Review: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Title: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Released: October 18, 2007 by Razorbills
Pages: 304
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by: Carey

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box 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. On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list. Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers. 

***

I heard many things about this book before I read it. I heard that I wasn't going to be able to put it down, that it was so good, that it was sad and heartbreaking. 

I have come to the conclusion that all of that is true.

I could not put the book down at all. Finished it in only a few hours, it was so good. I wanted to know Hannah's story. I wanted to know why Clay was in there if he liked her so much. And then after I found out, I wanted to know who else was on Hannah's list and how it all ended.

I loved how everything and everybody tied together. I loved how it had two different narrators and point of views. I loved how, even though it was published in 2007, the "suicide note" was on cassette tapes. It just made it so much more original and made me love it that much more.

This really happens. People spread rumors about people which may cause bad things to happen. They do try to reach out sometimes, but nobody sees anything different, nobody notices. Nobody tries to help. And then that person is gone one day. Granted most people don't send around seven tapes and thirteen reasons why they did kill themselves, but that's what makes this story great. Everybody is different.

This story could speak out to so many people of all ages. This novel should honestly be a required reading in high schools. Every school should have a Peer Communications class like their school does. This book needs to be read by every one. Five stars.

Review: Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti

Title: Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti
Published: May 31, 2012 by Viking
Pages: 224
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by: Carey

Chew.
Swallow.
Chew.
Swallow.
Don’t look up.

Lunch is the worst, but there’s no safe place at school for Noelle. Keeping her mortifying home life a secret and trying to ignore the kids who make her life miserable are Noelle’s survival strategies. Her emotionally distant boyfriend, Matt, isn’t the one she really wants to be with. But there’s no way she could ever be with Julian Porter.

When Julian starts talking to her, Noelle is terrified. It seems safer to stay with Matt than risk a broken heart. But when the bullying of a friend goes too far, Noelle realizes it’s time to stand up for herself—and for everything that makes her keep holding on.  

***

Note: I read this book within around four hours. I loved it that much.

I noticed one thing about this book instantly: and it was not focused solely around a guy. Sure, we were introduced to both Julian and Matt soon into the book (and the cover has a couple on it) but it was mainly focused on her being neglected at home and bullied at school.

In middle school, I was bullied a lot. Sometimes I still am, but it was mainly just middle and junior high, before I moved to North Carolina. I was bullied because of the fact that I was on food stamps and I was poor. So I knew going into this book exactly what to expect. I do have both of my parents, but one of my closest friends has one mom and I practically live at her house so I understand that aspect a little.

Colasanti was spot on with the bullying. It's never been that bad for me, mainly because it was in junior high, but to the point where it was physical. It was all rumors and talk. But reading that scene with Carly and Noelle, my heart was beating so fast. And it broke my heart at some points because I felt the same way she did.

I loved Keep Holding On. I loved that she wasn't focused on boys in this novel and that she focused on something that is really going around and could hurt people. It send out a great message and tells everyone that they need hope. They need to keep holding on. They need to take control of their life and want to make it better. And they need to never, ever give up (Susane Colasanti tweeted me that when she read my personal blog once!) Definitely a 4.5 stars.