The Tragedy Paper

Elizabeth Laban

Jan 2013 · Sold by Knopf Books for Young Readers

About this ebook

Perfect for fans of Thirteen Reasons Why and Looking for Alaska, Jennifer Weiner, #1 New York Times bestselling author, calls Elizabeth LaBan’s The Tragedy Paper “a beguiling and beautifully written tale of first love and heartbreak.” 

It follows the story of Tim Macbeth, a seventeen-year-old albino and a recent transfer to the prestigious Irving School, where the motto is “Enter here to be and find a friend.” A friend is the last thing Tim expects or wants—he just hopes to get through his senior year unnoticed. Yet, despite his efforts to blend into the background, he finds himself falling for the quintessential “It” girl, Vanessa Sheller, girlfriend of Irving’s most popular boy. To Tim's surprise, Vanessa is into him, too, but she can kiss her social status goodbye if anyone ever finds out. Tim and Vanessa begin a clandestine romance, but looming over them is the Tragedy Paper, Irving’s version of a senior year thesis, assigned by the school’s least forgiving teacher.
 
Jumping between viewpoints of the love-struck Tim and Duncan, a current senior about to uncover the truth of Tim and Vanessa, The Tragedy Paper is a compelling tale of forbidden love and the lengths people will go to keep their secrets.

Ratings and reviews

In December I decided to check out books for the break, and this is the one that I literally finished in one day because it was so good. I couldn't put it down, it's really heartwarming and I think this is one of the best books that I've read in the last year. I encourage young people like myself to read it.

I truly love this novel, it inspired me in a middle school classes went it first came out and i hope i can get feedback from the author since we all should keep Irving's school traditions alive.

I originally bought the actual book, and saw that it was here, I could not. I wish there was more. It simply surfaced emotions that I have never felt in a book before. I love it so much

About the author

ELIZABETH LABAN worked at NBC News, taught at a community college, and has written for several magazines and newspapers. The Tragedy Paper is her first young adult novel. She lives in Philadelphia with her family.