Reviews
"Everything affects everything," declares Hannah Baker, who killed herself two weeks ago. After her death, Clay Jensen-who had a crush on Hannah-finds seven cassette tapes in a brown paper package on his doorstep. Listening to the tapes, Hannah chronicles her downward spiral and the 13 people who led her to make this horrific choice. Evincing the subtle-and not so subtle-cruelties of teen life, from rumors, to reputations, to rape, Hannah explains to her listeners that, "in the end, everything matters." Most of the novel quite literally takes place in Clay's head, as he listens to Hannah's voice pounding in his ears through his headphones, creating a very intimate feel for the reader as Hannah explains herself. Her pain is gut-wrenchingly palpable, and the reader is thrust face-first into a world where everything is related, an intricate yet brutal tapestry of events, people and places. Asher has created an entrancing character study and a riveting look into the psyche of someone who would make this unfortunate choice. A brilliant and mesmerizing debut from a gifted new author. -Kirkus, starred review, "Heavy but compelling. . . . Asher's novel asks us to look at how petty cruelty can deal crushing blows." -- Miami Herald "Wonderfully realistic in his writing, Asher offers teens and parents alike a great story on an important topic." -- Green Bay Press-Gazette "It is a brilliant debut that will leave readers feeling a sense of remorse for Hannah, guilt for Clay, and hope for the lasting lesson of the story." -- Bookazine "Breakneck pace and dizzying emotion." -- School Library Journal "[Hannah's] pain is gut-wrenchingly palpable. . . . Asher has created an entrancing character study and a riveting look into the psyche of someone who would make this unfortunate choice. A brilliant and mesmerizing debut from a gifted new author." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review and Editor's Choice "Readers won't be able to pull themselves away." -- Publishers Weekly "Asher's ability to convey the anguish of someone who was left behind is truly remarkable." -- Book Page WINNER OF Association of Booksellers for Children's "Best Books" American Library Association's "Best Books for Young Adults" and "Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers" Heartland Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature Florida Teens Read Award California Book Award Kentucky Bluegrass Award Book Sense Pick International Reading Association's "Young Adults' Choices" Finalist Chicago Public Library's "Best of the Best Books" Kansas State Reading Circle's "Recommended Reading List" New York Public Library's "Book for the Teen Age" 16 State Award Master Lists " Thirteen Reasons Why is a mystery, eulogy, and ceremony. Twenty or thirty times, I snapped the book shut when a sentence, an image, or a line of dialogue was too beautiful and painful. But I, afraid and curious, would always return to this amazing book. I know, in years to come, I will often return to this book." --Sherman Alexie, bestselling author of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian "Every once in a while you come across a book that you can't get out of your mind, one you have to rush back to if you must put it down for some reason. Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why is one of those books, and is at the very top of my personal Must-Read list." --Ellen Hopkins, bestselling author of Tricks , Identical , Crank , Burned , Impulse , and Glass "A spectacular first novel. Jay Asher tells his story with such honesty and simplicity that the tragedy feels shatteringly real." --Gordon Korman, author of Son of the Mob and Jake, Reinvented, "Everything affects everything," declares Hannah Baker, who killed herself two weeks ago. After her death, Clay Jensen--who had a crush on Hannah--finds seven cassette tapes in a brown paper package on his doorstep. Listening to the tapes, Hannah chronicles her downward spiral and the 13 people who led her to make this horrific choice. Evincing the subtle--and not so subtle--cruelties of teen life, from rumors, to reputations, to rape, Hannah explains to her listeners that, "in the end, everything matters." Most of the novel quite literally takes place in Clay's head, as he listens to Hannah's voice pounding in his ears through his headphones, creating a very intimate feel for the reader as Hannah explains herself. Her pain is gut-wrenchingly palpable, and the reader is thrust face-first into a world where everything is related, an intricate yet brutal tapestry of events, people and places. Asher has created an entrancing character study and a riveting look into the psyche of someone who would make this unfortunate choice. A brilliant and mesmerizing debut from a gifted new author. --Kirkus, starred review, "Heavy but compelling. . . . Asher's novel asks us to look at how petty cruelty can deal crushing blows." -- Miami Herald "Wonderfully realistic in his writing, Asher offers teens and parents alike a great story on an important topic." -- Green Bay Press-Gazette "It is a brilliant debut that will leave readers feeling a sense of remorse for Hannah, guilt for Clay, and hope for the lasting lesson of the story." -- Bookazine "Breakneck pace and dizzying emotion." -- School Library Journal "[Hannah's] pain is gut-wrenchingly palpable. . . . Asher has created an entrancing character study and a riveting look into the psyche of someone who would make this unfortunate choice. A brilliant and mesmerizing debut from a gifted new author." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review and Editor's Choice "Readers won't be able to pull themselves away." -- Publishers Weekly "Asher's ability to convey the anguish of someone who was left behind is truly remarkable." -- Book Page WINNER OF Association of Booksellers for Children's "Best Books" American Library Association's "Best Books for Young Adults" and "Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers" Heartland Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature Florida Teens Read Award California Book Award Kentucky Bluegrass Award Book Sense Pick International Reading Association's "Young Adults' Choices" Finalist Chicago Public Library's "Best of the Best Books" Kansas State Reading Circle's "Recommended Reading List" New York Public Library's "Book for the Teen Age" 16 State Award Master Lists " Thirteen Reasons Why is a mystery, eulogy, and ceremony. Twenty or thirty times, I snapped the book shut when a sentence, an image, or a line of dialogue was too beautiful and painful. But I, afraid and curious, would always return to this amazing book. I know, in years to come, I will often return to this book." --Sherman Alexie, bestselling author of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian "Every once in a while you come across a book that you can't get out of your mind, one you have to rush back to if you must put it down for some reason. Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why is one of those books, and is at the very top of my personal Must-Read list." --Ellen Hopkins, bestselling author of Tricks , Identical , Crank , Burned , Impulse , and Glass "A spectacular first novel. Jay Asher tells his story with such honesty and simplicity that the tragedy feels shatteringly real." --Gordon Korman, author of Son of the Mob and Jake, Reinvented
