Book 1 Project

Book 1 Project

By Julia Kraimer

The book 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher is about Clay, a high school student, listening to the tape recordings of Hannah, a girl who recently committed suicide. In the tapes, she tells her stories and the thirteen reasons why she took her life. He travels around town on the map she gave him. It showed the places where various significant event occurred.

One of the places on her map was Monet’s Garden: Café and Coffee House. Clay visits it after taking the city bus there. It was one of the last places Hannah felt safe and secure in, and after she stopped going there her life began to slowly crumble.  She says, “Monet’s Garden was our safe haven” (pg. 62). She had been new to the school, and that was where she met the two other new students. She became friends with them over the summer, so when school started she at least knew a couple of people. “If one of us had a hard time fitting in or meeting people, we’d go to Monet’s” Hannah explains (pg. 62).

I think we should recreate the small coffee house. New readers could be attracted there by their delicious hot chocolate and coffee. It could be a great place to read the book, as it is quiet, and new readers of the book can purchase it at the counter. This could pull in many new people, and keep people who already love the story interested.

Just as the café in the book was for Hannah, the recreation of Monet’s Garden should be a safe place for a heart-to-heart conversation. As Clay describes it, “around the garden, to keep the atmosphere relaxed, the lights are kept low” (pg. 73). This book is all about how much we can affect people’s lives, in either positive or negative ways, and how much that can sway how they look on their own life. The conversations people have in this café could help them put all of their struggles in to perspective. It could be a safe place for them in this unforgiving, cruel, fast moving world.  It could help them think through major decisions before they commit to something they can’t take back. It could help them develop a secure circle of people to talk to, a support group. It could help prevent suicide, just like the message in the book says.

Monet’s Garden would be a small, older looking, café. It would have an indoor area and an outdoor area (for people who are more comfortable outside). The building should be on a quiet road so that the patio doesn’t get too noisy from traffic. The main area, inside, would have a few small, round tables with 2 or 3 chairs at each. It would also have a couple couches and armchairs in the corner for a more comfortable conversation. The lighting should be just bright enough to read, but soft enough so that you don’t feel like you are constantly in the spot light and under peoples’ judgmental eyes. The courtyard should be enclosed by a little, black wrought iron fence, with vines growing on it. The little, round tables should be clear of all clutter, such as advertisements for various new items on the menu or flowers or condiments, as these can be annoying and distracting. Again, they should only have a couple chairs around them. There won’t be any large tables, as Monet’s Garden should be a quiet place, perfect for a deep talk, and big groups make too much noise. There should be some ample shady spots, but also some sunny areas.