I liked the book. And I can see why young adult readers really like the book. The premise is interesting and mysterious, but at the risk of sounding non-compassionate, let me just say that it was waayyyy too simplistic. I grew resentful of the character who killed herself, Hannah. It seemed like she was looking to be the victim. There were several examples in the story where I completely sympathized with her, and I understand the author's goal of showing how multiple encounters and multiple people led to Hannah's hopelessness, but it just felt so forced. Part of me really appreciated the author's message to youth: how you treat people matters, and you have a responsibility to step outside yourself and your comfort zone to help others, BUT what about the equally important message that you have an obligation to grow some resiliency. Most of Hannah's reasons were lame to me; I just didn't buy it that these were reasons for a teenage girl to end her life. High school can be a real bitch, and I would prefer my teen read a story about coping and bouncing back from dealing with awful encounters and terrible people. Shouldn't the message to youth be, Don't let others determine your worth and don't give up your power to the pointlessness and often cruelty of high school and its minions. By the end of the story, I just felt bad for a lot of the 13 people Hannah Targets as part of her reasons to end her life. They had no idea what they had or had not done. It was like Hannah expected them to read her mind. We should be promoting seeking help and honesty among our youth, not expecting that others will just KNOW that something is wrong. Especially when those "others" are selfish and often stupid high schoolers.