Dear Jay Asher

A readers response to the author of 'Thirteen Reasons Why'. It was assigned for school. XD

Dear Jay Asher,

I’m not going to start by saying that your book was wonderful, even if it was, or that it’s my favorite book, even if it is. I am going to begin with the simple fact that your book was personal. In Thirteen Reasons Why you stripped Hannah Baker bare and showed her to the world. There was raw emotion and the feeling of helplessness. You showed what one person went through and the consequences of it all. You showed that people have control over others and to be careful with what we do because it can cause a snowball effect. Just like with Hannah.

Her reasons were true and made so much sense. With it, even if just for a while, I could forget whatever I was feeling and I could feel the pain, heartache, and the hopelessness that she experienced every single day. I understood why she took the action she did, why she committed suicide. Suicide is a scary thought and the feeling of depression or being alone can be overwhelming. I would know.

For many people thoughts and feeling of suicide are highly frowned upon. Think, when someone tells another what he or she feels what does the other say? Normally something along the lines of ‘Don’t feel that way’ or ‘It’s just a phase’ but those words never help. In other cases, like Hannah’s, the other person doesn’t intervene or try to help. They stand back and watch it happen. What’s so confusing is that all some people want is the feeling their not alone, I know I did. I, for once, didn’t want a simple ‘Call this number’ or another ‘You’ll get over it’ I wanted a comforting smile or someone to relate to, I didn’t want to be judged. But Hannah wanted Clay. He could have helped her; he could have made her feel so much better. He had that power but he never really realized it.

As I read though, the one thing I did notice was how similar Hannah and I were. In some cases she had the same problems I did. People destroyed her; the people she trusted and called friends turned their back on her and just left her alone. Just like Hannah I felt those feelings and wanted it all to end. I’m much better now but I still remember those feeling and the way I felt while reading the book, the way I related so closely with her. I felt that I wasn’t alone and that I didn’t need to feel that way but even though I did I wasn’t any different. I was still me, just like Hannah was still Hannah.

The only thing that changed was my view of things. I had seen things I didn’t want to see and that had made me all the stronger.

Author's Note

This was given for my class in school and so I just wanted to share it with people... I'm not sure if I made any mistakes. I had my friend proof read it and she had nothing... but I don't trust her that much when it comes to my writing...

Reviews

[Dove]

Woah this is really amazing. I love this! Fantastic job. Never stop writing!!

[Ashley]

Wow amazing!!!!!

[Short.Nerd]

I read this book and absolutely loved it. It is one of my all time favorite books, although there is like 20 books that are my favorite.

Anyway, I didn't see any mistakes, but I am a horrible proofreader. Great job!(: