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A Waste of Good Paper by Taylor, Sean Reprint Edition
The story of Jason, a boy at Heronford School for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The journal tells of the comic and sometimes uncomfortable day to day events at the school, with Jason, his teachers and classmates. And it explores his family life with his mother, who has recently given up taking heroin, and her violent, drug-taking ex-boyfriend, who returns unexpectedly. And then there is the storyteller who works at the school. He tells the boys the Russian folktale of a young man with a faithful horse, who overcomes a manipulative king. Jason is searingly, touchingly honest about his life and relationships, and through his journal he begins to reach an understanding of himself.This is a brilliant debut teenage novel, to be compared with The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time.
- GenresYoung Adult
Unknown Binding
First published May 3, 2012
10 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
About the author
Sean Taylor
76 books54 followersSean Taylor started writing poetry as a teenager. In 1993, he came across a newspaper article which reported that a goat slaughtered in Iran had been found to have teeth made of gold. He tried writing a story for children. It was called 'The Goat with the Golden Teeth' and it won second prize in a competition run by the British newspaper 'The Independent' and Scholastic Children's Books. Since then, Sean has focussed on writing for children and has published over forty books for young readers of different ages. As well as writing, he has many years’ experience visiting schools, where he works with poetry and storytelling to encourage young people to write themselves. He lives partly in England (where he was born) and partly in Brazil( where his wife is from.)
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 5, 2012
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books (3 May 2012)
I was initially attracted to this YA novel as I used to teach French to a wide variety of pupils from top stream to those who faced severe behavioural and emotional challenges on a daily basis. I was keen to see how an author would recreate the voice of a youth who struggles to fit into "mainstream" education and I think he's got it spot on.
The novel takes the form of a journal/diary written by young Jason who has the opportunity to move onto a mainstream school if he's on his best behaviour but as we gradually discover, it's rather hard not to LOSE IT when his mum looks like she might go back on drugs, when he is continually riled by his classmates, when he has to listen to the platitudes of the teachers. At first he treats the diary project as some sort of joke, a way of fooling his teacher, Pete, into thinking he's actually doing some work but gradually he puts down in words the truth about his home situation...but the diary is confidential so how can anyone else help?
As well as gaining insight into Jason's home life we also see life in school, warts and all with the tiniest slight sending some pupils over the edge. One scene reminded me of the time a chair was thrown in my direction...but I had the good sense to duck! I have so much admiration for teachers who can draw on infinite amounts of patience and creativity to help disadvantaged and disaffected children and are happy to see progress on a day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute scale rather than throwing in the towel. I think the author does an excellent job of representing the work done by such professionals.
This is a very honest portrayal of one boy's life, with a fair injection of humour too - well worth reading and recommended for both young teens and adults in need of a hefty dose of empathy.
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books (3 May 2012)
I was initially attracted to this YA novel as I used to teach French to a wide variety of pupils from top stream to those who faced severe behavioural and emotional challenges on a daily basis. I was keen to see how an author would recreate the voice of a youth who struggles to fit into "mainstream" education and I think he's got it spot on.
The novel takes the form of a journal/diary written by young Jason who has the opportunity to move onto a mainstream school if he's on his best behaviour but as we gradually discover, it's rather hard not to LOSE IT when his mum looks like she might go back on drugs, when he is continually riled by his classmates, when he has to listen to the platitudes of the teachers. At first he treats the diary project as some sort of joke, a way of fooling his teacher, Pete, into thinking he's actually doing some work but gradually he puts down in words the truth about his home situation...but the diary is confidential so how can anyone else help?
As well as gaining insight into Jason's home life we also see life in school, warts and all with the tiniest slight sending some pupils over the edge. One scene reminded me of the time a chair was thrown in my direction...but I had the good sense to duck! I have so much admiration for teachers who can draw on infinite amounts of patience and creativity to help disadvantaged and disaffected children and are happy to see progress on a day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute scale rather than throwing in the towel. I think the author does an excellent job of representing the work done by such professionals.
This is a very honest portrayal of one boy's life, with a fair injection of humour too - well worth reading and recommended for both young teens and adults in need of a hefty dose of empathy.
March 13, 2012
Jason Dooley is given a writing book to use as a journal by his teacher Pete. Pete tells him that the journal is private and that he can write whatever he wants in there, but Jason just views anything he might write as 'a waste of good paper'; there's no point in doing it. Nevertheless, he does go on to use the notebook to record the events of his days, and it builds into a record of his school and home life over the course of less than one month. Jason attends Heronford School, where pupils with behavioural difficulties are taught. He has hopes of attending another, regular school in the future. He is evidently an able boy but he has difficulties controlling his anger and temper at times, and his home environment has not always been a safe, supportive one.
During the period over which Jason writes his journal, a couple of things happen which significantly impact on him; firstly, his mother's former boyfriend Jon is back on the scene, and secondly, Richard and Aaron visit the school and work with Jason's class, they are a musician and a storyteller, and they involve the children in playing instruments and writing poetry based around the story of The Firebird, which Aaron tells them over a number of lessons, culminating in a performance by the class of their work. Jason writes down his impressions and feelings about what happens as Jon returns, fearing that his presence may cause a return to the dark days when his mother was taking drugs and at the lowest point Jason was taken into care, after enduring cruel treatment from Jon.
This is a fairly quick read, the diary format and the compelling voice of Jason made me want to keep reading on and finish the story in only a couple of sittings. I cared about Jason and was willing things to go well for him. I think the author has captured the style of writing that his lead character would use very well, as Jason tells us about the teachers at the school, his fellow pupils, and his life at home. The author has drawn on his own memories and experiences as a visiting writer at a school for boys with emotional and behavioural difficulties, giving his story authenticity. It makes for a moving, important read for young adults and older adults alike.
During the period over which Jason writes his journal, a couple of things happen which significantly impact on him; firstly, his mother's former boyfriend Jon is back on the scene, and secondly, Richard and Aaron visit the school and work with Jason's class, they are a musician and a storyteller, and they involve the children in playing instruments and writing poetry based around the story of The Firebird, which Aaron tells them over a number of lessons, culminating in a performance by the class of their work. Jason writes down his impressions and feelings about what happens as Jon returns, fearing that his presence may cause a return to the dark days when his mother was taking drugs and at the lowest point Jason was taken into care, after enduring cruel treatment from Jon.
This is a fairly quick read, the diary format and the compelling voice of Jason made me want to keep reading on and finish the story in only a couple of sittings. I cared about Jason and was willing things to go well for him. I think the author has captured the style of writing that his lead character would use very well, as Jason tells us about the teachers at the school, his fellow pupils, and his life at home. The author has drawn on his own memories and experiences as a visiting writer at a school for boys with emotional and behavioural difficulties, giving his story authenticity. It makes for a moving, important read for young adults and older adults alike.
September 24, 2013
I decided to read "A waste of good paper" written by Sean Taylor as it looked like an interesting book. This novel fits under the "Book with a male main character" box on the bingo board.
"A waste of good paper" is about a boy named Jason (Main Character). He faces a lot of conflict at school with his teachers and peers, but not only that...he has a dysfunctional family who consists of his mother and Jon (mums ex-boyfriend). Jon is heavily involved in drugs and alcohol as he sells it to people for money. One day, he turns up out of the blue, and worms his way back into their lives again. Jason is caught up in Jon's destructive life style of drugs. If Jason disobeyed Jons orders there would be terrible consequences.
My favourite character in the novel is Jason.The reason for this is because of the way Jon treated him, he always physically & verbally abused him and he wasn't able to tell anyone -not even his mum. In the end, Jason stood up to Jon, and that was really brave of him! After all the struggles he faced with Jon, he finally came through. Thats what made him my favourite character.
"ALL RIGHT"
This quote was used throughout the novel. Pete (one of Jason's teachers), would always ask the class to share their feelings with everyone. Every time Jason was asked, he would always say the same thing, "All Right". Right at the end of the novel, Jason told Pete tat he could read his journal when he's finished writing his last bit. Pete says "How does it make you feel if someone else is going to read what you've written?, Jason says "ALL RIGHT". That was a intelligent way to end the novel.
Something new I learnt from the book is to always be true to yourself in what you value and believe in, never let anyone make you do something that you know is wrong or you don't want to do!
Out of 10, I rate the novel a 6/10. It was a good and interesting read.
"A waste of good paper" is about a boy named Jason (Main Character). He faces a lot of conflict at school with his teachers and peers, but not only that...he has a dysfunctional family who consists of his mother and Jon (mums ex-boyfriend). Jon is heavily involved in drugs and alcohol as he sells it to people for money. One day, he turns up out of the blue, and worms his way back into their lives again. Jason is caught up in Jon's destructive life style of drugs. If Jason disobeyed Jons orders there would be terrible consequences.
My favourite character in the novel is Jason.The reason for this is because of the way Jon treated him, he always physically & verbally abused him and he wasn't able to tell anyone -not even his mum. In the end, Jason stood up to Jon, and that was really brave of him! After all the struggles he faced with Jon, he finally came through. Thats what made him my favourite character.
"ALL RIGHT"
This quote was used throughout the novel. Pete (one of Jason's teachers), would always ask the class to share their feelings with everyone. Every time Jason was asked, he would always say the same thing, "All Right". Right at the end of the novel, Jason told Pete tat he could read his journal when he's finished writing his last bit. Pete says "How does it make you feel if someone else is going to read what you've written?, Jason says "ALL RIGHT". That was a intelligent way to end the novel.
Something new I learnt from the book is to always be true to yourself in what you value and believe in, never let anyone make you do something that you know is wrong or you don't want to do!
Out of 10, I rate the novel a 6/10. It was a good and interesting read.
March 13, 2012
Jason has behavioural difficulties and so has to go to a special school. There he is given a private journal to write in which he quickly dismisses as "a waste of good paper" because thinks he has nothing to say. As it turns out it doesn't prove to be a waste of good paper and he does have a story to tell, a good one.
His story has some light and some heavy stuff going on in it. Mainly the time when he's in school is the light stuff with a lot of banter going on between the kids. Then there is the heavy stuff which takes place at home where Jason witnesses drug taking and suffers from violence, quite graphic violence involving burns which you may not normally expect to see in a children's book. With all this going on it's no surprise he has behavioural difficulties. It is quite a gritty storyline so it is a relief to have the light entwined with the heavy to hopefully take some of the edge off.
The typeface is made to look like handwriting and it is done on lined paper to add to the journal. And I don't know that the title is the best title of a book in the world; it might put preconceptions in your head.
Overall this is not a waste of good paper and is a thoroughly good book.
His story has some light and some heavy stuff going on in it. Mainly the time when he's in school is the light stuff with a lot of banter going on between the kids. Then there is the heavy stuff which takes place at home where Jason witnesses drug taking and suffers from violence, quite graphic violence involving burns which you may not normally expect to see in a children's book. With all this going on it's no surprise he has behavioural difficulties. It is quite a gritty storyline so it is a relief to have the light entwined with the heavy to hopefully take some of the edge off.
The typeface is made to look like handwriting and it is done on lined paper to add to the journal. And I don't know that the title is the best title of a book in the world; it might put preconceptions in your head.
Overall this is not a waste of good paper and is a thoroughly good book.
February 2, 2016
Ever wondered how a kid is thinking? I think this novel gets really close
May 28, 2012
This review originally appeared on my blog Thoughts from the Hearthfire.
The extracts given in the blurb are absolutely typical of the whole book. Jason's voice is strong and refreshing and sounds absolutely authentic for a teen boy in his situation. He's in some kind of special school for kids with behavioural problems and his teacher Pete tries to encourage him by giving him this book to enable him to express himself. There is gentle humour in that Jason uses the book to complain about how the book is a stupid idea and won't help him, and yet of course we do see him make progress as the story unfolds.
Jason is a brilliant character. He is, of course, not without his problems: he can be stubborn and surly and many other things that you might expect of a lad who is seen as too difficult for mainstream school. Pete is clearly a great teacher and he is right that writing will help Jason. We see Jason begin to admit and accept what his real problems are as we go through the book.
The author has worked as a visiting writer with schools of this type, and this experience shines out clearly through the text. It's obvious that Sean Taylor has real knowledge of what these institutions are like, and how adults in different roles interact with these kids. He also has done a fabulous job of conveying a complex story with a relatively limited narration style. Jason's voice feels very authentic - there are times when his writing seems quite childish and immature - and yet it isn't monotonous to read.
Overall, I was very impressed with this and enjoyed it immensely. It's a fairly quick read that I think teens will relate to, but I do feel that adults (especially teachers) can also get a lot of it.
The extracts given in the blurb are absolutely typical of the whole book. Jason's voice is strong and refreshing and sounds absolutely authentic for a teen boy in his situation. He's in some kind of special school for kids with behavioural problems and his teacher Pete tries to encourage him by giving him this book to enable him to express himself. There is gentle humour in that Jason uses the book to complain about how the book is a stupid idea and won't help him, and yet of course we do see him make progress as the story unfolds.
Jason is a brilliant character. He is, of course, not without his problems: he can be stubborn and surly and many other things that you might expect of a lad who is seen as too difficult for mainstream school. Pete is clearly a great teacher and he is right that writing will help Jason. We see Jason begin to admit and accept what his real problems are as we go through the book.
The author has worked as a visiting writer with schools of this type, and this experience shines out clearly through the text. It's obvious that Sean Taylor has real knowledge of what these institutions are like, and how adults in different roles interact with these kids. He also has done a fabulous job of conveying a complex story with a relatively limited narration style. Jason's voice feels very authentic - there are times when his writing seems quite childish and immature - and yet it isn't monotonous to read.
Overall, I was very impressed with this and enjoyed it immensely. It's a fairly quick read that I think teens will relate to, but I do feel that adults (especially teachers) can also get a lot of it.
January 11, 2013
Journal style suited the story. Interesting narrator perspective - boy with behavioural difficulties. Frustrating at times - why could he not control himself?! Why was he that way?! The problems seemed to easily be overcome by the end (a little too easily) though this for me wasn't the attraction of the book. I think you have to accept that if a person had emotional problems, they need help, and this book offered a little insight into a EBD youth (his age is never given - 12? 15?)
A quick book to get through, a popular style at the moment, the journal, and this is one of the more serious subjects it has covered.
A quick book to get through, a popular style at the moment, the journal, and this is one of the more serious subjects it has covered.
January 8, 2016
I started reading this book because the cover reminded me of Diary of a Wimpy Kid which I used to like in elementary school. Sadly, I think Diary of a Wimpy kid is better than this book. The book is written as a journal, and each entry is like a new chapter. I thought that the book was confusing, and it never really grabbed my attention. I abandoned it because quite frankly, it was a book that made reading painful. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone unless they may have read some of Taylor's other work and enjoyed it.
August 8, 2016
This book isn't the most gripping book. It doesn't make you turn the pages faster than the speed of light, But I think it's all right*. I will tell you things it did do though, it captured my heart. I felt a sort of feeling of protection over the main character, Jason, who has behaviour problems. It tells you his life at school and at home, and his struggles. It is written in a journal format, which I feel made it easier to connect with the main character. I would recommend this book, but in my opinion it's not the best.
* reference to the book, those who read it will get it
* reference to the book, those who read it will get it
December 20, 2012
This book was a really good and quick read. At first I thought this story was going to be a really light read although I soon found out that the book had some really deep meanings behind it. Overall the book is a great read but I would advise if you are looking for a really light hearted book I would really recommend it!
September 16, 2012
An average book. But I really liked the part where Jason scared Jon, not by hurting Jon, but by hurting himself. Guilt is scary. I liked how the author explored behavioural difficulties but I thought it was just on the surface and should've gone more in depth.
September 18, 2016
One of my favorite things of this book is that it's a journal so your seeing everything thing from Jason's eyes. While nothing huge stood out to me I really enjoyed it. The layout of the book is great because it's set up like a journal. To conclude this book isn't a waste of good paper.
September 3, 2013
Im on about page 10 and im so bored by it. Yep now I've given up, utterly boring.
April 11, 2015
This was well written and good but didn't get me hooked or really want to continue but was still really good.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews