13RW: Pass it On!

Many people can recall their first reaction to reading Thirteen Reasons Why, a novel by Jay Asher.

After reading and rereading it, Ms. Enders and the RAL Library Club decided this book had an important message for all teenagers, and came up with a plan to share it.

“When I read Thirteen Reasons Why, and lots of students last year also read it, I realized it was a book that all students need to read. So, I went to the Washington State Library website and found a federal grant called the ‘One Book 2008 Grants.’ Once I was awarded the grant, I knew exactly what book I wanted to highlight. It was perfect.”

As a part of the grant, Jay Asher, the author of Thirteen Reasons Why, will be visiting RAL and the Longview community in April.

First, starting on March 20, 13RW: Pass it On! will begin. This program allows people to check out a copy of Thirteen Reasons Why, and after reading and sharing it with a friend, coming back to get their own copy to keep.  

“The book spreads a message of kindness that we really want to spread to the community. If someone can bring it home and keep it, maybe their family members will read it, and their friends, and the message can spread farther than RAL,” said Stacie Johnson 12, co-president of Library Club.

Also, book group discussions and literary readings will occur weekly to make the book more real for people that have a hard time connecting. A list of events is posted in the front of the school and in the cafeteria.

Recent literary readings of the first chapter, by Travis Waldo 12 and Alison Schneider 10, occurred in the library on March 10^th and 11^th at various times through out the day. They reaped good reviews by all that showed up to listen.

“I thought they did a good job,” said Sam Barbee 12, “They really made it come alive.”

This project was made possible in part by a gift from the senior class of 2008, as well as a $500 Youth Leaders for Literacy Grant the Library Club won earlier this year. This combined money is used to purchase books to give away.

Even though not everyone agrees with the message, all readers of Thirteen Reasons Why have liked the book.

“It was a good book, but I didn’t like how it kinda made suicide seem OK,” said Chloe Udd 9.

Hopefully, due to this program or just plain curiosity, everyone at RAL gets the chance to read Thirteen Reasons Why and form their own opinion.