I didn't expect to like this so much, young adult fiction usually falls short. Thirteen Reasons Why unfolds like a tragic mystery. Hannah has committed suicide, Clay receives cassette tapes at his door with Hannah's voice explaining 13 reasons to 13 people who caused her misery. Any one reason, taken by itself, may seem like no big deal. But Hannah explains what led up to it, what she was thinking, and how the events are all connected. And Clay is a likeable guy, his reactions to what he hears gives the additional perspective of the outsider looking in.
This book delivers exactly what it promises - a lesson that our actions, no matter how small, have consequences. And it is refreshing to read a novel where that is the focus, considering the world we live in celebrates actions that never have a consequence. This is an important and simple story for all of us.
If you have teenagers, I recommend you read this first before passing it along. It would make for a good discussion on a broad range of topics. You can visit the book's website at www.thirteenreasonswhy.com and hear some of the audio version.
The End.
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