Thirteen Reasons Why

Originally posted to Red Adept Reviews.

Overall: 3 1/2 stars

Plot/Storyline: 3 3/4 stars

It???s a great idea, right? So cool of a concept that I read the article and purchased the book as soon as I could. I love the concept, but am a little less enamored when it comes to the execution of the story and to matters of characterization.

As far as it goes, I think it???s a helpful book for teens. Any story that preaches that bullying and casual cruelties have consequences is a needed message. The issue becomes what responsibility Hannah has for her choice and if the punishment fits the crimes. If nothing else, the discussions it opens up will be interesting.

Hannah says to these people that what they did lead to what she did and, by implication, they should carry the guilt of that. I suspect most readers will think that in the case of one or two of the people they should have to live with and struggle with that. However, some of the people were rude, or ignorant, or mean, or even casually cruel, but it???s arguable if it???s fair to expect them to carry the burden of Hannah???s decision ??? particularly in the case of a girl who was a victim herself or a guidance counselor whom she only met one time and set up for failure.

While the premise is good, I couldn???t help but think that it needed to take two paths ??? one of benevolence and education toward people who could not have known or one of anger toward people who were truly reprehensible. The difficulty is her anger toward both groups as if their ???sins??? were equal. Ultimately, this choice will put some readers in the uncomfortable position of realizing they dislike, or disapprove of, a girl who took her own life.

There was also the small detail that she threatened that if people didn???t listen and pass it on that another party would make sure that the tapes got out ??? but I can???t imagine that the adult recipient wouldn???t contact the authorities based on details in the tape. I also can???t imagine Hannah not knowing that.

Lastly, the reason why Clay was on the list seemed too easy, a bit off a cop-out, even a cheat, since ??? without saying more ??? he stood alone. This removed some of the power I might have felt.

Characters: 3 1/4 stars

There are two main characters here. Hannah and Clay. We meet the other characters who have received or will receive the take, sometimes during the course of Clay???s travels around town as he listens, but mostly through Hannah???s narration. As mentioned, when she speaks we also read Clay???s reactions to her words. Clay is pretty likable character. Some of the other characters are villainous. Others seem like kids making stupid mistakes.

I believe that we were supposed to see Clay as someone who could have saved her, if only he was more confident, if only he had listened to rumors less. For once, I don???t think Hannah put the burden on someone else so much as Clay felt understandable guilt at not reaching out to her sooner. (Understandable in the sense of it being a natural reaction, not in the sense of being justified.)

As mentioned, I had complex feelings toward Hannah. Obviously there???s built in sympathy for her, but it was hard to read her deliberate cruelty toward others. Suicide can sometimes be a very angry act, a way to punish others for real or perceived grievances, and the choice can be made for what seems to the outside world to be petty, but feels like the weight of the world to the person in question. Understanding all of this doesn???t change the fact that Hannah comes across as vindictive and looking for scapegoats.

I don???t get the feeling I was supposed to agree with Hannah completely, but I do get the impression I wasn???t supposed to be as irritated with her as much as I was, which was about 60% of the time. While teens are self-involved and this one was in a bad place, she was surprisingly difficult to root for in her efforts and I ??? yeah, I???m going to hell ??? never felt particularly saddened that the girl speaking had shuffled off this mortal coil. The inherent poignancy of the story she was telling couldn???t always rise above what seemed to be a need to punish. Think of Carrie, without the supernatural stuff, with 100% less pig???s blood, and with more time on her hands and a tape recorder.

On the plus side, there were a fair amount of minor characters, and the author did a pretty good job with them. I felt like I knew them.

Writing Style: 3 3/4 stars

Several nice moments, but in many ways this felt like a first book. This book called for a balance between Hannah???s telling her story and Clay reacting and also moving around town as he listened, and it never felt like the author quite worked out the right ratio. Many of the descriptions were good, places were described vividly in several cases, but at other moments it all felt a little flat.