Edgy YA discussion

The discussion for Thirteen Reasons Why.

Yay! I read this book last year on an airplane ride, and was in tears before we landed. It's the book I pull out sometimes when I'm depressed. I'm excited to see everyone's reactions!

Jay Asher won a boat load of praise for Thirteen Reasons Why. However the reviews are mixed. I've not obtained my copy of this one yet, but will in the next few days. Friends who have reviewed this have either loved it or hated it for a multitude of reasons. Looking forward to forming my own opinion and the resulting discussion on the list. This looks to be a promising month.

Picked up my copy today at the local Barnes & Noble. Read the first few pages and can tell I'm already hooked.

This book was so hard to read. The reader empathized with the main character so much because he loves Hannah and doesn't know why he is the one to receive the tapes.
I love how the author takes the reader on a "trip" around town as Clay goes to each of the various places Hannah mentions in each tape.
In this day where bullying is such a factor in so many teens lives, this book is one that is a must read. It describes events from the point of view of the victim with such realism and clarity that at times, the reader's stomach just roils.
Loved this book!!!

Shelly wrote: "This book was so hard to read. The reader empathized with the main character so much because he loves Hannah and doesn't know why he is the one to receive the tapes.
I love how the author takes..."

Shelly, it is a hard read. And I'm having the precise feelings for Clay as you described. Having dealt much with the issue of bullying, I'm going to surmise that Clay was a bystander who observed, but didn't proactively work to stop what was happening to Hannah. I may well be wrong, but this is so frequently an issue with the problem of bullying. Failing to say, "Stop it," is consent to the behavior, whether meant or not.

Mike wrote: "Shelly wrote: "This book was so hard to read. The reader empathized with the main character so much because he loves Hannah and doesn't know why he is the one to receive the tapes.
I love how th..."

I haven't read the book, but the bystander in a situation can be scared or may not be uncertain if they want to interfere as sometimes bystanders who do so can end up the victim. My husband's workmate stepped into protect and stand up for a woman, and was stabbed to death. That is the extreme case. But in relation to a minor case of bullying, my 8 year old stood up for a neighbour who was being bullied because of his race and personality and she got bullied in return. (At that stage we lived in the worst neighbourhood in New Zealand). I had to step in once when a 16 year old decided to be verbally nasty to my eight year old, because she wouldn't tow the line with the kid's bullying younger brother and sister. And don't think 16 year olds can't be dangerous, they sure as hell are, but I have martial arts training so knew how to defend myself if it did get taken to another level. We moved away from that neghbourhood because I could see things getting worse for my daughter due to her outspoken personality. Plus, the environment was not a good one.

Mike wrote: "Shelly wrote: "This book was so hard to read. The reader empathized with the main character so much because he loves Hannah and doesn't know why he is the one to receive the tapes.
I love how th..."

I don't know if Clay even needed to say, "Stop" He just needed to show Hannah that he cared. That might have made all the difference. She felt like she was so alone and that nobody understood her. I feel like Clay could have. He couldn't control others' behavior, but by showing that he cared, he might have saved her...

Marita wrote: "Mike wrote: "Shelly wrote: "This book was so hard to read. The reader empathized with the main character so much because he loves Hannah and doesn't know why he is the one to receive the tapes.
..."

Wow, Marita. You have experienced a lot more first-hand in regards to dangerous bullying than I have. I definitely have a limited understanding of it. But, I do think that something needs to happen. We cannot continue to be afraid of these bullies and let them rule our lives.

I just wish that Clay (and anybody else like Clay) had taken the time to show the person that they cared. It could give the victims strength when they know they aren't alone.

As a society, we have to quit tolerating this type of behavior. People should not have to live in fear.

Shelly wrote: "Marita wrote: "Mike wrote: "Shelly wrote: "This book was so hard to read. The reader empathized with the main character so much because he loves Hannah and doesn't know why he is the one to receiv..."

True. I agree.

This book is amazing.

I liked this book but was kinda of mad about of cours the main character was the only one that did nothing wrong, it was like Jay Asher thought that the main character was so perfect and what not.

I'm not going to read all the posts, since I JUST got my hands on a copy of this today. But I'll come back after I've read it and discuss. I've been wanting to read this book for a few years, since I saw it on a banned-books list, so I'm excited to start.

Lena wrote: "I'm not going to read all the posts, since I JUST got my hands on a copy of this today. But I'll come back after I've read it and discuss. I've been wanting to read this book for a few years, since..."

It was on a banned-books list?

Yes. I don't remember what for. A lot of books are banned for ridiculous reasons.

Thirteen Reasons Why was a good choice for group read. Jay Asher had some strong points to make about how our behavior or the lack of it affects others. Is it a perfect read? No. But it provides a powerful message. If interested, my review is available at http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... .

I understand the point Asher was trying to make, but I find Hannah a very unlikeable character. It just seems shitty to point to someone and say, "You're the reason I killed myself." That seems as shitty as what they did to her, sometimes worse.

Shelly wrote: "I don't know if Clay even needed to say, "Stop" He just needed to show Hannah that he cared. That might have made all the difference. She felt like she was so alone and that nobody understood her.
..."

Actually, he did show her he cared, but she pushed him away. This also happened with the boy who tried to comfort her at the diner (he then retaliated, but he did try to help her first). The same with Mr. Porter, who I felt was unjustly accused as contributing to her suicide. She simply did not want to be helped, or that's how it seemed to me. When someone says "leave me alone, leave me alone," most people will leave her alone. She wanted them to BEG to help her, but they had no way to know that.

i absolutely adore this book. it wraps so many emotions into one solid breathtaking punch. as much as i can relate to hannah, i hate that she continued to put those around her in so much pain after she had already killed herself. so many problems can seem insignificant when someone says "i love/care about you." it's such a great book. i need to reread it at some point.