The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan

When he closed the door to his home to travel off to the new school, he was homeless.  The house was sold, his mother and his stepfather were overseas and he was off to Irving and a dorm room.  That was OK; he could handle it.

Random House Children's Books sent me a copy of this book for review (thank you).  It was published in February and you can find a copy at your local bookstore now.  I really liked how the author used a unique way to get the story to Duncan.

At first, I was a bit hesitant to read this story.  I don't like reading sad stories and I'm not into books that make me cry.  As I began reading it, the author hooked my interest right away by giving us Tim's side of the story in his words and recorded on CD's.  I really liked how the author used a unique way to get the story to Duncan.  The new dorm room occupant gets the full story on the great mystery at the end of school last year.  He's not sure he wants it, but he gets it.

Tim's biggest problem is that he would like to meld in with the crowd and be unnoticed.  That just doesn't work if you're an albino.  He's also unlucky.  When the flight gets cancelled, he calls his mother who is working in travel and she gets him a room at the hotel.  He's been eyeballing a pretty young lady who is also going to Irving and is stuck without a room.  He finally offers to let her share his room.  It's a good thing and a bad thing.  They find out they get along well, they can make each other laugh, and they have fun together.  Unfortunately, she already has a boyfriend...

One of the big things in your senior year at Irving is that you have to write a Tragedy paper.  You can choose an event, a play, a book or even a poem but you need to make the case that is or is not a tragedy.  Everyone moans and tries to think of a subject.  Tim is living one.  He's falling for Vanessa; she's very fond of him.  Is it real for her or just something different?  Why is her boyfriend "befriending" him; or is he?  It all culminates on the night of the Senior Prank.  What happens that night is a tragedy and now Tim wants Duncan to tell his story.

Everybody loses something in this story except Duncan.  He's learning from Tim's experiences.  And Tim and Vanessa may speak again someday.  I'm willing to hope.  Why don't you read it and see what you think?