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)
is suicide. It has become a hot topic in society today and almost every month it seems as though a news report is coming on about another teenager taking their life due to bullying, gossip, and other difficult events they may have been through. Your book is centered on Hannah Baker, a girl who takes her life and leaves tapes about the reasons why, which was very creative and engaging for your readers. Her character is somewhat popular, attractive, creative, funny and new to town. Many teens that kill themselves are not always those who are outcasts, like the stereotype, which is why addressing the topic through a character like Hannah is influential. After experiencing many forms of sexual harassment from some of her male peers, she starts to face thoughts of suicide, “The next day, Marcus, I decided something. I decided to find out how people at school might react if one of the students never came back,” (Asher 145). Moreover, her thoughts give us an inside look of how the rumors spread by her peers and actions they committed against her directly lead to her wanting to die. In your novel, you give a peak inside the suicidal mind giving readers who feel some of the same feelings an outlet, and teaching those who don’t what signs to look for in addition to another way to be better informed about suicide since it is a topic that effects so many today. Another crucial lesson you taught your readers is the importance of their actions which they will not grasp as clearly without your book.
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
(ncacblog). As well as teaching the importance of one’s actions you also give your reader’s invaluable insight on some of the hottest topics in civilization today including depression in teens and rape.
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
teaches priceless lessons and information to its audience about depression and rape.
Now, I am sure you are probably reading this thinking, how on earth could anyone think my book should be banned when there is such an enticing argument being made that it should not be? Although, there are, “many parents who worry about children’s exposure to realities believed to be too mature,” and those who worry about how alarming reading someone’s suicide note to a young adult (ncacblog). In spite of this, I say nay because this novel is clearly the most original and authentic display of real life issues. As a parent, it is their job to prepare their children for the outside world and show them how to protect themselves so they can stay safe. They should rise at the opportunity to provide their child with a learning tool that has many important life lessons embedded in the words. I agree with many people that sometimes TV shows or video games can be too graphic or uncensored for the viewers and frankly reality TV is trash but we all love it. Instead of attacking true art and imaginative writing with a deeper meaning, people should focus on banning racy television or violent video games. Reading is essential to young adult’s education so we should encourage them to read books like Thirteen Reasons Why find an opportunity to connect to the challenges they face.
If it is not obvious already, I vehemently believe than banning of your book is ludicrous due to the message it speaks about suicide, how it shows the importance of actions, and the way it exposes influential issues. As a high school student, it was incredibly easy to connect to the novel because all the things Hannah experienced were things I have seen, heard of or been through myself. This book is so truthful to the high school experience that it would be a real abomination if it remains banned. Sincerely, Meghan Foley