Th1rteen R3asons Why

13 Reasons Why

By Jay Asher

320 p

Razorbill

ISBN-10: 1595141715
ISBN-13: 978-1595141712

Annotation When high school student Clay Jenkins receives a box in the mail containing thirteen cassette tapes recorded by his classmate Hannah, who committed suicide, he spends a bewildering and heartbreaking night crisscrossing their town, listening to Hannah's voice recounting the events leading up to her death.

Summary

Truly one of the most gut wrenching and difficult stories to read in a long time. Clay Jenkins is a nice guy, a good guy. So why did he just recieve a box of cassette tapes from a dead classmate and more importantly why is he one of the reasons why she killed herself, and what can he do about it now?

These are but a few of the questions our protagonist must ask himself over the course of one night. As he travels around town, emersing himself in the life of Hannah Baker going places she went, listening to the experiences that caused her to take her own life is almost more that he can bare. Follow Clay as he tries to make ammends for whatever horrible deed he did and share in the torment as he tries to deal.

This novel is not for the squeamish. 13 Reasons Why shows the audience the importance of humanity is at the forefront of this novel. Hannah, Clay and all the other people on the tapes share a commonality and a bond that will never be broken. This novel illuminates the affect of small gestures and big embarrassments can have on a high school student. Sure to keep you up pondering all the subtleties for night.

Someday this Pain Will be Useful to You

Someday This Pain Will be Useful to You
By: Peter Cameron
p.229
Farrar, Straus & Giroux

ISBN-10: 0312428162
ISBN-13: 978-0312428167

Annotation :
Eighteen-year-old James living in New York City with his older sister and divorced mother struggles to find a direction for his life.

Summary :

James has just graduated from high school and is unsure of his life's direction. He is working aimlessly at a job given to him by his Manhattan socialite mother at an art gallery. It is here where he meets the much older man John, who happens to be his mother's assistant. But when James is accused of sexual harassment by John, he has a feeling that his summer will be unlike any other.

Not your ordinary young adult novel, this book will sure to strike a humorous chord with its audience. This coming-of-age has its fill moments of humor, sadness and tender affection. For all of you who have ever wondered what life would be like if you had done something differently, than this is the novel for you.

Deftly written, this novel will appeal to both adults and young adults alike.