Reviews with content warning for Body shaming - 13 причини защо

Positives. I am not in the target audience for this book and haven't been for years but I can imagine that it's very impactful for someone in highschool. Especially in 2007 when this book was released as mental health wasn't discussed as much back then. I think this book strikes a nice balance between sending the message that small negative actions can snowball into much worse things for the people around you while also not blaming the people on the tapes for the decision Hannah took.

I love the stylistic choice of having the story be told through tapes. Clay reacting to them in real time -especially during his own tape- makes the story conversational. It highlights different perspectives on the same events that happen in Hannah's life.

Negatives. One thing that I miss that the Netflix series does better, (even though it sensationalizes suicide far more than this book,) is that this book does not show the fallout of the tapes among those on it. (Think of Jessica and the night at the party or the harassment Tyler endures because of the tapes). Ignoring 'the snowball effect' of the tapes on the people on them while making this snowball effect central to Hannah's argument feels misguided. Then again, Hannah is not a perfect character and was never meant to be interpreted as such.

Quote. I guess that's the point of it all. No one knows for certain how much impact they have on the lives of other people. Oftentimes, we have no clue. Yet we push all the same.

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shyleek's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The telling of the main story through cassette tapes offered an interesting point of view.
Also seeing the reaction of the person listening to the tapes offered a unique perspective.
Asher gave us the opportunity to explore suicide and mental health from both perspectives... The victim and the ones left behind.

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itsanagnorisis's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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karla205's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A

4.5

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geneav21's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

This book made me aware of how sharp words and careless actions can crash a soul. Hanna’s death crushed my heart, she wasn’t dramatic, she was just screaming for help.

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margaritium's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I did like the simple yet feesible writing of the author, but after coming from watching the show felt a bit dissapointed that the sequence of events from the book was not followed in the show. Although I do understand why it was done that way because it made the descend of shaow and the story more appeasing to the visual audience. All in all a good fast paced book that bought me out of my reading slump.Would reccomend checking the trigger warnings first though. The topics that the book deals with is heavy and reader discreation is advised.

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