Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher [book]

 

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher [book]

Publisher: Razorbill; Reprint edition, 2011
Language: English
Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN: 159514188X

Plot Summary:
This story is an unveiling of the the thirteen reasons why Hannah killed herself in a series of tapes meant for the thirteen people involved to listen to. Clay is the main character in the novel and his thoughts are interposed into the story of Hannah and why she felt so depressed and ridiculed in school that she committed suicide. There is another set of tapes that someone holds in the story that will be leaked if all of the thirteen people in the story do not listen to the tapes that Hannah left. The majority of the reasons have to deal with rumors, lies, and inappropriate sexual advances leading up until the last one that lead to a cry for help to a counselor that did not believe that she would commit suicide. Clay actually turned out not to have done anything to Hannah but be nice and be wary of her because of all of the rumors at school. In the book Clay also happens to run into his old crush that seems withdrawn and very quiet and in the end, after hearing about the things that caused Hannah to kill herself he reaches out to her to make sure that nothing happens like that again.

Critical Evaluation:
I liked the idea that Hannah wanted the people that made her feel this way to literally walk in her shoes and follow her footsteps hearing her story. I think that it held goo themes for people that are in high school and lets them know that they have an affect on the people around them and that rumors hurt. I think that there is a good message to listen to people when they are asking for help and to make sure that you are noticing the people that are around you and reaching out to them. It is a hard hitting narrative on the way that people can be negatively affected and how not taking action can sometimes be just as bad when you see someone is struggling.

Reader's Annotation:
Hannah Baker committed suicide and Clay Jensen along with 12 other people are the reason; now all of the people that caused her death must listen to tapes detailing the reasons why they were contributors.

Websites to look Into:
http://www.13rwproject.com/#/reviews/194
http://www.thirteenreasonswhy.com/
http://jayasher.blogspot.com/

The Author:
Asher went to high school in San Luis Obispo and left Cal Poly in his senior year to take up writing seriously; he has only written 2 novels.
Awards:
#1 New York Times bestseller in the US, 2011
Georgia Peach Book Awards for Teen Readers, 2011
International Reading Association, Young Adults' Choice list, 2009
YALSA, Best Books for Young Adults, 2008
YALSA, Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, 2008
California Book Award winner, Young Adult, 2008

Similar Books:
"Hate List" by Jennifer Brown
"Willow" by Julia Hoban

Booktalking Ideas:
Discussing teen suicide and suicide prevention

Genre:
Mystery, Fiction

Interest Age:
16+

Challenge Issues:
Suicide
This book deals with a young adult committing suicide and it is very real and sad. I would combat this with the fact that it details the reason that the girl did it and shows the path of life that she walked in that lead her to do something so extreme. I think it brings light to a situation and also makes people more aware of it to read about it happening

Why this Book?
I chose this book a mystery and a book about teen suicide and the affect that young adults can have on each other.

Forgotten by Cat Patrick [book]

Forgotten by Cat Patrick [book]

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2011

Hardcover, US Edition, 304 pages

ISBN: 0316094609

Plot Summary:
In this book London is a sixteen year old girl that has a problem with her memory; she can't remember the past, she can only remember glimpses into the future. It seems that every night her brain is wiped clean and she is left with notes left to her from herself the day before. This is the only way that she can remember any of her past life. When London meets Luke she falls for him but is confused about why she does not see him in her future. She develops a romance with him, but her memory problem is not discussed until the end when she realizes that her younger brother was abducted when they were young and she experienced head trauma in the process. It turns out that he was sold and not dead like her parents originally thought (they divorced and her dad left because of the incident) and she finds out that he is still alive and sees him in a vision of the future. She also reconnects with her father in the end and slowly starts to regain her memory.
Critical Evaluation:
I thought that the book had an interesting plot that was intriguing and a good mystery in the book. I found it to be weird however that no one else in London's life seems to be aware that she has a memory disorder, and that she is so comfortable with reminding herself everyday of the past events in her life. Her relationship with Luke is sweet, but there is a lot of talk about how handsome he is all throughout the novel. I felt that the mystery was good in that you were wondering what was going on with her memory in the novel, but it did not really explain why she saw glimpses of the future in its fullest. I thought that it was very suspenseful and page turning and that young adult audiences could appreciate it.

Reader's Annotation:
London only remembers things from her future, and every night her memory is wiped clean as she sleeps making it very difficult to remember the new cute guy at school and understand her recurring dream that is starting to haunt her.

Websites to look Into:
http://www.catpatrick.com

Awards:
Summer 2011 Indie Next List

Similar Books:
"Revived" by Cat Patrick
"Entangled" by Cat Clarke

Booktalking Ideas:
Discussing the importance of real, honest relationships

Genre:
Fiction, Mystery

Interest Age:
13+

Challenge Issues:
I could not see any real challenge issues in this novel, I thought that the story moved smoothly and besides it being a psychological mystery nothing stuck out as being overly problematic.

Why this Book?
I thought that this would be a really good addition to the collection as a mystery book. It is captivating and it kept me guessing the entire time, I think that any teen would enjoy it.