Tim is an albino boy aged seventeen when he meets Vanessa on his way to the high school. Shy and hating the stares of others, he gets swept along by her confidence and doesn't tell her his eyes hurt in strong sunlight. But lovely Vanessa has a boyfriend, and he's possessive. Interspersed with Tim's tale we get Duncan adjusting to his senior year and growing apart from his friends as he becomes absorbed in the details of what we know from hints will be a sad story.

Preoccupation with a reckless game amid heavy snow and elements of tragedy run through both Tim's and Duncan's minds; they have similar personalities and Duncan ends up alienated and in trouble with the staff. Tim is at a disadvantage from the start but does little to help himself, trying instead to be like the other teens. While this is not a cheerful tale it emphasises the difficulties of growing up and living up to everyone's expectations as well as having fun. Either boy would have benefited from a more mature perspective, but of course that's exactly what you don't bring with you to school.

THE TRAGEDY PAPER is full of the kind of details that seem important to young adults, but at least in this school quite a lot of the students are actually concerned with getting good grades. Boarding school is a dangerous environment because it is pressure cooking the young people into the mindset of their peers and the slightly older students. Adult supervision is provided, but if the students decide not to talk through problems, there is little anyone can do. Elizabeth Laban helps us into Tim's world and along with Duncan we come to understand why his life turned out as it did. Duncan, at least, has a choice.

Book Summary