Thirteen Reasons Why is a sad novel about a girl named Hannah Baker, who
takes away her life, due to stress from social pressures. This book goes over the 13
reasons she did what she did, and teaches the reader the very valuable lessons of
being aware of your surroundings and valuing what you have. Although I did not
like how depressing this novel was, I did like its plot and lessons it taught. I would
recommend it to those who are old enough to read it, since it is very informative.

TW before reading this book. I personally did not enjoy this book because it didn't feel like the trauma Hannah went through was depicted correctly. The book features multiple tapes left from Hannah Baker, a girl who had committed suicide and is explaining why to her friends through tapes. It shows suicide in an odd way and I would not recommend this book to anyone who is struggling with their mental wellbeing as it can be very triggering to some. I can acknowledge that this book opens up the conversation about mental health, suicide, and trauma, which can be very uncomfortable conversations to have. However, every situation is different and many people have said that they felt worse after reading the book, so I would not typically recommend it unless you know exactly what you are getting into. 3/5 stars
@avacadojai of the Teen Review Board at the Hamilton Public Library

TW!! (Suicide, depression)
I read this book when I was much younger and back then I thought “This book is amazing, it really shows how everything you do affects people.” However, now when I reflect I realize that it instilled a “martyr” mindset in me. I began to think about how if I was gone people could learn and better themselves. Thinking about how you impact others is often a good thing but this book promotes it in an unhealthy way. I’ve heard from many people that book was very triggering and that it increased or planted suicidal thoughts in them. Another thing to note is that the show is even worse as it is more graphic and even after the criticism Netflix released a second season. All in all the 13RW franchise glorifies/romanticizes suicide and does not deal with the issue in a way that could help people learn how to prevent suicide and get people with depression help.

Thirteens Reasons Why is one of my favourite books because of how realistically the struggles of being a teenager is portrayed. This particularity depressing tale starts when a package with no return address is dropped off at the front porch of Clay Jensen's house. Clay tears open the cardboard box to find 7 cassette tapes decorated with flowers and other drawings. Overwhelming emotions overflow through Clay's helpless mind when he hears Hannah Baker's innocent voice when when plays the first tape. Hannah was his friend, crush, his everything up until 2 weeks ago when she slit her wrists open in her bathtub. Clay discovers there are 13 recordings, each dedicated to a person that gave her a good reason to end her beautiful life. Clay's heart shatters and his pupils widen with shock when he reaches tape 6, the tape Hannah made for him. Clay listens to these tapes for the next several weeks/months while holding back his tears for Hannah Baker, hoping to find justice for his friend.

Age Rating: 13+
TH1RTEEN R3ASONS WHY, by Jay Asher, is a teen novel about a high-school junior named Clay Jensen. When he receives a package on his front porch, addressed to him with no return location, he opens it to find a box full of cassette tapes recorded by one of his classmates and his crush - Hannah Baker, who committed suicide two weeks earlier. In the tapes, he discovers that there were thirteen reasons why she chose to end her life - and Clay realizes, with horror, that he is one of them.
Every reason has a place attached to it, and Clay travels to each destination as he listens to the tapes. Follow his journey through Hannah’s tale as he finds that there is more to people than what he sees, than what is visible to him. And suddenly he finds that life is too short to regret. Chances - they’re all you get. You never realize you should have taken them until they’re gone.
You never realize the tragedy until it happens.

This is Asher's first published work - a teen novel exploring the ways that "everything affects everything". Our main character, Clay, a high school student, receives a box of recorded audio cassettes in the mail and finds they are from a fellow student, Hannah, who committed suicide 2 weeks ago. As he is instructed to listen to the tapes, he realizes that her 13 reasons are the results of actions or inactions taken by the specific people who will ultimately receive this chain-letter collection of tapes. While cleverly written (italics for taped voices), I did get confused as to who was talking - it definitely required a focused read. It lends itself much better to be heard/seen (Netflix made a 13 part series). Recommended.

I read this book because of the Netflix series and both were not good. Books are usually better than the show/movies, but I guess this one broke the rule. I expected more from this book, but they only difference between the book and the show is one of the character names. If you didn't like the tv show, I would recommend you to read a different book. This book is meant to bring awareness to suicide, but from my perspective, it seems like it was advocating it.

"Thirteen reasons why" is a mysterious intriguing best-selling book written by the young writer Jay Asher.The story basically deals with the problems and stress faced by a teenaged school going girl Hannah Baker.The writer has creatively used a different way of narration which keeps the readers clinged to the text.

Hannah Baker committed suicide and before taking a number of pills , she had recorded 13 tapes which carried the reason of her suicide. The book is all about those 13 reasons which one of Hannah's colleague, Clay Jenson(the narrator) is listening thoughout the novel.

The book leaves the reader in a different mood where one realises that everything is not what it seems. There are people around us who might seem normal but are facing a lot of internal issues.It might be an arguable fact that the book is only for teenagers or for adults too but I personally feel that the book is for everyone. Anyone who reads it, finds something different to learn from.Thus ,it is a "must read" book. A novel similar to this one is Things I’m seeing Without You.

I empathized with Clay throughout this book- normal since he's an unlikely costar in this narrative. I'm glad that I read this book (I'm a parent). Most of Hannah's story cycles around a disconnect with her parents, teachers and students around her. Her own guilt over circumstances in which she feels complicit and her anger at being targeted in the gossip mill isn't a story that is new, but this is a timely story.

I read this book twice. I actually forgot that I'd read it the first time. It left no real lasting impression on me the first time. It tends to drone on without much substance or redemption which left it mostly forgettable.

Hannah bullies and torments her fellow students who have "wronged" her, after her death. She even targets the main character who has done nothing bad to her.

I hated this book. The only thing I can see coming from it is that it talks about suicide and depression which may help open a narrative. But it does it in such an irresponsible and destructive way that I'd almost rather it was never written.

Yes, be mindful of how you treat others but not because they'll punish you by killing themselves.

I suppose if you've never found someone hanging in their closet, dead by their own hands, you may not be as sensitive to suicide as I am. But I tend to take it a lot more seriously than the author did. He should have done more research and talked to professionals about what kind of impact this would have on people who are suicidal/have survived suicide and those who have grieved the loss of a loved one to suicide. So many people feel guilty for their inability to stop someone from killing themselves. It's terrible to constantly second guess whether you're in any way responsible.

I would never recommend this book to anyone. Especially not a teen. If you (an adult) feel like recommending this to a teen, try just talking to them instead.