"Thirteen Reasons Why"

Nathania Carissa Vida Octaviani Simanjuntak (392020032)

March 22th, 2021 

Introduction

Thirteen Reasons Why is a young adult novel written by Jay Asher in 2007, that follows the story of Hannah Baker, a high school freshman, and the thirteen reasons why she commits suicide. The novel was published in trade paperback format by Penguin Young Readers Group a division of Penguin Random House, on June 14, 2011. The name of the illustrator is not listed in the book. However, because I don't have the original book, I only read it through the e-book. I read this book in the e-book. So, I have completed the 190 pages. I choose to read this e-book, because I interested with the title of the book. 

The Characters

-. Hannah Baker: She is a high school student who commits suicide and leaves behind seven double-sided cassette tapes. 

-. Clay Jensen: He is the narrator of the novel. He is the subject of the ninth tape, on which Hannah clarifies that he was always kind to her and that he does not deserve to be on her list. 

Actually, there are many characters in this story but I can't explain all of them. I explain only the characters that I think are very important. 

Plot

This story tells about Clay Jensen, as he returns home from school to find a mysterious package on his bed. When he opens it, he finds seven cassette tapes. Upon inserting them into his family’s cassette player, he discovers were recorded by Hannah Baker, a girl that he went to school with who recently committed suicide. Her instructions are clear: each person who receives a package is one of the reasons why she killed herself, and after each person has completed listening to the tapes, they must pass the package on to the next person. If anyone decides to break the chain, a separate set of tapes will be released to the public.

The first tape is addressed to Justin Foley, Hannah’s first kiss. She addresses the first time they kissed after meeting in a playground in their town, and explains that it was nice and completely innocent. 

The second tape is addressed to Alex Standall, who compiled a list during Hannah’s freshman year.

The third tape is addressed to Jessica Davis, who was a new student during Hannah’s freshman year, the year that Hannah also moved to the town. 

The fourth tape is addressed to Tyler Down, who stalked Hannah outside of her bedroom window and took pictures of her. 

The story of Courtney Crimsen is told in the fifth tape. She is known as a sweet, well-liked girl, a persona which Hannah explains that she fell for. 

The sixth tape is addressed to Marcus Cooley, who Hannah matched with in a set of school Valentines. 

The seventh tape is addressed to Zach Dempsey. Hannah explains that in her Peer Communications class, there was a set of bags at the back of the room where students could leave compliments for each other. 

The eighth tape is addressed to Ryan Shaver, who attended a poetry class with Hannah while she was spiraling further into depression. 

The ninth tape is addressed to Clay, who Hannah specifically says does not deserve to be on the list. She says that he is a genuinely nice boy. 

The tenth tape is addressed to Justin again. Hannah explains that on the night of the party, he allowed his friend to enter a room where a drunk, unconscious girl was laying and rape her. 

The eleventh tape is addressed to Jenny Kurtz, who gave Hannah a ride home the night of the party and hit a stop sign.  

The thirteenth tape is addressed to Mr. Porter, an English teacher that filled in as a guidance counselor for a period of time at Hannah’s school. 

As the tapes are played, Clay walks to each location that Hannah discusses, feeling more and more distressed as he does so. By the end of the tapes, he feels changed, and the novel ends with him addressing a student named Skye, who he sees behaving like Hannah, potentially preventing another suicide.

Conculsion

I enjoyed reading this novel from Jay Asher for many reasons. One of them was
that this novel helps us understand that there may be more to other people's
lives than we know. It also tells us that anything we do can have an impact on
someone, even the smallest things matter. So, I recommend you guys to read this novel too and also this novel is being adapted into a series on Netflix. Actually, I never watch the series but after I read this novel, I think I will watch the series.