A review by rberdan
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

1.0

I read this within months of a family member’s death by suicide so my experience was definitely coloured by that. I recognize that the author was inspired by experience. I felt that the book was likely missing a sensitivity read.  While of course I got that one of the messages was to be aware of how our behaviour impacts others, and of course bullying and othering are significant factors in teen suicide, the way that blame was framed felt very simplistic and frankly dangerous to anyone reading the book as a survivor. Further, the cause-and-effect lacked nuance and while the Hannah’s lens would be critical here, I felt like there was not a balancing AND related to mental health, lack of supports, and how that could have looked different.  Certainly in the moment that I read this, I wished the topic had been treated in a more fulsome way so that its impact could have aligned more thoroughly with its intent, as I walked away feeling that the book was actually dangerous for survivors and those contemplating suicidal to read. 
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