100 YA Novels: 13 Reasons Why

[willow_wand]

Book 7

Comments

Contains Spoilers

[wanderhomeagain]

I really enjoyed this book, but it was a difficult read for many of the reasons you listed. Hannah was very often not a sympathetic character, but at the same time, you got to see how she became that way. A couple of times she seemed just as cruel as the people tormenting her. And while I realize that Clay's name has to be included on the list to make the plot work, it was truly unfair to him suffer and wonder what he had done.

I did like the way the author tied all of it together, and felt he wove a really tight story between the various characters. The points he made about slut shaming were right on target, too. Most girls that age feel damned if they do, damned if they don't.

Great review, hon! I continue to enjoy your reviews!

Re: Contains Spoilers

[willow_wand]

Exactly! What she did to Clay was just cruel. I understand why it was necessary in the scope of the story, but it made Hannah a lot less likeable in my eyes. I also felt kind of sorry for the teacher. Granted, what he said was incredibly ignorant and absolutely unhelpful, but it seemed to me that he was basically shuffled into the counselor role. I don't think he was qualified to deal with something of that magnitude. Schools pull that kind of crap all the time because of budgetary nonsense. Does that really make him as bad as the people who violated her? I don't think so. But I guess I can't really judge.

It's a sad book. I know it's become a bit of a cliche, but you just want to shake her and say, "Hannah, it gets better." She'd graduate, go off to college, make new friends. It's hard to see it when you're that depressed, though. And that's why I love this book. It's so real. A friend I grew up with is mentally ill and has been suicidal and it was frighteningly accurate.

[mollywheezy]

This was a very powerful book and an excellent reminder that even the small things we do and every interaction with other people no matter how trivial it seems can have a huge and lasting impact.

I was most struck by the school counselor. I think of all the thirteen people, he let her down the most. Even if the school stuck him in the job, he was the authority figure from whom she sought help and it wasn't forthcoming. :(

I liked the ending of the book with the hopefulness that Clay has learned from hearing the tapes and it will change him for the better.

[willow_wand]

I agree. I don't think we realize just how much influence our actions have on other people. It's something I need to remember as well.

I think the tapes will forever change the way Clay looks at things. He's learned the hard way that things aren't always what they seem.

[shiiki]

I read this one! Though I struggled through it at the time - maybe I'd have a different perspective if I reread it now. Anyway, I think what you said was spot on - people aren't perfect, and you never know how your actions might tip someone else over the edge.

It was definitely a book to make you think!

[willow_wand]

It's a really hard book to get through. It's so sad and Hannah is not exactly likeable some of the time. I liked it better the second time I read it, mainly because I wasn't sick to my stomach for poor sweet Clay, wondering what he'd done.