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John Lanphear ENGL 409 Book Rationale for //13 Reasons Why// Fall 2011

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Within today’s academic classroom, it is traditionally looked at as a bad thing to be different. Often times, students are made fun of, bullied, and, in some cases, students are beaten up, simply because they are different. A common trait amongst those that bully is a sense of non remorse, because they go home at the end of the day and don’t have to deal with the negative aspects of their actions. They simply go about their day. A common trait amongst those who are bullied is a feeling of dread everyday when they leave for school because they know they are going to be picked on, made fun of, and belittled all day; when they get to school, a feeling of paranoia, because they know their bullies are waiting for them, to make fun of them, beat them up, and steal their lunch money; and finally, when they get home, feelings of depression, worthlessness and despair because they just spent 8 hours worrying about getting beat up, only to come home and know that the same thing will happen tomorrow. These students are often ignored by teachers because they are so afraid of being bullied more that they don’t speak up about it. Allowing bullying, and even negative actions towards these students will often cause them to develop very low self images, poor self esteem, and eventually depression. Although depression is talked about, albeit briefly, in basic health class, many times students do not know who to talk to about their depression, and do not seek the help they need. With their depression building, many students turn to self mutilation, and in severe cases, even suicide, thinking only that it will end their misery and relieve their pain and anguish. // 13 Reasons Why //, by Jay Asher, is a book about a girl who, through no real fault of her own, is looked down on as being a ‘slut,’ a ‘hussy,’ and, just all around, somebody who is seen as not having any morals or values. It is because of these rumors, and the people that spread them treating her like a second class citizen, that she decides to end her misery and suffer by committing suicide. She, however, is not going to go out without letting all of those who bullied her through their indirect actions and their discussion of her private life while in theirs, know just what they had done to her. Hannah Baker recorded 13 audio tapes. Each one detailing the 13 reasons she decided to commit suicide. Those 13 reasons being specific people in her life that somehow contributed to her desire to end her own life. The reason students in high school should not only read this book, but actively, and openly, discuss it and its contents is simply because there is a good chance that one of their friends, or maybe even they themselves, are either being bullied, or are, in fact, themselves a bully. In the event that they are being bullied, by reading //13 Reasons Why,// they will understand that there are other people who are going through what they are going through and that there is help out there for them if they want it. It will also show them that no matter how bleak things get, no matter how terrible they feel, there is always somebody out there that loves them and will be detrimentally affected if they were to take the route of suicide. This, albeit a very important thing to teach, is not the main reason students should read this book. The main reason this book should be taught is to show the bullies that what they are doing is not ok and that they are severely hurting people, simply by talking about them behind their backs. The book will hopefully teach those students who bully the other students around that if they continue to bully, if they continue to talk about other students behind their backs, spreading rumors, and tearing down their reputation, that bad things will happen because of it, and it will come back and bite them. Finally, having students read something about other students, set in modern times, told by another student will allow them to relate to what is happening in the book and identify with the characters in such a way that they will hopefully learn that it is not ok to bully and that it is not ok to allow your friends, or yourself to be bullied. Paired with the teaching of this book will be several discussions about depression, including a presentation by either the school guidance counselor, or a psychologist, as well as open, frank discussions about what to do in order to defend themselves from being bullied. I like your observation that those who libel, gossip and harrass do not consider the consequences of their words and actions. Consequences do not seem obvious to most teenagers, and this novel effectively raises the issue of responsibility for consequences. I can't agree that this is a case of bullying, so much as insensitive harassment and cruel gossip. These are not clear violations of school rules, as bullying would be, and that is why is more insidious and dangerous.

Some attention should go the form of the novel: the dialogue with an absent person, the circuitous plot that moves abruptly forward and back in time, characterization that contrasts exterior behavior with motives and how characters are evaluated for the cruelty of their offenses. Students can learn ways to read and analyze text, as well as reflect on themes.