Tolog Review: Thirteen Reasons Why

Thirteen Reasons Why
by Jay Asher
reviewed by Mia Valencia-Chanler

Thirteen Reasons Why is a novel written by Jay Asher in 2007. The story revolves around a boy named Clay, who is sent 13 cassette tapes that have no return address that explain the reasons why a girl named Hannah committed suicide. The tragic way the author decided to show what a teenager could go through in high school through Hannah’s tapes and the experiences she shares in them, shines a light to this rapidly growing problem of suicide. The constant back and forth between Clays thoughts and actions and Hannah telling her story makes this a captivating read that does not make you want to put the book down. It also makes it a very interesting and unique structure of writing. By receiving these tapes it means that you were a reason why she had committed suicide. This adds suspense and a sense of disturbed and eeriness to the book. The main characters are Hannah and Clay. Hannah’s a sweet, friendly, romantic girl, but we do not really get to know her outside of the tapes. She has that same situation in the novel as well. Clay is a laid-back, stand-up, sincere, nice guy who is torn when hearing the tapes. This leaves the major question did Clay play a part in Hannah’s death? Find out in this brilliant novel about a girl being pushed to the edge and her thirteen reasons why.