In 2007, Jay Asher published my favorite novel. I did not know this in 2007, but when I finally read 13 Reasons Why in the summer between my freshman and sophomore year of high school, it instantly surpassed every line of writing I had ever read in my entire life. The rare way that the book is written spoke to me.
I went into summer vacation following my 8th grade year dreading the fact that I would have summer work to complete before my first day of high school. Little did I know, the book I would soon choose from the reading list would be the first book to actually change my life.
As I read the first pages I couldn't help but think "Wow, if this were real, and if this were happening to me, if I had been one of Hannah Baker's reasons why, I would be listening to a dead girl speak to me via tape recorder." The thought of this alone almost forced me to close the book before continuing on. How can I read a book and know the whole time that the book is based around a girl who committed suicide? How can I keep reading knowing that the main character is already dead and I am listening (or reading, I am having a hard time describing this as I really felt I was listening to Hannah Baker's tapes when I read the book) to something she recorded before she took her own life? However as I continued, I became intrigued by Jay Asher's way of allowing readers to "listen" to Hannah Baker's story through Clay Jensen, who stole his friend's tape player to listen to Hannah's tapes.
At 14 years old, Thirteen Reasons Why, was the first book to ever "speak" to me. I did not know what it was like to take something from a book, and be so connected to the words I had read. I didn't know that a book would make me want a sequel so bad that I would spend HOURS searching online for ANYTHING that connected to it. Reviews, comments, quotes, I loved reading other people opinions on the book that I had just learned to love. I wanted to know everything possible about Thirteen Reasons Why, and Jay Asher.
I wanted to be a better person after reading Thirteen Reasons Why. I wanted to ensure that I could be the best person I could be for the people around me, and the people who needed me. I did not want to EVER be a part of someone's "13 reasons why" had they ever felt as low as Hannah Baker did. I wanted to be there for people, and I wanted to make sure that they knew if they needed someone that I would be there for them. I wanted to help people.
I know that I am not the only one that was touched so deeply by Thirteen Reasons Why, and I hope that more schools will start making their students read it. The book may be deemed "too controversial" for schools to share with their students, but I honestly believe if students go into high school knowing that their words and actions DO affect those around them, bullying would decrease. If people are made aware of their actions, I would like to believe that their actions will stop.
As teenagers, we are not aware that people may have other things going on in their lives, and we are not aware that our actions could be the breaking point for someone.
Something so small could be so big to someone who is going through hell.
Something as simple as reading a short Young Adult novel could change so many lives, and change the way people treat others. Jay Asher put words onto paper and changed lives, and now that the book has been turned into a 13 episode Netflix Original, more lives will be changed.
So, I leave you with this. If you are a reader, and have not yet read Thirteen Reasons Why, please please do. If you are not a reader, please login to your Netflix and watch Thirteen Reasons Why.
If you are both, a reader and a binge-watcher. DO BOTH! I did, and in turn, my life has been touched by this story once again.
