Major Characters*
Hannah Baker: Hannah Baker is the voice inside the tapes, the girl who took her own life, the girl with the reputation. Hannah's voice is like a beacon; filled with light, and leading us along the path that she herself already took, and we're following her footsteps, or in this case, her tapes and her map. Though Hannah is dead, she sets the story, and the way she speaks is genuine and sets the mood. Hannah's story can easily be summarized; she records 7 cassette tapes with the thirteen reasons why she decided to meet her demise, and sends them to the first, while telling each to pass them down, but it is the details, the little ones, that makes the story more mysterious, and have more depth. Hannah Baker doesn't seem to have one dominant personality trait, but in the book, it states she "used to say hello to everybody" before she became more isolated and aloof. These are signs of suicide, but in literary terms, defines a dynamic main character.
Clay Jensen: Clay Jensen is the voice of now in this book, and also a boy who secretly was in love with Hannah, but as he hears her tapes, he regrets blowing the one chance he had to save her life. Clay isn't popular at school, but none of the gossip about him is malicious, back stabbing, or even simply mean. Clay uses an old stereo in his garage to play the first two tapes, before deciding to follow Hannah's map and try to relive what she went through. His journey is filled with anger, confusion, and sadness. But of course, like every recipient of these tapes, where is he on these? What did he do that could have possibly caused Hannah to take the pills? Clay is also a dynamic protagonist in this novel, because after the tapes, there is a huge change with him.
*-In this novel, the set up is different, so I made the decision to categorize people mentioned in the tape, though important, as minor characters since they are only mentioned but in fact do not have much change in the present situation.
Clay Jensen: Clay Jensen is the voice of now in this book, and also a boy who secretly was in love with Hannah, but as he hears her tapes, he regrets blowing the one chance he had to save her life. Clay isn't popular at school, but none of the gossip about him is malicious, back stabbing, or even simply mean. Clay uses an old stereo in his garage to play the first two tapes, before deciding to follow Hannah's map and try to relive what she went through. His journey is filled with anger, confusion, and sadness. But of course, like every recipient of these tapes, where is he on these? What did he do that could have possibly caused Hannah to take the pills? Clay is also a dynamic protagonist in this novel, because after the tapes, there is a huge change with him.
*-In this novel, the set up is different, so I made the decision to categorize people mentioned in the tape, though important, as minor characters since they are only mentioned but in fact do not have much change in the present situation.
Minor Characters from the Cassettes {In Order of Mention}
Justin Foley: Justin Foley is Hannah's first kiss. He is accused to be the one who started the entire chain of terrible events, and is to blame for starting untrue rumors about Hannah, and therefore, started a reputation for her. He is later seen at The Party scene, and takes part in the situation that Hannah feels guilty for, and both of them missed their opportunity to stop something harrowing from occurring.
Alex Standall: Alex Standall was new to the town, along with Jessica Davis, and part of the trio, also including Hannah. He is the one who created the Who's Hot/Not list, placing Hannah in a repulsive Hot category, which caused another series of nasty events to occur. He was the first one to break free from the trio, when conversations became only chit chat. He is friends with Marcus Cooney.
Jessica Davis: Jessica Davis first met Hannah via Mrs. Antilly, a guidance councilor when they both were new to the school. She has very bold personality type, and is willing to stand up and talk to anybody. She and Hannah used to be pretty good friends, before Alex's List caused her to think Hannah had betrayed her. She is also seen at The Party scene, kissing Justin Foley.
Tyler Down: Tyler Down is the student body photographer for the yearbook, but that was no excuse for his incident with Hannah. He peeped through her window and took pictures of her. Hannah blames him for taking away all of the security she had left. Tyler is later seen at a different party scene, where he takes a picture of Hannah and Courtney Crimsen.
Courtney Crimsen: Courtney Crimsen is described as having a pretty name, a pretty smile, pretty hair...and everyone claims she's nice. Courtney and Hannah first became friendly when Courtney went to Hannah's to investigate the "Peeping Tom" situation. Even so, Courtney and Hannah never became friends, and only were assumed so when Courtney needed a ride to a party (the same one Tyler was at.) Courtney is nice to everyone, but only so they can get on board her bandwagon of fans. She leaves Hannah at the party without any friends, so Hannah gets back a bit by taking a snapshot with her, as if they were indeed friends.
Marcus Cooley: Marcus Cooley got Hannah Baker as his Perfect Match from the "Oh Dollar Valentines," and Hannah asks him out to a date for ice cream. He shows up extremely late, thinking it was a joke. Then things go wrong, and he calls Hannah "a tease" before storming off. The next day, because of him, Hannah doesn't go back to school.
Zach Dempsey: Zach Dempsey stole Hannah's Peer Communication "Encouragement Bag," when Hannah needed all the encouragement she could get. They first met in the very beginning, when he and Justin were looking at Hannah and her friend. Hannah first notices her bag is missing notes when she gets a haircut and gets no messages. She later catches him when he takes out a note she wrote to him.
Ryan Shaver: Ryan Shaver is the editor of the Lost & Found Gazette, where he finds random items lying around campus and publishes them. He publishes 50 papers and hides them around the school. He steals Hannah's poem and publishes it for people to laugh at.
{Clay Jensen is next mentioned. See above.}
Jenny Kurtz: Jenny started out being that peppy cheerleader who handed out Hannah's "Oh Dollar Valentine", but she appears again at The Party scene, and gives Hannah a ride. She runs into a stop sign that changes 2 people's lives drastically, and affected many others' too. Hannah told her to report the incident, but she wouldn't. Hannah leaves full of regret.
Bryce Walker: Bryce Walker is known for dumping girls and treating them terribly. He plays a huge role in The Party Scene, and scars Hannah for life. Later, he and Hannah meet up again (foolishly of her) right before she killed herself. He will not receive the tapes because he would just leave and wouldn't pass them on, according to Hannah.
Mr Porter: Mr. Porter is the Guidance counselor for kids with last names A-G. He was Hannah's final hope at conciliation, yet gave poor advice. He could have also saved her, but instead, he just solidified her decision that she needed to give up in life. He is also an English teacher.
Alex Standall: Alex Standall was new to the town, along with Jessica Davis, and part of the trio, also including Hannah. He is the one who created the Who's Hot/Not list, placing Hannah in a repulsive Hot category, which caused another series of nasty events to occur. He was the first one to break free from the trio, when conversations became only chit chat. He is friends with Marcus Cooney.
Jessica Davis: Jessica Davis first met Hannah via Mrs. Antilly, a guidance councilor when they both were new to the school. She has very bold personality type, and is willing to stand up and talk to anybody. She and Hannah used to be pretty good friends, before Alex's List caused her to think Hannah had betrayed her. She is also seen at The Party scene, kissing Justin Foley.
Tyler Down: Tyler Down is the student body photographer for the yearbook, but that was no excuse for his incident with Hannah. He peeped through her window and took pictures of her. Hannah blames him for taking away all of the security she had left. Tyler is later seen at a different party scene, where he takes a picture of Hannah and Courtney Crimsen.
Courtney Crimsen: Courtney Crimsen is described as having a pretty name, a pretty smile, pretty hair...and everyone claims she's nice. Courtney and Hannah first became friendly when Courtney went to Hannah's to investigate the "Peeping Tom" situation. Even so, Courtney and Hannah never became friends, and only were assumed so when Courtney needed a ride to a party (the same one Tyler was at.) Courtney is nice to everyone, but only so they can get on board her bandwagon of fans. She leaves Hannah at the party without any friends, so Hannah gets back a bit by taking a snapshot with her, as if they were indeed friends.
Marcus Cooley: Marcus Cooley got Hannah Baker as his Perfect Match from the "Oh Dollar Valentines," and Hannah asks him out to a date for ice cream. He shows up extremely late, thinking it was a joke. Then things go wrong, and he calls Hannah "a tease" before storming off. The next day, because of him, Hannah doesn't go back to school.
Zach Dempsey: Zach Dempsey stole Hannah's Peer Communication "Encouragement Bag," when Hannah needed all the encouragement she could get. They first met in the very beginning, when he and Justin were looking at Hannah and her friend. Hannah first notices her bag is missing notes when she gets a haircut and gets no messages. She later catches him when he takes out a note she wrote to him.
Ryan Shaver: Ryan Shaver is the editor of the Lost & Found Gazette, where he finds random items lying around campus and publishes them. He publishes 50 papers and hides them around the school. He steals Hannah's poem and publishes it for people to laugh at.
{Clay Jensen is next mentioned. See above.}
Jenny Kurtz: Jenny started out being that peppy cheerleader who handed out Hannah's "Oh Dollar Valentine", but she appears again at The Party scene, and gives Hannah a ride. She runs into a stop sign that changes 2 people's lives drastically, and affected many others' too. Hannah told her to report the incident, but she wouldn't. Hannah leaves full of regret.
Bryce Walker: Bryce Walker is known for dumping girls and treating them terribly. He plays a huge role in The Party Scene, and scars Hannah for life. Later, he and Hannah meet up again (foolishly of her) right before she killed herself. He will not receive the tapes because he would just leave and wouldn't pass them on, according to Hannah.
Mr Porter: Mr. Porter is the Guidance counselor for kids with last names A-G. He was Hannah's final hope at conciliation, yet gave poor advice. He could have also saved her, but instead, he just solidified her decision that she needed to give up in life. He is also an English teacher.
Additional Minor Characters
Tony: Tony is sort of a friend to Clay, as they talked a bit, and he gave Clay rides in his {old} truck. He had no relation to the reasons why, but was given the tapes. He was the one who lent Hannah the device to record the tapes. He also can tell who has the tapes by watching, and when Clay steals his Walkman, he knows that Clay has the tapes.
Mom: Clay's Mom does play a small role in the book, trying to make the book sound more realistic, as if in the present time. She does not know anything that is going on with the tapes, but does wonder when Clay would come home.
Mom: Clay's Mom does play a small role in the book, trying to make the book sound more realistic, as if in the present time. She does not know anything that is going on with the tapes, but does wonder when Clay would come home.