Sandra @ My Fiction Nook

This review can also be found on My Fiction Nook."Enter here to be and find a friend."I wasn't quite sure what to expect when requesting this ARC on Netgalley, but the summary was intriguing, and I was hoping for a bit of YA fare that was different than most. And boy, did Elizabeth LaBan deliver. In an exceptional debut novel, she explores the theme of tragedy in both literary and emotional contexts. What is tragedy? How is it defined, and is it possible that one person's tragedy is another person's unfortunate accident? What makes a tragic figure?With crisp and thoughtful writing, the author paints a deep and moving picture of a prestigious high school/boarding school and the young men and women at the center of the book. Each year, the seniors are assigned a 'tragedy paper' for their English class, like a thesis of sorts, that makes up a big chunk of their final grade. And each year, the incoming seniors worry from the get-go about this paper, some more than others. Duncan Meade is an incoming senior, and school tradition dictates that each previous year's senior leaves a 'treasure' in their respective room for the next student assigned. When Duncan finds out that his room, the smallest on the senior floor, was previously occupied by Tim Macbeth, the story's unconventional narrator, he's at first a bit bummed out. Tim Macbeth is an Albino and only attends the Irving School for a single semester in his senior year. There are hints from the get-go that something bad happened, though the reader isn't told any details. Duncan was there, and the event still occupies his mind and guides some of his choices, though again, Elizabeth LaBan delivers the suspense and only hints at things. In his new room, Duncan finds a letter from Tim, and a bunch of CDs. And three keys.The book is written from a dual POV. For Duncan, the author chose a limited 3rd person narrative, while for Tim, she uses the CDs and thus the 1st person narrative, to differentiate between the two male MCs. Their voices were distinctly different, and I had no difficulty distinguishing where one ended and the other began.The author masterfully weaves a suspenseful plot, leading up to 'The Game', a senior year event, planned by the lead senior for the year, who was chosen as the junior officer during the previous year's event. And as the story unfolds, the reader is sucked deeper and deeper into the minds of the young men, both struggling with first love and feelings of inadequacy. The contrasts between the two main players and the choices they make, with Duncan actually thinking about their similarities as Tim's story unfolds, are what made this book so very special and unusual in today's YA world. The author also explores the differences in doing what you know is right versus what you know will make you feel good, as well as following the rules/traditions versus breaking them to suit your own needs or ego.A well developed supporting cast, including the love interests, the rival (Patrick) as well as the central teacher, Mr. Simon, give additional depth and meaning to the book.And even if the build-up to the event led me to expect a bit more than what actually happened, I finished this book rather stunned at the brilliantly quiet way in which the author delivered the climax and was left thinking about this book long after I closed it on my Nook. Was what happened to Tim and Vanessa truly a tragedy or just a result of bad choices and circumstances beyond their control? And is Daisy right when she absolves Duncan from thinking what happened is at least partly his fault? Do both of them deserve forgiveness?If this is the caliber of writing Ms. LaBan delivers, I cannot wait to see what more she has in store for us. I highly recommend this book.I received a free ARC from the publisher via Netgalley. A positive review was not promised in return.