I would analyze this book through the social science lens by focusing in
on how the characters interacted with each other over the course of
the story, I would analyze how the characters would interact with
people who were outside of the situation: i.e. parents, siblings or
teachers, and I would also analyze how the relationships with some of
the characters change over the course of the book.
The synopsis is "You can’t stop the future. You can’t rewind the past. The
only way to learn the secret . . . is to press play. Clay Jensen returns home
from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his
porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah
Baker–his classmate and crush–who committed suicide two weeks
earlier. Hannah’s voice tells him that there are thirteen reasons why she
decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he’ll find out
why. Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his
guide. He becomes a firsthand witness to Hannah’s pain, and as he
follows Hannah’s recorded words throughout his town, what he
discovers changes his life forever." (2007, October 18). These
characters go through trauma and many different types of assaults, it
shows how they try to handle the trauma, and how they change as a
person after the events, how their friendships change, their romantic
relationships change and their family relationships change as well. This
story is very raw and definitely shows how mental health is important
and that it can change a person and alter relationships.
The social science lens has influenced my understanding of this topic by
giving me the knowledge to view things from another view point. I
would not have thought about viewing these relationships through a
social science lens because its not a common view point for me. I like to
view things through a history lens or a humanities lens verse a social
science lens. My topic analysis on "13 reasons why" has expanded and
strengthened from using more than one lens because now I can view
the story from at least 13 more view points to the story and allowing me
to connect and better understand more with these characters ( or hate
them more ). The social science lens has opened up so many more views
and learning opportunities for me for this story.
Reference:
Razorbill. (2007, October 18). Thirteen reasons why. Goodreads.
Retrieved July 21, 2022, from
