“Zoe Trope’s book is unflinching about high school. It’s lyrical and even surreal.” –Dave Eggers, author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

“I am in awe of Zoe Trope. This book is more than the kind of good story we’ve become satisfied with. It’s more than interesting. It’s art.” –Jonathan Safran Foer, author of Everything Is Illuminated.

I wrote a story about you. Well, sort of, see, it's mostly about me. Well, entirely about me, but here's the catch: I'm you. No, really, I mean it. Not like that transcendentalism stuff we're learning in English class, but really, truly, I'm you. I know what it feels like when your heart beats so hard against your white bone ribs, when you sing in the shower with soap in your eyes, when you run until you get a side ache. I wrote this story about you because I am so in love with you, your broken-fence teeth and your tissue-paper scars. I love you when you're so exhausted it could topple you to the ground, so in love it could snap guitar strings, so sickly sweet it could make lips smile. This is a reckless love story. This is my shameless confession.

Zoe Trope exists. She was born in 1986 and graduated from high school with the class of 2003 in Oregon. You can contact her via e-mail at zoe_trope@hotmail.com.

PLEASE DON'T KILL THE FRESHMAN in paperback!!

Includes an exclusive new chapter from Zoe.

On sale 7/27/04!