I hope you’re ready, because I’m about to tell you the story of my life. More specifically, why my life ended. And if you’re listening to these tapes, you’re one of the reasons why.
-- Hannah Baker (Cassette 1: Side A paragraph 5)

Importance: This quote is significant because it tells, in Hannah’s words, the main idea of the novel. Even though it comes postmortem, these tapes are Hannah’s way of confronting those who made her life so unbearable.

Because it’s Hannah’s voice. A voice I thought I’d never hear again. I can’t throw that away.
-- Clay Jensen (Cassette 1: Side A paragraph 83)

Importance: Clay cannot throw the tapes away and cannot stop listening to them because they are from Hannah. He listens to them out of respect for her.

Every single event documented here may never have happened had you, Alex, not written my name on that list. It’s that simple.
-- Hannah Baker (Cassette 1: Side B paragraph 45)

Importance: Hannah’s words here are...