactions of the students reveal
about society’s view towards suicide? How would you have reacted during that discussion?

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Cassette 4

Side B Questions:

1. How does Hannah feel about poetry?

She hated it until someone showed her how to appreciate it (love it).
The more abstract, the better.

2. What are Clay’s feelings towards Hannah at this point?

Frustrated. He still has no clue why he is on the tapes.

3. Who is the “reason” in Side B and why?

Ryan Shaver – editor of the Gazette. He published her poem

without her permission. Ryan stole her poem.

4. What is the Lost-N-Found Gazette?

A collection of letters, notes, doodles, and photographs that

were left on the ground that Ryan picked up.
5. What are the repercussions of the poem event? How does this affect Hannah?

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People were making parodies of it and making fun of

her. Hannah felt hurt and more alone than ever.
There was no one there to save her.

Cassette 4

Three Memorable Quotes:

1.

2.

3.

Summary:____________________________________________________________________________
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CASSETTE 5

Side A Questions:

1. Who has the second set of tapes?

2. Who is the “reason” on cassette 5 Side A? Why?

3. What is the deeper meaning when Hannah says “your name doesn’t belong on this list?”

4. What happened between Clay and Hannah? How are their perspectives of the same event
different? How are they similar?

5. What is Hannah’s reasoning/explanation for her actions? Do you think they are justifiable?
Should Clay have acted differently?

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Cassette 5

Side B Questions:

1. What happens after Clay leaves Hannah in the room? Who comes in?

2. What is implied to have happened to Jessica?

3. How does Hannah react to what is happening? What about afterwards when she leaves the room?

4. Who is the “reason” and why?

5. Why are the tapes sent to Justin and not Bryce? How do you think Jessica reacted when she
listened to this particular narration? What will be her outlook on life (knowing that she listened
and passed on the tapes already)?

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Three Memorable Quotes:

1.

2.

3.

Summary:____________________________________________________________________________
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CASSETTE 6

Side A Questions:

1. What is Tony’s role with the tapes? What connection does he have to Hannah Baker?

2. What emotions does Tony have in being involved? What is the major feeling he has towards this
situation?

3. What does Tony’s reaction to Hannah’s behavior tell you about his character? Should he be held
responsible for Hannah’s decision?

4. Who is the “reason” on side A? Why?

5. Describe the accident and its repercussions for the following characters: Hannah, Jenny, and
Clay.

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Cassette 6 - Side B Questions:

1. What are Hannah’s feelings towards suicide at this point in the story? What is her state of mind?
Can she be “saved”?

2. Which two people are mentioned in Side B? What role did they play in Hannah’s decision?

3. Who is the “reason” inside B? Why?

4. What is Hannah’s explanation for her actions? Is she trying to justify her decision, or is she at the
breaking point in her life?

5. What is Hannah’s emotional state when she is involved with Bryce? What is her mental and
emotional state at the end of the tapes? How is this juxtaposed with her calm and reasonable
narration?

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CASSETTE 7

Side A Questions:

1. Why is Hannah asking for help? What does this reveal about her character? What are your
feelings towards her behavior?

2. Who is the last “reason”? Why?

3. Is Hannah being clear with Mr. Porter on why she is speaking to him? What should she have done
instead? What more should he have done for her?

4. What options does Mr. Porter give Hannah? Are they helpful to her or to anyone else in a similar
situation?

5. How does Hannah react to Mr. Porter’s advice?

6. What does Clay decide to do at the end of the story?

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List of Symbols

Section Object Owner of Object Effect on Hannah Meaning of Object/Symbol

/Page

Hannah’s Profile: Who is she in reality?

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Keep track of anything related to Hannah Baker and her life (present, past, future), record her fears, her
experiences, emotions, etc.
Section/ Hannah… Section Hannah…
Page /Page

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Themes: Lessons, morals, messages that each section of the book teaches the reader.
1. Cassette 1,
Side A
2. Cassette 1,
Side B
3. Cassette 2,
Side A
4. Cassette 2,
Side B
5. Cassette 3,
Side A
6. Cassette 3,
Side B
7. Cassette 4,
Side A
8. Cassette 4,
Side B
9. Cassette 5,
Side A
10. Cassette 5,
Side B
11. Cassette 6,
Side A
12. Cassette 6,
Side B
13. Cassette 7,
Side A
14. Cassette 7,
Side B

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