One sentence summary
The book “Thirteen Reasons Why” by Jay Asher is a young-adult novel that tells the story of teenager Clay Jensen as he attempts to understand why his classmate, Hannah Baker, decided to commit suicide.
Book genre
Thirteen Reasons Why is a young-adult novel, classified as “suspense” and “mystery” in some sources.
Main topic of the book
The main topic of the book is suicide among teenagers. The book follows the story of Clay Jensen, a teenage boy whose crush, Hannah Baker, commits suicide and leaves him thirteen tapes, each explaining a reason why she chose to take her own life.
Key ideas
- Mental Health: The book talks about the struggles of mental health and the impact it has on young adults.
- Suicide: Thirteen Reasons Why explores the motivations behind suicide, the effects of suicide on family and friends, and the consequences of taking one’s own life.
- The Search for Truth: Clay embarks on a journey to discover the truth behind Hannah’s suicide and to determine what role, if any, he may have played in it.
- The Ripple Effect: The book shows how the small choices we make can greatly affect the lives of others, both positively and negatively.
Main parts of the book and a short summary
- Part 1: Side A: Clay Jensen receives a mysterious package at his door containing seven cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker. The tapes contain Hannah’s voice as she explains her thirteen reasons why she chose to take her own life. Clay begins to listen to the first tape and embarks on a journey to understand the truth behind her death.
- Part 2: Side B: Clay travels to several locations mentioned in the tapes in order to gain more insight into what happened. He discovers that his classmate Bryce is at the heart of Hannah’s story and begins to uncover new secrets surrounding her death. Clay also struggles to reconcile his feelings for Hannah and his own part in her death.
- Part 3: Finale: Clay confronts Bryce about his actions and then comes to terms with his role in Hannah’s death. He realizes his own impact on the people around him and deals with the pain of losing someone he cared about. The story ends with Clay finding peace and hope for the future.
Key takeaways
- It is important to be mindful of how our actions can influence the lives of those around us.
- We must take responsibility for our actions and seek understanding when faced with difficult situations.
- It is possible to find peace and hope in even the darkest of times.
Author’s background and qualifications
Jay Asher is an American author of young-adult fiction. He is well-known for his debut novel, Thirteen Reasons Why, which was the winner of the 2007 Publishers Weekly Best Book Award and the 2007 ALA Best Book for Young Adults. Asher also wrote the novels What Light (2016), The Future of Us (2012), and The Story of Us (2010).
Target audience
The target audience of Thirteen Reasons Why is young adults aged 12–18.
Publisher and first publication date
The book was first published by Razorbill, an imprint of Penguin Random House, in October 2007.