Why The Book Should Not Be Banned

Dear Jay Asher (author), In the United States today, more than 11,000 books have been challenged or banned. Many people disagree with how authors write about graphic topics like sex, drugs, partying, abuse, religion and much more. Although, what they fail to realize is how accurate these topics written about are to the everyday events in our lives. The banning of your book, Thirteen Reasons Why, is unreasonable and unfair because it focuses on suicide which is a growing issue today, emphasizes the importance of one’s actions, and addresses relevant topics of our time. One of the reasons your book should not be banned is because of how well it speaks about suicide. Experts say, the third leading cause of death for college-age youth (12-18)
To begin, every reason Hannah gives for her suicide is because of the actions of someone else. Some examples are the first boy to kiss her, a friend who betrayed her, her “peeping Tom”, and a teacher who could not save her from herself. As these individuals committed acts against her, they had no idea the impact of their action’s or what it would lead her to, but, “When you mess with one part of a person’s life, you’re messing with their entire life,” (Asher 201). In addition to this, the other main character Clay was infatuated with Hannah, but because he never got the nerve to talk and get to know her before she was already set on suicide, he could never save her from herself. Furthermore, as a society we never truly realize that even just being too scared to say something could lead to someone else’s peril. It is impossible to not believe that, “perhaps the book’s most important lesson is in empathy and the effect of small actions,” when you did such an outstanding job of exposing at least one action we have all committed to another without realizing the consequences
With this idea in mind, many, “contemporary novelists dwell on these subjects to engage readers who are exposed to these topics and profanity in TV programs, video games, and on the internet,” and this is why it is impertinent that someone like you Mr. Asher addresses the matter (ncacblog). In the novel, we see Hannah become increasingly more depressed as she explains all the troubles she has been through. Anyone reading could relate to these feelings of disappointment she faces, or how she seeks an outlet in poetry so she can express her feelings. The inventive tale teaches its audience how to identify depression, what can cause it, and even things that go through the mind of someone afflicted by it. On the other hand, another hot topic discussed is rape. I find it fascinating that you tell it from the perspective of people who let it happen and someone who experiences it. Hannah, “could have opened those doors and stopped it. But I didn’t. And it doesn’t matter what my excuse was,” showing how people should not stand by and let something like that happen to another especially when being aware a rape is going on (Asher 227). Also, by allowing the readers to read her stories about her own sexual harassment and rape, they become exposed to how defiling and degrading it is. The text