The Tragic Age
No. of pages 320
Published: 2016
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This book is the winner of numerous awards
There are 320 pages in this book.
It is aimed at Young Adult readers. The term Young Adult (YA) is used for books which have the following characteristics: (1) aimed at ages 12-18 years, US grades 7-12, UK school years 8-15, (2) around 50-75k words long, (3) main character is aged 12-18 years, (4) topics include self-reflection, internal conflict vs external, analyzing life and its meaning, (5) point of view is often in the first person, and (6) swearing, violence, romance and sexuality are allowed.
This book was published in 2016 by Griffin Publishing .
STEPHEN METCALFE wrote the production drafts for Pretty Woman, Dangerous Minds and Mr. Holland's Opus , among others. His stage plays have been produced in New York and at theaters throughout the US, Europe and Japan. He is an Associate Artist at The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego and has been an adjunct professor in dramatic writing at University of California at San Diego, University of San Diego and San Diego State University.
This book has been nominated for the following award:
Tayshas Reading
This book was recognised by the Tayshas Reading.
""Less Than Zero" meets "Catcher in the Rye" in this biting bildungsroman. Written in an insightful, frenetic tone that occasionally turns surreal. Exhilarating and indicting." --"Kirkus Reviews" (starred review)
"Metcalfe snares readers' attention with rich, fantastic characters...A wonderful read that is hard to put down, "The Tragic Age" will continue to haunt readers long after the last page has been turned." --"Voya
""Metcalfe's taut prose and unique narrative choices mark him as a writer to watch." --"Booklist
""Billy makes for a mordant, smart, and angry protagonist...debut author Metcalfe, a screenwriter and playwright, amps up the melodrama with a car chase, a shooting, and a Grand Guignol ending that dooms some while reawakening Billy."""--"Publishers Weekly
"
"Less Than Zero" meets "Catcher in the Rye" in this biting bildungsroman. Written in an insightful, frenetic tone that occasionally turns surreal. Exhilarating and indicting. "Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"
Metcalfe snares readers' attention with rich, fantastic characters A wonderful read that is hard to put down, "The Tragic Age" will continue to haunt readers long after the last page has been turned. "Voya"
Metcalfe's taut prose and unique narrative choices mark him as a writer to watch. "Booklist"
Billy makes for a mordant, smart, and angry protagonist...debut author Metcalfe, a screenwriter and playwright, amps up the melodrama with a car chase, a shooting, and a Grand Guignol ending that dooms some while reawakening Billy. "Publishers Weekly"
Metcalfe's rich imagination is obvious throughout this dark tale of sex, violence, and mentions of suicide...you'll be hooked on this roller-coaster ride of a story from the get-go. "RT Book Reviews"
Metcalfe writes Billy's narration with a laconic, conversational tone that deftly combines age-appropriate nihilism with hints at the emotions behind it all... however, it's the tautly written contemporary events, with tension mounting along with the risk and the violence, that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. With the fatalism of Hassan's "Crash and Burn," the chilling relentlessness of FX's series "Fargo, "and a touch of the wry worldview of Kurt Vonnegut, this will be an easy book talk that will absorb many young adult readers. "The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (Starred Review)"
"The Tragic Age" is not a story that promises happy times and a happy ending. It's sad. It's violent. It's messy. It's complicated. It's ugly. It's beautiful. It's heartbreaking. It's hopeful. It's real. fiktshun.com
Stephen Metcalfe's "The Tragic Age," is an emotionally raw, unapologetically honest, and fiercely startling coming of age story about life, death, and every amazing, terrifying, fucked up thing in between. Word Spelunking"
Less Than Zero meets Catcher in the Rye in this biting bildungsroman. Written in an insightful, frenetic tone that occasionally turns surreal. Exhilarating and indicting. Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Metcalfe snares readers' attention with rich, fantastic characters A wonderful read that is hard to put down, The Tragic Age will continue to haunt readers long after the last page has been turned. Voya
Metcalfe's taut prose and unique narrative choices mark him as a writer to watch. Booklist
Billy makes for a mordant, smart, and angry protagonist...debut author Metcalfe, a screenwriter and playwright, amps up the melodrama with a car chase, a shooting, and a Grand Guignol ending that dooms some while reawakening Billy. Publishers Weekly
Metcalfe's rich imagination is obvious throughout this dark tale of sex, violence, and mentions of suicide...you'll be hooked on this roller-coaster ride of a story from the get-go. RT Book Reviews
Metcalfe writes Billy's narration with a laconic, conversational tone that deftly combines age-appropriate nihilism with hints at the emotions behind it all... however, it's the tautly written contemporary events, with tension mounting along with the risk and the violence, that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. With the fatalism of Hassan's Crash and Burn, the chilling relentlessness of FX's series Fargo, and a touch of the wry worldview of Kurt Vonnegut, this will be an easy book talk that will absorb many young adult readers. The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (Starred Review)
The Tragic Age is not a story that promises happy times and a happy ending. It's sad. It's violent. It's messy. It's complicated. It's ugly. It's beautiful. It's heartbreaking. It's hopeful. It's real. fiktshun.com
Stephen Metcalfe's The Tragic Age, is an emotionally raw, unapologetically honest, and fiercely startling coming of age story about life, death, and every amazing, terrifying, fucked up thing in between. Word Spelunking
"
"Less Than Zero meets Catcher in the Rye in this biting bildungsroman. Written in an insightful, frenetic tone that occasionally turns surreal. Exhilarating and indicting." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Metcalfe snares readers' attention with rich, fantastic characters...A wonderful read that is hard to put down, The Tragic Age will continue to haunt readers long after the last page has been turned." --Voya
"Metcalfe's taut prose and unique narrative choices mark him as a writer to watch." --Booklist
"Billy makes for a mordant, smart, and angry protagonist...debut author Metcalfe, a screenwriter and playwright, amps up the melodrama with a car chase, a shooting, and a Grand Guignol ending that dooms some while reawakening Billy. " --Publishers Weekly
"Metcalfe's rich imagination is obvious throughout this dark tale of sex, violence, and mentions of suicide...you'll be hooked on this roller-coaster ride of a story from the get-go." --RT Book Reviews
"Metcalfe writes Billy's narration with a laconic, conversational tone that deftly combines age-appropriate nihilism with hints at the emotions behind it all... however, it's the tautly written contemporary events, with tension mounting along with the risk and the violence, that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. With the fatalism of Hassan's Crash and Burn, the chilling relentlessness of FX's series Fargo, and a touch of the wry worldview of Kurt Vonnegut, this will be an easy book talk that will absorb many young adult readers." --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (Starred Review)
"The Tragic Age is not a story that promises happy times and a happy ending. It's sad. It's violent. It's messy. It's complicated. It's ugly. It's beautiful. It's heartbreaking. It's hopeful. It's real." --fiktshun.com
"Stephen Metcalfe's The Tragic Age, is an emotionally raw, unapologetically honest, and fiercely startling coming of age story about life, death, and every amazing, terrifying, fucked up thing in between." --Word Spelunking