Should Thirteen Reasons Why Be Banned?

         Though books were made to be different and have a variety of topics, that changed once middle schools began to ban books from their libraries. From books about teenagers facing suicide to dealing with inappropriate situations are all examples of what the libraries have decided to take away from their readers. The book Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher is about a high school girl named Hannah Baker, who commits suicide, gets bullied and goes through more relatable topics. She records her voice in thirteen tapes while each tape is dedicated to thirteen certain people; Hannah explained how they were all a part of her death. Although the book is in Hannah’s point of view, it’s also in Clay’s perspective. Clay is a main character that is one of the people Hannah sent the tapes to, and is the one who is listening to the tapes through out the whole book. This book should not be banned because it limits the different kinds of books that teach about trust, responsibility, your choices and self-control.

            This book shows both the strong and harmful ways of handling a common school conflict. For example, tape six was Hannah’s message to Marcus who pressured her and pushed her when she refused consistently. A particularly compelling example of this was when Hannah said, “Your shoulder rotated and I lifted my head, but now your arm was behind my back and pulling me close. And your other hand was touching my upper leg. My upper thighs…stop it, I said.” In fact, it showed the bad ways of changing something that you dislike, which is to not do anything at all and let the problem continue. In tape ten, while Hannah was in a bedroom at a party, she heard footsteps and hid in the closet because she was afraid. Her friend was on the other side of the closet door getting raped and Hannah just sat in the closet waiting for it to end. In the same tape, Hannah felt guilty and said “And I could have stopped it. If I could have talked…I would have opened the doors and stopped it.” Overall, it becomes clear that this book teaches how to deal with your own problems.

            In addition, including life situations in books and knowing that readers will be able to connect is influential and important. For example, the article “Banned Books Awareness: Thirteen Reasons Why” said “but it touches the reader as they experience the journey along with characters and empathize with the situations. Outside of the pages, readers can also reflect on those circumstances and identify a part of themselves and shared experiences.” The writer explained the way we read and how we think about the character’s actions. Now, referring to a relatable situation, the book showed how it’s less of your thoughts but more of your actions that affect yourself when you react to something. Judgment is an example used in the book. Tape two said “I tilted my head so I could read the upside-down title of the paper: Freshman Class-Who’s How/ who’s not.” Hannah acted mature which is another way you can benefit from reading this book.

            On the other hand, even though the book reveals reality and lessons, people dislike the inappropriate scenes and content in the book. The same article said, “The mere act of suicide is daunting enough, but for someone to learn that they played a role in leading someone’s death is spine-chilling.” The writer described the way the plot of the book can be too intense for many people. The article also mentioned “Asher’s novel makes readers feel nakedly uncomfortable, and this has caused parents nationwide to call for the book to be banned because their children could discover that raw emotion and truth that cuts to the reader’s heart and feel and experience the same vulnerability.” The feeling the book gives off isn’t appropriate for children, which can worry parents about what their kids read.

In Thirteen Reasons Why, you can often relate and learn from the bad choices, good choices and real life situations. Hannah Baker went through topics like rape, bullying, labeling, self-harm, abuse and suicide. Since these topics were too dark for some people, parents were concerned about the content their children were reading about which caused the book to be challenged. Besides, there are other ways to read books that satisfy you. You have the freedom to choose the book you read and to pick the ones in your comfort level instead of banning books for everyone. Why do middle schools have to ban books from their libraries, when you can simply choose the book you read?

                                                   Works Cited

Asher, Jay. Thirteen Reasons Why

“Banned Books Awareness: Thirteen Reasons Why”

http://bannedbooks.world.edu/2014/01/26/banned-books-awareness-thirteen-reasons-why/

Banned Books Week: 10 most challenged books of 2012

            http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/24/living/banned-books-week/