Thirteen Reasons Why
I may be jumping the gun here, but a teen pressed the Razorbill (Penguin's cutesy new teen imprint) ARC into my hands and said "you must read this." If its not on the list I think we should consider it. Basically, its a whole lot of awesome.Premise: Girl commits suicide, but not before she makes seven cassette tapes, and a list of thirteen people to send them to. Thirteen people who contributed to her decision to die. Clay Jenson has just opened his surprise package. He's not the first, and he won't be the last.
This is a first novel (published) by Jay Asher who apparently worked as a part time youth librarian (no, I am not stalking him). Chris Crutcher loved it, and so do I. Yay.
posted by Iris @ 1:53 PM
9 Comments
9 Comments:
Sounds good; I've added it to the list.
Okay, I hate commenting on a book when I am only 3/4 way done, but I was waiting and waiting to read this book based on the hype and good reviews and all. But I am really disappointed. The plot sounds great but so far, I am very disappointed.
This book completely riveted me. I couldn't put it down and I think there's a great truth here about realizing how your actions, however small, affect others. The only thing that bugged me was that the use of cassette tapes seemed a little anachronistic. A yay for me.
Okay, I finally finished this book. I vote Nay. While the plot sounds great, I found the chapters often confusing and can't wait to discuss this novel. Nay for me!
I couldn't wait to get back into the car to listen to this book. I especially liked that the authior did something "new" for a change. While I was disappointed with the change in Hannah's principles toward the end I have to give it a YAY
While the premise is amazing and creative, this was a big disappointment. It is way too confusing and just seems like a disjointed jumble of emotions. NAY.
I tried to read this in bits and pieces in time snatched between other activities. Voice of the narrator was confusing that way. So I set it down until I could devote time to it.
I'd like to discuss with the group and think the story raises several issues teens grapple with too commonly. However, I don't know that it will stand up to some of the other contenders.
Following on the comment about the cassette tapes from our face to face meeting - it is a lot easier to do a series of voice recordings with cassettes - CDs are too much of a pain and who has enough MP3 memory that is portable, inexpensive and universal to share? So I don't have an issue with the cassette.
I am wiling to consider it for the top 20 because I think it will have a profound impact on many teen readers. It didn't grip me like I thought it would from the committee members' endorsements, but that might have also been from the false starts I had in getting it read.
conditional Yay
I thought the premise was original and creative. But, I also thought some parts were confusing. Furthermore, I wasn't "wowed" by this one, like I thought I would be. I do like that it illustrates how our actions however big or small affects others, but on the other hand, I was disappointed in Hannah's actions after that last party. Anyway, I think this is a worthwhile read for teens, but I can't give it a YAY or a NAY. I'm torn so...MAYBE.
I am narrowing down my top choices for Feb 8 - and changing this one to a NAY. Some of the changes in narration muddied the tale and it didn't have the depth of some of the other contenders. Still a good read, but other prime candidates have edged it out.
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