⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5 stars
I read 13 Reasons Why in basically one sitting and I have mixed feelings about it. I personally really enjoyed it. I am myself no stranger to depression, but unlike Hannah Baker I was never bullied in school.
I enjoyed the format and the mystery of how it got to the point where Hannah decided to end her life. The fact that Clay commented on Hannah’s story was very enlightening, because you get to see how her decisions affected someone else as well as hearing how other people’s actions affected Hannah and drove her over the edge. It also shows how people usually aren’t able to look beyond their own problems and notice the struggles of people around them. Clay as well as everyone else on Hannah’s list was too absorbed in his own little world to look beyond and see that in his case his lack of action had consequences. That right there is what I love about 13 Reasons Why and that is what makes it a four star read for me.
On the other hand I am very concerned that young people who read this story will see suicide as a viable option, which they can use to escape their problems and get back at the people whose actions drove them there. I’m afraid that Hannah’s story will be perceived as a goal rather than the fact that you should be aware of how your actions can have catastrophic consequences. In that regard I believe there is a very important message in 13 Reasons Why, which is that you should look beyond yourself and not be afraid to help people who are struggling.
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