TH1RTEEN R3ASONS WHY

Have you ever read a life-changing book--one that haunts you long after you have finished it?  I'm not talking about one of those that gives you an "ah-ha" moment, but one that makes you go back and examine your life in minute detail, wondering....

Imagine for a moment you arrived home and found a package on your doorstep--plain brown paper with only your name.  Opening the box, you find a set of cassette tapes with nothing but the numbers 1-13 identifying them.  Now...imagine you start to play the first tape and a very familiar voice, one of someone who committed suicide the week before, announces that if you are receiving these tapes, you played a role in her suicide.  This is exactly what happens to Clay Jensen.

Clay gathers a map that mysteriously appeared in his locker and the tapes--and spends the night listening to Hannah Baker record the last words she will ever speak.  She has marked the map with the locations that played a part in her decision. Many times, Clay wants to stop for the words are painful, but he continues until the end, interjecting his thoughts between the recorded words, talking to someone who can no longer hear him.

Every word we speak and action we take sets into motion a series of other actions and words.  Nothing we say, do--or don't say or do--effects only ourselves.  Have you ever wondered what may have been different if you had chosen differently?  You will after reading this book.  You'll wonder...and you WILL react differently afterwards.  You can't walk away from this book unchanged.

Some schools have begun to make this book required reading.  It is my opinion that all schools should.  Every parent, grandparent and teacher should read this book.  This is Jay Asher's first novel and it is most likely the most powerful one he will ever write--one of the most powerful anyone will ever write.  Not because of his writing style--he writes well, with a down-to-Earth style that makes the story flow naturally.  He is an author I willl watch for in the future. 

Rather than send you straight to Amazon, I'd like to send you to Jay's website  It is full of excerpts, video and audio and interviews--and more.  You will get the full sense of what this book is about. I guarantee Hannah's story will stay with you forever.