The novel 13 Reasons Why, written by Jay Asher, should be studied in high school academic classes. 13 Reasons Why takes the reader through the experiences and tragic events of the novel’s protagonist, Hannah Baker, who commits suicide. Prior to her suicide, Hannah makes a set of cassettes containing seven tapes and thirteen sides, symbolizing the thirteen reasons that connect to her suicide. Clay Jensen, the main character, discovers the set of tapes on his front porch recorded by his former classmate Hannah and immediately a nightmare is upon him. The tapes left by Hannah help Clay and the reader truly understand the suffering and adversity Hannah experiences throughout her teenage years. A novel that is studied in school should spread awareness concerning crucial topics such
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Throughout the entirety of 13 Reasons Why, Jay Asher informs his readers that everybody is responsible for their own actions and there are consequences for our bad choices. In the novel, the individuals on Hannah’s tape all make extremely poor decisions leading to major repercussions. The most obvious hardship Clay must face is the suicide of his former friend, Hannah, and subsequently listening to her darkest secrets. Justin Foley is the first victim who appears on Hannah’s tape and is the one that ultimately causes the “snowball effect” (Asher 30) that Hannah mentions numerous times throughout the novel. The snowball effect is a metaphor for all the catastrophic events and lies Hannah experiences. Hannah shares her very first kiss with Justin, however, “a rumor based on a kiss ruined a memory that she hoped would be special” (Asher 30). The memory of her first kiss immediately develops into a nightmare after false speculation spreads that Hannah and Justin do more than kiss at the park. Rumors around the school say that “Hannah took her shirt off and let Justin put his hands up her bra”
Throughout the entirety of 13 Reasons Why, Jay Asher informs his readers that everybody is responsible for their own actions and there are consequences for our bad choices. In the novel, the individuals on Hannah’s tape all make extremely poor decisions leading to major repercussions. The most obvious hardship Clay must face is the suicide of his former friend, Hannah, and subsequently listening to her darkest secrets. Justin Foley is the first victim who appears on Hannah’s tape and is the one that ultimately causes the “snowball effect” (Asher 30) that Hannah mentions numerous times throughout the novel. The snowball effect is a metaphor for all the catastrophic events and lies Hannah experiences. Hannah shares her very first kiss with Justin, however, “a rumor based on a kiss ruined a memory that she hoped would be special” (Asher 30). The memory of her first kiss immediately develops into a nightmare after false speculation spreads that Hannah and Justin do more than kiss at the park. Rumors around the school say that “Hannah took her shirt off and let Justin put his hands up her bra”