Thirteen Reasons Why is one of the books that has been on my TBR list for a long time, and one that has come highly recommended by some of my YA fan friends and a couple of former students as well. I knew the book centered around a girl's suicide, and I guess that is what held me back from reading it. Despite my dread of the topic, I found this to be a unique, thought-provoking book. Asher's decision to write this with two different narrators is one of the things that makes the book unique and very powerful. When Hannah decides to take her own life, she also decides to leave behind a series of cassette tapes on which she has recorded the reasons why. Half of the book is told through Hannah's voice on these tapes. The rest of the book is told from the point of view of Clay, a classmate of Hannah's who had more than a slight crush on her, as he listens to the tapes. The result is that the reader comes to understand and empathize with Hannah--with her anger, her hurt, and ultimately the despair that led her to believe death was her only answer; however, the reader also comes to an intimate understanding of Clay's anger, guilt, hurt, and desolation as he mourns the loss of a girl he cared about and all that died along with her. This is a book that teens, parents, teachers,...anyone who deals with teens, actually, should read. It brings young adult issues to light, and artfully (if painfully) helps readers to understand how these issues are often internalized and can become debilitating for teens. The book makes it clear that teens may be able to work through such issues if they have support and feel connected to caring individuals who will help them to find perspective and hope. I was pleasantly surprised with the book's ending, which was another factor in the power the book holds.