Maureen Johnson's article "Yes, teen fiction can be dark – but it shows teenagers they aren't alone" introduces  the idea that banned books are often the books that show readers they are not alone and can get through tough situations. She goes on to say that just because authors are writing about things like rape and self harm, doesn't mean that it give the reader the idea to do that, so all the book is doing is either helping someone that is going through the same situation or is teaching someone about the real world. "There isn't a YA writer alive who is out writing books to corrupt youth. No one writing about self-harm is teaching how to self-harm. No one writing about rape is providing instructions on how to rape or how to be raped. I know this seems a ridiculously obvious point, but this is the argument that comes up again and again." Maureen ends her article by saying that YA fiction really helps readers by showing them that they aren't alone and that everything they're going through is normal.

     In Maureen Johnson's article, I noticed some craft moves that helped make her side of the story more believable. One craft move I picked up on was that she used a ton of loaded words like ''grossly underestimate'', "completely ignores", and "saves someone's life" to evoke emotion. One more example of a craft move that she uses is she creates imagery by comparing situations in your mind and saying "All food is Italian food, and I don't like Italian Food, so it should not exist. The fact that it does exist means the food industry is 
forcing it on my children!" these craft moves allow readers to have feelings about YA fiction and think about what they are reading.There isn't a YA writer alive who is out writing books to corrupt youth. 

     On a personal level, I agree completely with Maureen Johnson's article. I do not think that young adult fiction books should be banned because they help readers through tough situations and show them that they aren't alone. A certain line that stood out to me was "There isn't a YA writer alive who is out writing books to corrupt youth." because it showed me that all authors really want to do is help readers by sending a message through their writing."if subjects like these are in YA books, it's to show that they are real, they have happened to others, and they can be survived." 

     

    Have you ever wanted to explode with anger after something made you mad, and then controlled it? How did it make you feel? In 13 Reasons Why, that is exactly how Clay feels. Clay controls his anger by not throwing a rock at Tyler's window, even though he was very angry with him. This shows that he is a good person who has self-control. Although good people can sometimes "lose it", Clay thought it through and he knew what was best.

   In my life there is one very good example of that. When I was in the fourth grade, I had a best friend named Olivia. Olivia and I were very good friend sand almost never fought. But there were times when I got really ticked off at what she would say. She sometimes would tease people about things that they couldn't control, like how they looked or what they wore. Earlier that year I felt self conscious bout my appearance so I really didn't like it when she did that. One day when she said something mean to a slightly thick girl in our class I wanted to snap at her so badly! But, instead I did the right thing, I controlled myself and politely pulled her off to the side to tell her how I felt. It made me feel good to tell her how I felt in a way that made me seem like I really meant it. I was also able to show myself that I was capable of being a good person that helped people who didn't have the courage to stand up for themselves.

I think that this small moment relates to Clay because I can imagine him feeling the same way. If he were a real person I would be very proud of him, and for now, I am very proud of myself because I know that it takes a lot of self trust and courage. Clay shows readers a good example and also shows readers that in life, it is best to think things through so that in life situations don't get out of control. Overall, I think that in the way this book is written, Clay appears as a good person and a good example for young adult readers.