A review by gritshelme
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
1.0
Ugggghhhhh!
I can't express my disappointment with this book eloquently right now, so maybe there's a more detailed review coming later. Here are some bullet points:
1. Presumably the message of this book is intended to be something along the lines of, "don't kill yourself." Except that really doesn't work. How else would the tapes exist? How else would anyone have learned about the bullying? The peeping tom? The rape? Hannah had to kill herself to make people feel sorry for what they've done--or haven't done--and writing a book that really says, "when I'm dead, they'll all be sorry" seems a little bit counterproductive.
2. Sticking close to the idea of “message” for a bit longer, I feel as though this book thinks that it is furthering the discussion about depression and mental illness, yet it never even mentions these things. The truth? This doesn’t feel like a book about someone with depression; this feels like a book written about someone getting bullied. Still something that needs to be addressed, but this book just confuses them in its fumbling attempt to maybe help.
3. Clay. Oh my god. Because of course the protagonist had to be the only person who didn't do anything wrong. Fuck that, it’s way too easy.
4. Yes, sometimes guidance counselors can be useless. I get that, believe me. But how does making Mr. Porter into another one of the bad guys do ANYTHING except encourage people not to turn to an authority figure for help?
I can't express my disappointment with this book eloquently right now, so maybe there's a more detailed review coming later. Here are some bullet points:
1. Presumably the message of this book is intended to be something along the lines of, "don't kill yourself." Except that really doesn't work. How else would the tapes exist? How else would anyone have learned about the bullying? The peeping tom? The rape? Hannah had to kill herself to make people feel sorry for what they've done--or haven't done--and writing a book that really says, "when I'm dead, they'll all be sorry" seems a little bit counterproductive.
2. Sticking close to the idea of “message” for a bit longer, I feel as though this book thinks that it is furthering the discussion about depression and mental illness, yet it never even mentions these things. The truth? This doesn’t feel like a book about someone with depression; this feels like a book written about someone getting bullied. Still something that needs to be addressed, but this book just confuses them in its fumbling attempt to maybe help.
3. Clay. Oh my god. Because of course the protagonist had to be the only person who didn't do anything wrong. Fuck that, it’s way too easy.
4. Yes, sometimes guidance counselors can be useless. I get that, believe me. But how does making Mr. Porter into another one of the bad guys do ANYTHING except encourage people not to turn to an authority figure for help?