Welcome To Your Tape

Kyleigh Hairston

Thirteen Reasons Why
By Jay Asher

     Today, Suicide is the third leading cause of death for 15 - 24 year olds. It is also something people don't address today. In Thirteen Reasons Why, they address this issue and show what a teens lifes is actually like during a time when they feel like their only way out is suicide.
     If you got home from school one day, after finding out someone you knew had committed suicide, and found a box outside your door that you weren't expecting what would you do. If it were me I'd be extemely curious what the package is. The way this story starts is when Clay, the main character, picks up a box left outside his house addressed to him. He cuts the box open and finds 7 double sided tapes that are numbered. The tapes were left behind for 13 people, including Clay, telling the truth about what led to hannah's death and how they were all a part of it. If somebody you knew had committed suicide and left behind tapes for you, what would you do? Clay is curious and inserts the first tape into the cassette player, and after hearing the words, "Hello, boys and girls... I hope you're ready, because I'm about to tell you the story of my life. More specifically why my life ended. And if you're listening to these tapes, you're on of the reasons why"(24), becomes very confused and a little frightened.
     This book spoke to me because it didn't censor many of the things that are censored in television today. It told the truth which many stories don't do and I was able to connect with the characters and understand them.
     If you are captain of the basketball team, a rich boy with no problems, a very charismatic person, the class clown, cheerleader, writer or a photographer, you can relate to this book. I personally related to the overall theme of the book and a little to all of the characters. As a high schooler, it is hard. You never know who is real or not and there are many times where it seems like the world is against you and this book helps you relate to it. I recommend this book to every highschooler and parents and teachers because it helps understand.