The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan (review)

The traditions of the Irving School are relatively benign—an annual game of some sort for the seniors, the passing on of a “treasure” of some kind from graduating seniors to the juniors who will move into their rooms, and a senior English paper that explores the true nature of tragedy in literature and in life. Last year, however, the game ended in an actual tragedy, and the “treasure” Duncan receives from Tim Macbeth is a full accounting of the events that led up to the fateful night. Tim is a self-conscious albino who meets Vanessa on their way to school and begins a doomed relationship with her—doomed because, as the most beautiful girl at Irving, she is naturally dating the most popular boy, even though he’s predictably shallow. Vanessa seems to genuinely like Tim, but she will only meet with him clandestinely and won’t give up her public relationship and reputation for him. Heretofore, Duncan has only known the sad outcome of the night of the senior game, but Tim’s recitation of the details provides the full context for the tragedy as it unfolds from order to chaos to order, revealing the tragic flaws of the heroes that result in their destiny. Although the book is highly literary in its exploration of tragedy, there is no tie to the Scottish play other than through the character names, but there are shades and echoes of The Outsiders, Ethan Frome, and The Great Gatsby in form, plot, and language, which may help readers trace the characteristics of tragedy in those books. Mostly, though, this is an engaging tale told by a boy rendered an outsider by his appearance, full of passion and almost unrequited love, signifying the heartbreaks and melodramas of high school.