Critics hail Sonoma County-filmed Netflix series '13 Reasons Why' as authentic teen experience

“13 Reasons Why” has critics advising viewers to prepare for a mature and potent experience when the Netflix series, filmed in part last summer at Sebastopol's Analy High School, becomes available Friday.

The story, adapted from a best-selling young adult novel by Jay Asher, starts with the suicide of teenager Hannah Baker. As her final arrangement, Hannah leaves behind a stack of cassette tapes that reveal her anguish, and names the 13 people whom she says dished it up.

Reviewer Maureen Ryan writes in “Variety” that the 13-part series, which for a time converted Analy to an internally churning Liberty High School, “does an exceptional job of depicting the intense emotions - and formidable social pressures - of adolescence, without condescending to any viewers, whatever their age. When it comes right down to it, this is simply essential viewing.”