Beth Revis's Gratitude for Books Giveaway

So Beth Revis, author of Across the Universe, is holding a giveaway of 19 books, most signed, and-and!-a box of Turkish Delights.  And to enter? You just have to make a post saying what book you are most grateful for.  You can find it here.

So now . . . the book that I am most grateful for.
I've thought about this one. I've thought about this one well.  There were so many books I could have said, so many books that have changed me and my outlook on life.  But in the end, I chose this book.  And it is not actually my favorite book.  But it is the book I am most grateful for, because it has changed me more than any book I've ever read.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

I first read this book months ago. I still think about it today.
Is it a perfect book? No.  Is the writing stunning? No.  No, this book isn't what it is because it is some flawless, gorgeously written book with an insanely creative plot and kick-ass characters.
This book is what it is because it makes you think. Because it makes you just stop and think.
Through Clay's horrified eyes, and Hannah's own voice, we, the readers, our pulled through this book, story by story, seeing how every person on these tapes led to Hannah killing herself.  We watch it slowly piece itself together, and we sit there, horrified as Clay, already knowing how it will all end up.
But what really gets you, the thing that still has me thinking months later, is that these people didn't know what they were doing. Some of them did terrible things, yes. But some of them, what they did, they thought it was harmless. Or if not harmless, certainly not anything of significance. Certainly not anything that mattered.
Certainly not something for a girl to kill herself over.
But it's the snowball effect. It's one thing upon another upon another, gaining power as it rolls on, until its huge weight just . . . crushes her. Boom. Gone.
Maybe you spread around a list like Alex.  Or started rumors, like Justin.  Or abandoned a friend you didn't know needed you. Maybe you thought nothing of it at the time. Maybe it was nothing at the time.
But maybe they're gone now.
This book makes you realize that the slightest thing, just the slightest, tiniest, most inconsequential thing, can have such a huge effect on others.  That you have such a huge effect on others, more than you can ever imagine.  That you want the effect to be good.  That if you knew Hannah, you wouldn't want to be on one of those tapes.
That is why I am grateful for this book.  Because it made me think. About myself, and about others, and myself and others, and everyone else and the people they interact with.  It opened my eyes.