Taking Lives - Three Books on Suicide

Suicide is the third leading cause of death for individuals ages 15 to 24. Because of that, there's been quite a bit written on the subject. Below is a sampling of some books who each take a different perspective of the same issue.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher Clay is an average kid recovering from tragedy. Hannah, the girl he's had a crush on for years, committed suicide about a month ago. When Clay returns home from work one day, he discovers a mysterious package left at his door. In the box are cassette tapes made by Hannah before she died. The box is to make the rounds among 13 people who each had a hand in pushing Hannah to suicide and Clay is on the list.

The story that unfolds via the tapes is hauntingly familiar. We all know someone like Hannah whose reputation has been unjustifiably ruined. The copy of 13 REASONS that I borrowed from the library has a testament to how good this book is. On the back page, readers had scribbled anonymous notes, encouraging others to keep going and promising that life, ultimately, is worth it.

Trigger by Vaught Trigger studies an interesting side of the suicide issue: what happens if you try to commit suicide and fail? That's the reality that Jersey Hatch faces. One year ago, he shot himself in the head. Rather than ending his life, he changed it forever. Part of Jersey's face, his ability to walk normally, and the year prior to the shooting are all gone.

After a year in a rehab center, Jersey is now returning to the life he left. Because he can't remember what happened, Jersey tries to piece together the circumstances that led him to pull the trigger. Vaught is brutally honest in this work. The story is hard-hitting and sometimes uncomfortable to read. However, it's a great read for anyone who needs a reminder that life goes on. The problems of today may not be the catastrophes they seem.

Twisted by Anderson Author of the national phenomenon Speak, Anderson is no stranger to tackling difficult subjects. Twisted follows the life of Tyler, "the zit on the butt of the student body." When Tyler takes part in a graffiti prank, he's sentenced to community service. The prank boosts both his reputation and his muscles, so Tyler's senior year is suddenly filled with unheard of possibilities. One of those opportunities is the chance to date Bethany, local hottie and daughter of Tyler's dad's boss.

But the year turns out less ideal than expected. Pressure from Tyler's father is intense and when Tyler is accused of a crime he did not commit, things reach a boiling point. Tyler must decide whether or not to take the easy way out by taking his own life. Tyler is a very real character. You ache for the unfairness of his life and the horrible burden of circumstance. Readers will be hooked, trying to figure out what Tyler ultimately decides.