A Waste of Good Paper by Sean Taylor

The Blurb On The Back:

Pete says this is a writing book that he’s only giving me. And it’s so I can write in it every day. BUT SORRY PETE there’s nothing I want to write.

Peter’s an ALL RIGHT teacher. But even so it’s a DUMB IDEA he’s got about this book. Because the problem last year was to do with WHAT PEOPLE WERE SAYING ABOUT MY MUM. And what happens if they start dissing her again like that this year? Writing anything in this frigging journal book isn’t going to stop them doing that.

And it isn’t going to stop Jason’s mum’s ex-boyfriend turning up with two broken arms and getting Jason to deliver mysterious packages for him, either. Or the mayhem that surrounds him at school, or the fear of going back into care, or the memories of all the other bad things that happened last year. And it isn’t going to stop Jason LOSING IT.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Sean Taylor’s YA novel is an emotionally powerful story about a kid who’s never had a break and who struggles to express the rage and the loneliness that he feels inside. Although I would have liked the language used to have been grittier, the narrative voice is otherwise pitch perfect and I fully believed in Jason, his emotions and his situation. This book is well worth a look.

A WASTE OF GOOD PAPER was released in the UK on 3rd May 2012. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the ARC of this book.

Skulduggery Pleasant: The End Of The World by Derek Landy

The Blurb On The Back:

Meet Skulduggery Pleasant: sorcerer, detective, warrior.

Oh yes, and dead.

Ryan is an ordinary boy living in an ordinary world.

Or so he thought.

Pursued by a gang of insane sorcerers who want to destroy the planet, Ryan’s only chance for survival rests with skeleton-detective Skulduggery Pleasant and his teenage partner Valkyrie Cain. They have one day to save Ryan. One day to save the world. The clock is ticking …

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT – THE END OF THE WORLD is a one-off short story written by Derek Landy for World Book Day in 2012. There’s a fascinating look at some of the early drafts of the first SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT novel, which should keep fans hooked, but the story itself works as a good taster for those completely new to his world.