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Thirteen Reasons Why
- Narrated by: Debra Wiseman, Joel Johnstone
- Length: 6 hrs and 24 mins
- Categories: Teen & Young Adult, Literature & Fiction
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Publisher's Summary
Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a first-hand witness to Hannah's pain, and learns the truth about himself - a truth he never wanted to face.
Critic Reviews
“[Hannah’s] pain is gut-wrenchingly palpable.... Asher has created an entrancing character study and a riveting look into the psyche of someone who would make this unfortunate choice. A brilliant and mesmerizing debut from a gifted new author.” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review and Editor’s Choice)
“Heavy but compelling.... Asher’s novel asks us to look at how petty cruelty can deal crushing blows.” (Miami Herald)
“It is a brilliant debut that will leave readers feeling a sense of remorse for Hannah, guilt for Clay, and hope for the lasting lesson of the story.” (Bookazine)
What listeners say about Thirteen Reasons Why
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Seema Satpute
- 05-05-20
Most heart touching story ever heard
I really liked the way the writer presented the agony of Hannah Baker. It tells us what we can expect in our highschool and take measures to stop taking any decisions that will cost one's life.
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- Diana
- 10-01-11
An Ideal Audio Book
The trouble with making books into audiobooks is that some simply do not survive the translation in media intact. Not so with 13 Reasons Why. Compellingly written and evocatively voiced, this audiobook comes from a novel whose premise - a boy's inner monologue as he is listening to audiotapes of a dead girl's voice - is ideally suited to the listened. On top of that, Jay Asher's novel is an accurate, sometimes painfully so, rendering of teen life, teen sorrow, and teen frustration. His main character's reactions are realistic and inevitable, and his storytelling weaves together 12 stories into one cohesive whole. I loved this book so much that I taught it to a Grade 9 and 10 class low-literacy class, who were inspired to become active in their community to help people "So no one has to get a box on their door...or mp3s in their email...and hurt like Clay and Hannah did." When the students ask me if they're allowed to lend the book to friends and family, when a mother phones me in happy tears because her daughter wants a BOOK for Christmas, that's when I know the novel is great.
89 people found this helpful
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- FanB14
- 06-07-12
Good Book for Parents & Teens to Share
I enjoyed the idea, format, and execution of this book. I felt mixed emotions about the narrator, as was intended and this opened up a good dialogue between me and my 13 yr old daughter. Worth your credit if you're interesting in understanding the inner workings of a young girl's mind.
90 people found this helpful
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- Sarah
- 14-09-10
Beautiful and Tragic
I found this book on accident and Its not something that I usually read. In fact in my giant book shelf its one of a kind. I thought the story was tragic but beautifully told. Its sad that a young girl would feel such a way but it really does show you the "snowball effect" and that everyone is connected, a "six degrees of separation" type deal. I myself couldn't put it down, like the boy listening to the audio tapes, you felt what he felt. There isn't a book like this that would've been written better and the character voices they chose to use was wonderful and I felt fit the people perfectly. Definitely something I would read/listen to again!
31 people found this helpful
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- Theodore
- 03-11-13
Beautiful, Tragic, Beaitiful & Honest
So this is one of those rare titles that you best listen to on a weekend when you have NOTHING better to do with your time. Why? The book is so exceptionally enthralling that you will find yourself immediately drawn into the story if you are even remotely a fan of literature of this kind. The narration was faultless and the story was tragic but honest and done so well. Absolutely superb.
I think this book has the potential to polarize an audience. I say this because the topics the book touches... topics such as high school, suicide and date rape... all these topics are highly sensitive. These also are topics that some are not comfortable talking about and are in general very 'heavy' emotions to deal with. The book comes off as that, heavy.... riddled with feelings and emotions... That being said the somewhat heavy tone lends to making each portion of this book seem meaningful in some way. You know a book is great when it feels organic in a sense and unforced which was exactly what this was.You knew the outcome of the novel, the tragic end of the girl who left the tapes, and yet you find yourself engrossed in the novel from beginning to end.
I agree that this book is tragic and if you are looking for a happy ending then you will miss out here. I mean yes, there is some amounts of closure and the main character here does find some sort of redemption in the end but there can be no true happy ending in a book where one of the main characters commits suicide. What appeals most me though in this book is the honesty.... it's tragic, it sucks but it's also true and it needs to be told. It also helps that the book is written so beautifully with the phrasing, the pauses, the choice of words being just plain immaculate.
It's the sort of book that makes you want to be a bit nicer to people for the mere reason that you never know what they are going through and you never know if maybe they are teetering at the edge of their breaking point. It makes you want to ask someone "how are you" and actually mean it.... Sharing a kind word with someone just for the mere fact that you can just in case.
The book had that ability to bring me back to some not so nice moments in my own life maybe not as bad as what Hannah went through but bad in its own right (I think everyone goes through something like this at one point or another) and it made me thankful for it not 'snowballing' as it did with Hannah because really, who knows how different I would have been now?
When I finished the book and told a certain someone about it, they told me I shouldn't 'gush' about it in my review.... Well.... I am gushing and I believe this book was absolutely worth every moment of gushing. I mean I went through this book cover to cover in one sitting.... For a usual busy body like me doing 1 million things at once that truly is a task for a book to accomplish.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a sobering and honest title. To break up the monotony of sci-fi or action or romance or fantasy or whatever you're accustomed to. To delve in the mind of someone who simply was pushed too much... Where a series of unfortunate occurrences snowballed into something tragic... Something, that if you take the time out to reflect on and really allow to marinate within you can actually make you a better person after you finish it....
49 people found this helpful
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- Martin
- 06-07-08
A beautifully written book on an ugly subject
My daughter found this book and while she is reading it, I listened to the audiobook. This was an amazing story, crafted beautifully and I think the audiobook version adds something extra with the dual character voices.
This story is also a great way to connect with my teenage daughter and keep those lines of communication open and honest. This book deals with lots of ugly issues many of which you never want to discuss with your kids and that is the reason that you have to. To be able to use this book as a parenting tool has just been a bonus.
I highly recommend this to parents and their teens to read together or individually for discussion.
23 people found this helpful
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- Cassandra
- 24-11-10
Loved It!
I truly loved this book, I felt as if I was there hearing her through the tapes along with him. I was very moved by the way this book shows that your actions truly have consequences and no matter how small something might seem to you for someone else it can be devistating. Its a Great book!!!
13 people found this helpful
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- Felicity Fairchild
- 05-03-10
Turned out Better!
It wasn't anyting at all what I expected but it was a whole lot better. 13 reasons why tells about a teen and why she wants to kill herself, right? I think it was a lot deeper than that. All the mixed feelings how Hannah feel are so complicated that it's hard to understnad. But Jay Asher convey it pretty well. This book is not like happily ever after book, but yet you can still enjoy it.
26 people found this helpful
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- Rafiatu
- 17-03-13
Absolutely fantastic!
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes! This tale takes the readers on a heartbreaking journey.
What did you like best about this story?
The interesting way it was written.
What about Debra Wiseman and Joel Johnstone ’s performance did you like?
Amazing job!
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I came across this book three years ago and aways wanted to read it. I'm glad I finally did. This tale had me questioning my actions. The saying: Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me are not good parental advise.
4 people found this helpful
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- Victor @ theAudiobookBlog dot com
- 26-05-17
Fantastic book, awesome performance
What did you love best about Thirteen Reasons Why?
It has substance
What was one of the most memorable moments of Thirteen Reasons Why?
Many were memorable. No spoilers.
Which character – as performed by Debra Wiseman and Joel Johnstone – was your favorite?
Clay and Hanna, of course
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Yes
Any additional comments?
Thirteen Reasons Why is probably one of the most talked about TV Series of the moment and it was in the public’s eye since Netflix released their very controversial Original Series based on the amazing book with the same name by the bestselling author Jay Asher. I have to admit that I didn’t know anything about this book until a few weeks ago when I was browsing Netflix. After I saw the highlight, I wanted to see what the book was like, and boy, what an amazing story I got treated to… So, this is a short review for the audiobook version, not the for Netflix Original Series.
I would like to give a word of advice to those who watched the series, please, if you want to understand why the producers chose to tell a different story, adding to the one in the book, check out this short documentary Thirteen Reasons Why – Beyond the Reasons and everything will make sense. Now, lets get to the review!
Jay Asher in Thirteen Reasons Why tells us the dramatic, riveting and mesmerizing story about a teenage girl, Hannah Baker, who committed suicide because she couldn’t take it anymore. But, the brilliant part is that she has recorded a few cassette tapes giving 13 Reasons for her action and those tapes are now making the rounds between those who she thought were responsible for her pain.
The story follows Clay Jensen, Hannah‘s school mate, who has received a strange box, containing the tapes and now he needs to know why Hannah is dead and why he is on the list of persons responsible. Clay is a nice guy, he doesn’t remember saying or doing anything wrong to Hannah and takes to the streets of the small town as he listens to the voice of a dead girl who was alive just 2 weeks ago…
What could have happened to drive her to do such a thing? Why the tapes? Who is responsible? Who else knows? Could it all have being prevented? I found the answers to all of these questions in the 6 hours in which I listened to the audiobook. Hannah‘s story is one that will mark you for life, really, I know that it’s fiction, but it will make you think twice before you say of do something to someone, because you won’t know if you could start a snowball effect that could ruin his or her life…
Narrators Debra Wiseman and Joel Johnstone give life with passion to Hannah Baker‘s story. Debra is Hannah and Joel is Clay, they interact with one another throughout the book, as Clay listens to Hannah‘s motives, he walks the streets, he treks to all the spots that Hannah mentions and he realizes that their paths have crossed more times than he had thought before.
Debra and Joel deliver a perfect performance for Thirteen Reasons Why! Although the book is mainly focused on the interaction between Hannah, a beautiful, special, quiet and good girl which at times becomes aloof and dispassionate and a guilt stricken, bookish, nerdy, Clay, both narrators give their very best, making the listener see everything clearly in his mind’s eye with surreal vividness.
They carry us from the first love, to the first kiss, to bullies, to best friends, to stupid rumors, to sleepovers, to traumatic events and at last to redemption. They read, they act and most important of all, they care about the characters they bring to life! Both distinguish themselves by being extremely talented with different voices and accents, wrapping this tragic story in complete immersiveness for those who listen. I experienced Thirteen Reason Why in one sitting. I pushed play and couldn’t stop until the last word…
Thirteen Reasons Why is a book that should be read by teenagers and adults alike, its deep, serious, it addresses many of the problems with which young adults are strugleing every day and yes, I think that we could save someones life just by doing something nice for him / her or by not being mean just because we can be. This book has a message, a very important one: Take care how you treat those around you!
I could write until tomorrow on this subject, but this is a review, so I’ll end by highly recommending Thirteen Reasons Why, the book, to everyone!
Please vote Yes below if you enjoyed this review and find more of them at theAudiobookBlog dot com.
Thank you,
Victor
18 people found this helpful
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- Michelle
- 18-04-12
Maybe I just didnt get it
Based on several reviews I read on this book, I am guessing I am one of the people who thought it was just ok, well maybe not even that. I wanted to love this book, this look at how bullying and peoples everyday decisions affected others, how off handed comments and actions can be taken to heart and the unforeseen and unexpected outcomes of those decisions on others. I wanted to understand Hannah and her choice, to understand how what some see as little things could be so very serious to her, enough to kill herself. But honestly, I just found, I didn’t like her. I thought she was being spiteful and vindictive in her tapes, they did not read/sound like a person saying Hey, this really hurt me and here is why. No, it was like you didn’t invite me to prom and you suck, now I killed myself and it was all your fault…ha! Ok, so I exaggerate, but honestly I felt worse for Clay and some of the others than Hannah herself.
Now, I am not suggesting that some (all 2 of them) of the “13 people” that are addressed in the book are not deserving of such hate and disgust. I hate to think that these things really happen and I know they do because I was in high school once too, and honestly for people to be so cruel and sick at such a young age is not only sad but scary. But most of the 13, Clay included (Why was he even included, I still don’t get that. He was good and kind and I have to say part of my resentment and dislike towards Hannah is her choice to involve him.) did nothing more than what happens every day to everyone in life. You get embarrassed sometimes, you get annoyed, and people say things, but to kill yourself over it, it just felt so shallow of a reason. And maybe it was because to me, what some of those included said or did were so, not a big deal, for the most part I did not truly feel most of them did anything really bullying at all. I think that really is what really sums up my dislike for this book overall. There are people out there who are getting verbal abused with such cruel cutting words, I want to cry for them, who are being physically assaulted, we see it in the news and displayed on you-tube all the time, yet Hannah’s upset her kiss that she wanted was not like that in a love story? Also was it just me or did it seem that she started to act in ways that put herself in more danger of bad things happening…but then was mad and blamed others because if two months ago you had taken me to the movies I would not have gotten in the hot tub naked with him that night…really?!? So now all the kids (yes children) have to live with Hannah’s tape to them because God forbid, they did not treat her like the world revolved around her, she is just as guilty for her lack of caring and cruelty towards them with these tapes as she claims they were toward her.
I will say I like the duel narration of the story and very much like Joel Johnstone’s voice, so much so I have looked into other books he has narrated, simply because he’s reading them. I thought the narrators were clear and crisp in their execution and did what they could emotionally with the story they were given. I liked the author’s decision to write the story in this way, even if I did not love what he was writing. The overall performance of the narrators was one redeeming quality.
I apologize in advance if my review offends, it’s not my intention. I just felt like this book took a very sensitive and serious topic and sent a horrible and confusing message to those teens who are struggling with true bullying and thoughts of suicide. I wanted to love it, to cry with it and to find some deeper understanding, but it fell short for me in almost all aspects.
63 people found this helpful
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- Poppy
- 22-01-17
Gripping
I sort of wanted to dislike this book; to discard it as crappy teen fiction. However, I can't do that. In fact, I listened to the whole audiobook in one day. I couldn't stop listening.
8 people found this helpful
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- craig
- 23-12-12
Excellent Book
This audiobook is an excellent story of detailing how quickly hope can run out for someone on the edge due to societies blindness to the peril, and at the same time it tells a doomed love story that both characters wanted but could never grasp. This work by Jay Asher is truly an excellent choice and whilst filled with the chiling feeling of listening to someones downfall it fills the reader with a sense of hope that things can get better even after despair. This book is certainly an good choice!
7 people found this helpful
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- Steph
- 05-04-13
Worth Reading
I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover so I judge them by their title! Although this book wasn't what I expected from the title I'd recomend reading it, it brings up some really interesting topics and it's written with some great characters and an amazing plot that keeps you hooked the whole way through!
I started listening to this at about 6pm and I didn't stop listening until It had finished!
Really enjoyed this and recommend it!
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- Amazon Customer
- 16-04-17
a must before you watch the netflix adaptation
as good as I'm sure the adaptation will be the emotion feels more raw when hearing the original book read unabridged and unedited to make the book fit more neatly to a TV show format
2 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 26-05-18
A Great Listen but A Mediocre Read
The novel 13 Reasons Why is a perfect starting point for curious first time listeners. The novel was presented in a way as if the main character was listening to the last words recorded by a dead girl- and so the audiobook media truly makes it appear as if you are hearing the tapes that the character receives. It provides a true sense of atmosphere and authenticity that makes the audiobook a more immersive and satisfying experience that reading the story. Because, well, the story is no masterpiece by itself.
Despite reaching the age of 40, Jay Asher's voice can easily be believed to have belonged to a 17-year-old. His speech is clear and well-paced, and so there was no struggle in understanding the words he spoke. He did a great job.
My main problem with this book is how it can be too direct and literal with it's language. There's no beautiful or memorable pros or monologues. The main character is clearly experiencing a lot of emotion but I was never able to truly feel it, as the writing failed to portray these emotions in a creative way. The protagonist Clay Jensen's commentary is repetitive and pointless. He's easily relateable but has no interesting traits. He also seemingly has very little relationships with anyone else mentioned on the tapes, and so never gives an interesting reaction or other side of the story to Hannah's accusations. His arc also ends too predictably to be impactful. With the exception of Hannak Baker, nobody behaves like a multi layered human being. There is also several albeit brief moments of failed comedy.
That being said, Jay Asher appears to think very cinematically, always making sure the reader/listener can build a clear atmosphere about the described locations. The structure was also very smart and easy to follow- it's a relaxing peace of light reading. In fact, Asher's simplistic language will likely be benefiticial to most- it's straight-to-point and well-paced. The direct and easy to comprehend story is part of what makes it an enjoyable audiobook- even with my love-hate relationship with Asher's character writing.
Hannah herself seems to be an accurate portrayal of a suffering high school girl- although her breaking point that lead to her truly acting upon her suicidal thoughts could've been more justified (the moments are great ideas, but the lack of emotional language has unfortunate effect of having her seem not as sympathetic as she should've been). Her experience and struggles are understandable, wile her mistakes and lack of trust is purposefully spotlighted by Asher, making it clear how there were ways Hannah could've helped herself. I appreciate this as it reminds everyone that although Hannah's actions are understandable, they were also wrong- and that is a very important message that should be projected to teenagers and suicidal people who find this book.
Despite the negative shared, this book truly is one I was never bored listening to. If you're looking for a book that is solely driven by the story then I think the tapes left by Hannah Baker might be enough to keep your mind entertained and invested.
1 person found this helpful
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- Sof
- 24-05-18
A teen story that could be great
The story is a compelling one and it works very well as an audio tale. However I can never really believe in Hannah, which undermines the whole book. The actor for Hannah has a voice of limited emotional range that sounds spoilt rather than distressed. Plus the character's lack of empathy into other people's feelings, needs and concerns rather undermines her expectation for others to understand her without explanation. Nevertheless the story highlights how bullying, sexism, assault and simple thoughtlessness can compile into a life-threatening toxic experience.
The best part was the song rendition of her poem at the end. You wouldn't get that in the paper version.
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- Liz E.
- 23-04-18
Thirteen Reasons Why
Most definitely a teen novel but as an ‘oldie’ I persevered and am glad I did.
What seemed tedious and cheesy at first turned into a cleverly written story. The readers were excellent.
I can see this as an important book on any teenagers reading list; perhaps on an exam syllabus even, as it addresses issues often brushed under the carpet when they should be aired and understood.
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- Sean A Grice
- 09-06-17
loved it
I spent a long time going threw this but every chapter hit me I loved it
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- Anonymous User
- 18-05-17
love this
love this so much made me cry loads but reading it again and im so excited love it
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- ginge
- 11-05-17
Fantastic
This book is so realistic and shows how small things snowball out of control. A situation so many kids face on a daily basis
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- Katie
- 26-04-17
Not glamourised -realistic.
now that I have listened to the book I totally do NOT understand the people who say this book glamourises suicide. It doesn't. Do these people understand that when something is "glamourised" it means that it is appealing to others?? Suicide is not appealing. Not before or after listening to this book.
there is a difference between glamourising and realism. This book is realistic. It is heart-wrenching. And it is real. Lots of kids go through this type of stuff, and by saying that this book glamourises suicide you are brushing aside everyone who has fletcher suicidal - making them feel like they are just wanting to kill themselves for attention. And that is wrong!!
This opened a dialogue between myself and my teenage daughter, about suicide, bullying, etc. I think this book is a great tool for parents to understand a little of what their child is going through, and for teenagers - to know that someone will listen, just keep trying, because you may not realise that there is someone else wanting to help but they don't know how.
4 people found this helpful
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- Lyn
- 02-02-18
A good read - enjoyed
Definitely made me think and remember the snowball effect! How easily our words and/or actions can be interpreted so differently by so many people! Watch what you say and do!
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- lisa
- 30-08-17
Wish it was more detailed
I wish the story was longer and more detailed, it felt more like a short story than a novel. Great story tho, I wouldn't mind my son who just started high school to listen to it, learn the importance of our actions no matter how small can create a snowball effect.
Enjoyed the Netflix series better.
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- Christina
- 07-08-17
Frustrating
If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?
I believe this book would, possibly, be good for a teenager?
Would you ever listen to anything by Jay Asher again?
I would give other books by Jay Asher a try, sure.
What does Debra Wiseman and Joel Johnstone bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
The readers were fine. I do always prefer to read books myself but I don't have the time so it is very convenient to have the option to listen to them read to me. I like to use my own imagination on what the characters sound like. I did like how they read though. They did put a lot of emphasis on things.
What character would you cut from Thirteen Reasons Why?
No comment.
Any additional comments?
I just found the book very frustrating and annoying. Hannah had commited suicide so I didn't understand why she seemed so humorous about the whole thing. She didn't sound like someone who was about to kill herself. She didn't sound sad at all. She was cracking jokes through the whole thing. Also, her way of speaking was annoying. I can't place the proper words to describe it but maybe, arrogant? Her whole aura just did not have a depressed feel to it. And the blaming! It was so annoying. The whole book was about her blaming people for her wanting to commit suicide. It was very whiny. It didn't seem very realistic that a person THAT depressed and wanting to end her life would spend all this time preparing a bunch of tapes pointing fingers and then commiting suicide. She seemed like she just wanted to kill herself to get revenge on these people. That doesn't seem like the way to go about it.
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- Brooke Maureen Carter
- 16-07-17
Incredible
In the sense that it truly captures the struggles that many teens face each day and how something
small can have a huge impact on another person when you don't realise how much they already have going on and how alone they feel. I found this extremely relatable, which is devastating, but very similar events have happened in my life. The author wrote this so beautifully and expressed the pain that would be felt, in a situation like this, to its full extent.
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- Anonymous User
- 15-06-17
couldn't put it down
this captivated me to the very end, the narrators were very good at adding life to the story.
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- Rachele
- 08-05-17
nice insight on a teenager prospective
A nice insight on a teenager prospective that adult tend to forget. it shows how the little things seems so important at that age.
Nice book.
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- Jay
- 08-05-17
50/50 Book or Netflix?
Don't read this with the assumption it is going to be like the Netflix series of the same name. The book is similar to the series yet feels so different. You get to know Clay and how he thinks, yet unlike the netflix series there is very little interaction between Clay and many of the secondary characters. The book does everything the series doesn't, the series does everything the book doesn't. Very interesting read. Would recommend reading the book before watching the series.
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- Debbie
- 03-05-17
confronting
As a teacher this novel brought up a lot of issues students deal with daily.
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- Kurt Ebert
- 30-04-17
a must listen
better to listen to this book then to read it! couldnt stop listening to this story