Thirteen Reasons Why

By: Jay Asher

Narrated by: Debra Wiseman, Joel Johnstone

Length: 6 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush, who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah's voice explains that there are 13 reasons she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out why.

Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a first-hand witness to Hannah's pain, and learns the truth about himself - a truth he never wanted to face.

©2007 Jay Asher (P)2007 Random House, Inc. Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group

Critic reviews

“[Hannah’s] pain is gut-wrenchingly palpable.... Asher has created an entrancing character study and a riveting look into the psyche of someone who would make this unfortunate choice. A brilliant and mesmerizing debut from a gifted new author.” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review and Editor’s Choice)

“Heavy but compelling.... Asher’s novel asks us to look at how petty cruelty can deal crushing blows.” (Miami Herald)

“It is a brilliant debut that will leave readers feeling a sense of remorse for Hannah, guilt for Clay, and hope for the lasting lesson of the story.” (Bookazine)

Kept my attention

It was a very good listen! I felt like I knew the character Clay. However I was disappointed with the ending.

Reality Check

Loved it! This book looks into a sad epidemic, but it's true, sad and reality of our children

Thirteen reasons...

Thirteen Reasons Why was an amazing book . As a retired high school teacher I think this should be required reading for all HS freshmen. People need to realize how much words can hurt, and once they are uttered, they can never be taken back.

Joel Johnstone and Debra Wiseman did fantastic jobs narrating this book. I would recommend this to all students and parents alike. Thirteen Reasons Why could open frank discussions for any student thinking of taking his or her life, before it becomes to late.

If I could give more than 5 stars, I would have done so.

great

absolutely an amzing book, bullying rumors, whole nine yards. i would absolutely reccommend this book to any teenager or young adult.

I loved it, so good! It's something unforgettable!

So good I couldn't forget something like this at all it was good so good!

I want more

Wish the book told more other than clay having the tapes. It could have been stretched out more, but still a great book.

easy to follow - such a tangled web

Snow ball effect. Is so true. it can relate to all ages.

enjoyed the narrarator and the change from male from female

Great book.

I read the book before I listened to the audiobook. As I read the book, I listened to the promotional youtube videos and I think this is one of those books that translates really well into an audiobook. The story is so important for young girls to read, but it's also important for males to read too. They need to know how much their actions affect others. It's beautifully written and very realistic and believeable. Definitely one of my favorites, now.

A dark look into a teen's life.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book was recommended to my by my friend who is a YA librarian. I usually don't like YA, but the story sounded interesting so I gave it a try. This book grabs you from the instant it begins. You're listening to the reasons why a young girl would take her life. It shows the how the littlest things can have a huge impact on a person's life.
The main character does not feel sorry for herself, but has become apathetic at times and frustrated at the loss of control at others.

Who was your favorite character and why?

No charcter is a standout, but I would have to say Clay, because he shows true remorse.

Did Debra Wiseman and Joel Johnstone do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

The narrators did an OK job. It seemed overacted in some parts making the book lose its realism.

Mesmerizing

There was so much about this book that I liked, I finished it all in one day. Original, interesting concept that most teenagers would empathize with