Post 6: Thirteen Reasons Why - Listicle

5 ways Hannah Baker helped us learn from our actions

Hannah Baker stated the 13 reasons she committed suicide. As she explains what each person did that affected her, it surfaces that many of her reasons are things we all do often. After seeing the consequences of the actions, we can see how we could better our self.

1.      The after math of rumors

Since Hannah made the Who’s Hot list, boys have been eyeing her more often. After a rumor circulates around the school of what Hannah and her first kiss, Justin did at the park, boys begin to take advantage of her. After Justin’s lie spun off into other things, Hannah had to experience the consequences of the rumor. Marcus Cooley attempted to sexually harass Hannah, Tyler Down takes photos of Hannah in her bedroom, Bryce Walker sexually abuses Hannah. “But eventually, as they always will, the rumors reached me. And everybody knows you can’t disprove a rumor.” (Asher, 222). The fact Hannah tried to disprove the rumors about her, she found it to be no use, so as she continued being one of the only to know the actual truth, she continued being the mouse and the others as the snake.

2.      The definition of being a true friend

Hannah never had a friend to turn to; her “friends” would ride to a party and then leave once the two hit the door. They would leave Hannah alone even though they’re aware that’s the last thing that should happen. Hannah’s friends forget about olly-olly-oxen-free, and act as if they don’t know Hannah at all. All she needed was a real friend who she could turn and talk to about these sort of things; how she felt. “I wanted people to trust me, despite everything they’d heard…” (Asher, 199).

3.      Ignoring a topic, means you help the opposing side

Hannah makes Clay leave her when she’s upset, and soon after he’s gone Bryce Walker lead Jessica Davis into the room. As Hannah sat in the closet, she heard how Jessica was being raped by Bryce, and she knew Justin Foley was standing guard on the door, but neither of them were taking the chance to prevent the assault. “Think about it. He raped a girl and would leave town in a second if he knew… well… if he knew that we knew.” (Asher, 91). Hannah had the opportunity to stop Bryce from what he was doing, and so did Justin, but no one did anything.

4. Take responsibility

Hannah speaks about Jenny Kurtz in cassette 6, how she offered Hannah a ride home from a party. When Hannah finally agreed, Jenny was reckless and had an accident where she knocks a stop sign over. Jenny tries to convince Hannah that it’s no big deal; she doesn't need to call a report, so she kicked Hannah out of the car. Later in the evening there was a wreck. Because of the stop sign. Because Jenny didn’t take responsibility of her actions and call the police. The responsibility, or lack thereof, caused the loss of a teenage boy. “We’re all to blame,” [Tony] says. “At least a little.” (Asher, 110).

5. Speak up

Throughout the book, Clay realizes he should have tried to speak to Hannah more than lie in the background of her life. Clay obviously liked her, and vice versa. As Clay continues to listen to the suicide tapes, he notices how important one conversation could have made; that Hannah just needed someone to trust. Hannah had no one to turn to about her emotions, no friends or family she could talk about it with. Clay noticed the differences in her appearance, and how they screamed she was thinking of taking her own life. Clay and Hannah’s teacher even passed out a Suicide Prevention/Awareness paper to the class, and there was number one: a sudden change in appearance. Yet Clay still didn’t speak up.

Hannah Baker unfortunately, took her life. But in her explanations she had mentioned things that were very familiar with many typical teenagers. These are the five things we could do differently, that could have a big impact. If we could change just a few things, like listed above, we could change a life. We could keep another suicide from happening again.

Post 5: Truths in Memoirs

                 If a book is to be categorized under non-fiction, the book should at least be 97% true. The 3% gap in where the non-fiction book does not need to be true is where the author can add in some of the fiction. The author can add small details here and there to keep the readers from falling asleep. The main rule for this exception is that the author mustn't change the MAIN story-line. The facts should still be present, and the main picture/focus of the book intact to the last word of the last sentence.

               Although I believe it is okay to add in a teeny tiny bit of fiction scattered throughout the book, half-truths are big red no. If you are going to bend the truth of your story to publish it, it wouldn't be considered non-fiction any more. It would now be found on a scale of realistic fiction. If you are going to bend the truths (although I don’t recommend so) at least make the bend plausible, while also being close to the actual truth.

                I believe we do need lines between genres. Many readers tend to pick favorite genres, and without the lines, how would we know which book we would or wouldn't like? We could spend $20 on a hardcover book, without knowing whether the book was true or fictional beforehand, and then, 100 pages into the book you realize that you are not interested in the book- which could put any into a reading slump. Although we need the fine lines between genres, many sub-genres or crossover genres would be helpful. For those writers who create a story meant to be non-fiction that turns to be only 95% or less true, should have a genre the book could fall under. A mostly-true-but-also-fiction genre. With genres where books cold be categorized under for those half-and-half, there would be less confliction.