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How to Write Really Badly
When Joe chooses HOW TO WRITE NEATLY as his project, clever clogs Chester says to Miss Tate: "I think we're talking high hopes here."
Chester Howard can't believe it! He's been to all sorts of schools as his mother's jobs moved round the world, but never anywhere as awful as Walbottle Manor (Mixed). Everyone's so horribly nice, recommending him for blackboard duty, playing little skipping games at break. It's just awful. And Chester just has to get to work on the boy sitting next to him, Joe Gardener. He knows he's clever - Joe can build incredible models - but he can't get to grips with his school work and his desk is a mess beyond belief.
Miss Tate's 'How to...' projects supply Chester with an opportunity, and he starts Joe on a subversive project 'How to Write Really Badly'. For once, instead of battling through work he just doesn't begin to understand, this is something at which Joe excels. And Chester has his own project - he makes sure Joe's amazing technical abilities get a class award, and creates a book where Joe can mark off every one of the 1646 days he has left of school, before he can be free to do the things he's really good at.
Chester Howard can't believe it! He's been to all sorts of schools as his mother's jobs moved round the world, but never anywhere as awful as Walbottle Manor (Mixed). Everyone's so horribly nice, recommending him for blackboard duty, playing little skipping games at break. It's just awful. And Chester just has to get to work on the boy sitting next to him, Joe Gardener. He knows he's clever - Joe can build incredible models - but he can't get to grips with his school work and his desk is a mess beyond belief.
Miss Tate's 'How to...' projects supply Chester with an opportunity, and he starts Joe on a subversive project 'How to Write Really Badly'. For once, instead of battling through work he just doesn't begin to understand, this is something at which Joe excels. And Chester has his own project - he makes sure Joe's amazing technical abilities get a class award, and creates a book where Joe can mark off every one of the 1646 days he has left of school, before he can be free to do the things he's really good at.
111 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
12 people are currently reading
156 people want to read
About the author
Anne Fine
390 books285 followersThough readers often find themselves inadvertently laughing aloud as they read Anne Fine's novels, as she herself admits, "a lot of my work, even for fairly young readers, raises serious social issues. Growing up is a long and confusing business. I try to show that the battle through the chaos is worthwhile and can, at times, be seen as very funny." In 1994, this unique combination of humour and realism inspired the hit movie MRS. DOUBTFIRE, based on Anne's novel MADAME DOUBTFIRE and starring the late comedic genius Robin Williams.
Anne is best known in her home country, England, as a writer principally for children, but over the years she has also written eight novels for adult readers. Seven of these she describes as black - or sour - comedies, and the first, THE KILLJOY, simply as "dead black". These novels have proved great favourites with reading groups, causing readers to squirm with mingled horror and delight as she peels away the layers in all too familiar family relationships, exposing the tangled threads and conflicts beneath. (It's perhaps not surprising that Anne has openly expressed astonishment at the fact that murder in the domestic setting is not even more common.)
Anne has written more than sixty books for children and young people. Amongst numerous other awards, she is twice winner of both the Carnegie Medal, Britain's most prestigious children's book award, and the Whitbread Award. Twice chosen as Children's Author of the Year in the British Book Awards, Anne Fine was also the first novelist to be honoured as Children's Laureate in the United Kingdom. In 2003, Anne became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and was awarded an OBE. Her work has been translated into forty five languages.
Anne Fine lives in the north of England and has two grown up daughters.
Anne is best known in her home country, England, as a writer principally for children, but over the years she has also written eight novels for adult readers. Seven of these she describes as black - or sour - comedies, and the first, THE KILLJOY, simply as "dead black". These novels have proved great favourites with reading groups, causing readers to squirm with mingled horror and delight as she peels away the layers in all too familiar family relationships, exposing the tangled threads and conflicts beneath. (It's perhaps not surprising that Anne has openly expressed astonishment at the fact that murder in the domestic setting is not even more common.)
Anne has written more than sixty books for children and young people. Amongst numerous other awards, she is twice winner of both the Carnegie Medal, Britain's most prestigious children's book award, and the Whitbread Award. Twice chosen as Children's Author of the Year in the British Book Awards, Anne Fine was also the first novelist to be honoured as Children's Laureate in the United Kingdom. In 2003, Anne became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and was awarded an OBE. Her work has been translated into forty five languages.
Anne Fine lives in the north of England and has two grown up daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
July 30, 2018
#2018ReadingChallenge #nonPopSugar
Tháng này lười quá nên giờ phải ăn gian bằng một cuốn mỏng đọc vèo cái xong thế này đây hiu hiu tội lỗi.
Truyện dễ thương, nhưng mà sự khó chịu lúc ban đầu của Chester có hơi gây ức chế một tí (một tí tẹo thôi vì cuối cùng cái bật lên như một ngôi sao vẫn là sự dễ thương). Cái đoạn hướng dẫn cách viết như gà bới thật là hết sảy đó. Minh họa xinh ơi là xinh nữa.
Mình chỉ nói được đến thế thôi vì chả còn nghĩ ra được gì hơn từ câu chuyện bé xíu này nữa. Nhưng mà công nhận đọc truyện trẻ con thấy đời đáng yêu và tâm hồn bớt cằn cỗi hẳn í.
Tháng này lười quá nên giờ phải ăn gian bằng một cuốn mỏng đọc vèo cái xong thế này đây hiu hiu tội lỗi.
Truyện dễ thương, nhưng mà sự khó chịu lúc ban đầu của Chester có hơi gây ức chế một tí (một tí tẹo thôi vì cuối cùng cái bật lên như một ngôi sao vẫn là sự dễ thương). Cái đoạn hướng dẫn cách viết như gà bới thật là hết sảy đó. Minh họa xinh ơi là xinh nữa.
Mình chỉ nói được đến thế thôi vì chả còn nghĩ ra được gì hơn từ câu chuyện bé xíu này nữa. Nhưng mà công nhận đọc truyện trẻ con thấy đời đáng yêu và tâm hồn bớt cằn cỗi hẳn í.
October 17, 2017
ترجمهش فاجعهست.
February 5, 2020
چند سال پیش خوندمش و خیلی دوستش داشتم. جزئیات بیشتری یادم نیست🤔
November 11, 2018
This was my favourite book as a child, and adult still has the same effect. The same book all battered and sellotaped together is still on my shelf and will be for when I have children. As someone with dyslexia and dyspraxia it was a story I completely bonded with and helped me laugh about my own bad writing, it also helped me understand that I was good at different things. Myself and my dad (also bad writer) would laugh out loud to this book when he would repeatedly would read it to me. It's honestly a book that I will remember forever
September 9, 2020
I read this book for school in I think year six ( grade 4) and I loved it and I still love it now. The characters are wonderful and the book is hilarious and made me laugh out loud a few times. (keep in mind I hardly ever laugh or show emotions when reading) I love how it's also positive, there isn't any dramatic moments or things that can put you down.
I really recommend to all ages for an extremely enjoyable read!
I really recommend to all ages for an extremely enjoyable read!
May 1, 2021
Книга будет полезна детям, которые «оооооойййй» любят делать и глаза закатывать, как главный герой. Есть надежда, что они поймут, как такое поведение раздражает со стороны, а ещё заметят, что можно быть таким «уставшим» от всего школьником и при этом (или благодаря этому) помогать другим и вообще стать для них настоящим другом. А ещё она смешная, местами даже до ха-ха вслух)
January 12, 2023
درونمایه کتاب کمی طنز با خود دارد و بر لب نوجوانی که نکته های آن را بگیرد لبخند خواهد آورد. به نظرم برای بالای ۱۳ سال مناسب است.
October 14, 2012
This is one of my favourite stories by Anne fine. Howard steps foot in a new school where things are very different from the schools he has been to before. All the pupils are well mannered and courteous which he finds very strange. He develops a wonderful friendship with his desk mate Joe. The story highlights how children learn in different ways and that everyone has strengths in particular areas. In Joe's case his strength is 'how to write really badly.' I really enjoyed the humour in this book, and I believe that it will be a fun read for key stage two classes. The story can be used to teach children how to welcome new students to their class/school.
June 1, 2022
Chester Howard moves around a lot on account of his mother's work, and so when he starts in yet another school, he arrives with a bit of an attitude and low expectations. He quickly finds, however, that this school is worse than anything he has experienced before because everyone here is so nice! He is sat next to Joe, who does not understand Chaster's sharp wit and use of irony and takes him seriously. Meanwhile his teacher confuses his name and insists on calling him Howard.
What follows is often hilarious and always both funny and insightful as you would expect from Anne Fine (who also writes under several "Anne" pseudonyms). Joe appears to me to be classically dyspraxic, although the term is never used. His writing is so abysmal that Chester persuades him that writing badly is his superpower, and he should do his school project on "how to write badly". He also has issues with sports and other activities but makes the most amazing models and Chester realises he is also intelligent. Chester asks his father how this can be and his father just says "wiring".
The book is a lovely story of friendship that grows between the boys and leads to a heartwarming conclusion. It is a fine book, which is no surprise as I don't recall Anne Fine ever writing a bad book!
Some minor criticisms I might have: I am not certain I would recommend it to dyspraxics or others with a neurodiversity because Joe is not the protagonist, and is often - at least to start with - the foil of Chester's wit. Yet maybe that is not a problem. I would have to consider that more.
The other criticism is that Chester seems to be a little old for his years at times. It made him a very enjoyable and quick witted character though.
Neither of those things detract from what is a very good story.
What follows is often hilarious and always both funny and insightful as you would expect from Anne Fine (who also writes under several "Anne" pseudonyms). Joe appears to me to be classically dyspraxic, although the term is never used. His writing is so abysmal that Chester persuades him that writing badly is his superpower, and he should do his school project on "how to write badly". He also has issues with sports and other activities but makes the most amazing models and Chester realises he is also intelligent. Chester asks his father how this can be and his father just says "wiring".
The book is a lovely story of friendship that grows between the boys and leads to a heartwarming conclusion. It is a fine book, which is no surprise as I don't recall Anne Fine ever writing a bad book!
Some minor criticisms I might have: I am not certain I would recommend it to dyspraxics or others with a neurodiversity because Joe is not the protagonist, and is often - at least to start with - the foil of Chester's wit. Yet maybe that is not a problem. I would have to consider that more.
The other criticism is that Chester seems to be a little old for his years at times. It made him a very enjoyable and quick witted character though.
Neither of those things detract from what is a very good story.
June 27, 2023
Del 1-5 calificaría este libro un 4 porque me divirtió, pero a la vez lo quería dejar y me parecía aburrido, recomiendo este libro al tipo de gente que es paciente, o sea, el libro en sí no es muy largo, pero el desarrollo del cuento es muy largo por eso me parecía algo aburrido porque es muy largo. Lo recomiendo bastante si porque es como que te hace ser más paciente par llegar al punto que la historia tiene. La historia es así un niño muy fino e inteligente llega a una clase espóiler, se cambió 6 veces de colegio. Él se llama Vicente Martín, entra a la clase y ve el alboroto que todos están haciendo al ver eso se sienta. Cuando se conocen Vicente se da cuenta de algo. Es que su compañero Javi escribe realmente mal, desde allí en adelante Vicente lo ayudo. Un día estaban sentados en la clase y dijeron ordenen sus escritorios y entonces jugaron a oro o caca. Jugando oro o caca Javi en cuenta una cosa que había estado buscando hace años y entonces siguieron jugando y por como diez minutos todo era caca. Tocaba recreo y Vicente estaba con Javi y vio y vio y los niños le parecían muy raros en este colegio. Javi le explico que los niños acá son así se comportan de una manera no muy formal. Este libro me cambio porque me hizo más paciente.
February 11, 2021
Una descripción de la historia (no la historia en sí).
Paso que oliver era un huérfano se escapó encontró bandidos se hicieron amigos después enemigos se hizo hijo adoptivo de un rico y fue feliz pero antes casi fue arrestado dieron pruebas y se salvó le pegaron un tiro y casi muere pero se escapó por la ventana lo pusieron debajo de una piedra y por suerte le hicieron nada después lo secuestraron los mismos y lo interrogaron se escapó y fue con una señorita la mamá de charlotte y entonces lo curaron sus heridas y lo trataron como un hijo después vi palos malos y se despertó era un pesadilla entonces se despertó y vio cómo se marchaban los malos no era una pesadilla y entonces casi muere lo tranquilizaron y ya.
Describe a los personajes principales y la trama del libro. Oliver, el señor Brownlow y el truhán charlotte.
Paso que oliver era un huérfano se escapó encontró bandidos se hicieron amigos después enemigos se hizo hijo adoptivo de un rico y fue feliz pero antes casi fue arrestado dieron pruebas y se salvó le pegaron un tiro y casi muere pero se escapó por la ventana lo pusieron debajo de una piedra y por suerte le hicieron nada después lo secuestraron los mismos y lo interrogaron se escapó y fue con una señorita la mamá de charlotte y entonces lo curaron sus heridas y lo trataron como un hijo después vi palos malos y se despertó era un pesadilla entonces se despertó y vio cómo se marchaban los malos no era una pesadilla y entonces casi muere lo tranquilizaron y ya.
Describe a los personajes principales y la trama del libro. Oliver, el señor Brownlow y el truhán charlotte.
April 28, 2018
#18 из запланированного списка 40 книг на 2018 — книга Энн Файн, кавалера ордена Британской империи, члена Королевского литературного общества, дважды медалистки Карнеги, многократного лауреата международных литературных премий. «Я познакомился с обоадателем худшего в мире почерка и выяснил, что он отнюдь не болван». Честер Говард, новый ученик школы, помогает своему соседу по парте Джо с правописанием и математикой. Если не он, то больше некому, ведь учительница, миссис Тейт, ничего не понимает. Честер отлично справляется, и отчасти потому, что отец вовремя замечает, как и что ему подсказать. Подростковая книга, которую будет интересно прочесть вместе с ребенком. Может быть, и у вас, родители, найдется пара советов для своих детей и их ситуаций?!
September 28, 2018
Extraordinario y divertido libro infantil sobre la amistad y los problemas de la educación escolar occidental.
Vicente es un chico muy inteligente a quien le molesta la escuela, y ha sido cambiado constantemente de una a otra. Su nueva escuela está llena de niños y maestros demasiados inocentes, empezando por Javier, su compañero de banca, quien tiene muchos problemas para entender lo que enseñan en la escuela. Vicente, no teniendo más remedio, decide darle una mano.
Me fascinó el sarcasmo y la ironía con la que Vicente, el narrador, describe la historia. Aunque el libro es para niños, y lo leí con mis hijos, estoy seguro que mucho del sarcasmo se les pasó por alto de tan bueno que es, pues se necesita cierta madurez para entenderlo todo. Aún así, Vicente se queja de todo y hay tanto sarcasmo, que resulta divertido para todos.
Aunado a esto, la historia es muy bonita: Javier es un chico que tiene problemas con las materias comunes en la escuela: matemáticas, historia, y especialmente español, pues escribe muy mal. Vicente, conmovido por la inocencia de su compañero, decide ayudarlo, y descubre que Javier es muy bueno para armar cosas, y se da cuenta, con un punto de vista super moderno para un libro escrito en 1996, que el sistema escolar no es el adecuado para su amigo, y decide alentarlo a que lo sobreviva y espere a un momento donde pueda poner en práctica sus talentos.
Divertido, inteligente, e incluso conmovedor, se me hizo una joya... lástima que sea tan breve por ser un libro infantil.
Vicente es un chico muy inteligente a quien le molesta la escuela, y ha sido cambiado constantemente de una a otra. Su nueva escuela está llena de niños y maestros demasiados inocentes, empezando por Javier, su compañero de banca, quien tiene muchos problemas para entender lo que enseñan en la escuela. Vicente, no teniendo más remedio, decide darle una mano.
Me fascinó el sarcasmo y la ironía con la que Vicente, el narrador, describe la historia. Aunque el libro es para niños, y lo leí con mis hijos, estoy seguro que mucho del sarcasmo se les pasó por alto de tan bueno que es, pues se necesita cierta madurez para entenderlo todo. Aún así, Vicente se queja de todo y hay tanto sarcasmo, que resulta divertido para todos.
Aunado a esto, la historia es muy bonita: Javier es un chico que tiene problemas con las materias comunes en la escuela: matemáticas, historia, y especialmente español, pues escribe muy mal. Vicente, conmovido por la inocencia de su compañero, decide ayudarlo, y descubre que Javier es muy bueno para armar cosas, y se da cuenta, con un punto de vista super moderno para un libro escrito en 1996, que el sistema escolar no es el adecuado para su amigo, y decide alentarlo a que lo sobreviva y espere a un momento donde pueda poner en práctica sus talentos.
Divertido, inteligente, e incluso conmovedor, se me hizo una joya... lástima que sea tan breve por ser un libro infantil.
August 25, 2020
Es un libro pensado para niños, aunque claro está que eso no es impedimento para disfrutar de una rápida lectura, sea cual sea la edad del lector. tiene una trama muy simple y "plana", por así decirlo (reitero, está hecho para que niños entre 8 y 12 años sean capaces de leerlo perfectamente). Así que no se debería esperar mucho de un libro como este. Creo que el tema principal es la amistad y los valores, pero no se profundizó en ello lo suficiente como para dejar muy clara la idea. De igual manera disfruté de esta lectura, con el contraste de la ternura y el sarcasmo de los personajes principales.
February 28, 2023
Como comentaba en una de las últimas reseñas, he estado durante meses con un tremendísimo bloqueo lector. Así que aprovechando que tengo la suscripción a Nextory quería ver que nuevas lecturas se tramaban en la editorial "El barco de Vapor", que no niño español no ha leído y releído libros de esta editorial.
Tengo que reconocer que el niño protagonista- Martín o Vicente o como lo quieras llamar - me sacaba bastante de quicio... básicamente un adulto en cuerpo de niño... Mientras que su compañero Javier Pastor me ha parecido una personalidad realmente interesante, con dificultades extremas para el colegio pero una habilidad creativa que ya la querrían muchos "artistas".
Lo más interesante y por lo que se lo recomendaría a los más peques es probablemente la parte final (que omito en esta reseña porque no estoy a favor de los spoilers).
Auf Wiederlesen!
Tengo que reconocer que el niño protagonista- Martín o Vicente o como lo quieras llamar - me sacaba bastante de quicio... básicamente un adulto en cuerpo de niño... Mientras que su compañero Javier Pastor me ha parecido una personalidad realmente interesante, con dificultades extremas para el colegio pero una habilidad creativa que ya la querrían muchos "artistas".
Lo más interesante y por lo que se lo recomendaría a los más peques es probablemente la parte final (que omito en esta reseña porque no estoy a favor de los spoilers).
Auf Wiederlesen!
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November 9, 2021A summary of the story. The story tells that there's a kid who entered school and he was called Martin Vicente and he didn't know how to write well but in the end Martin Vicente helped people so he got the prize. How the characters changed, Martin Vicente is Funny, Javi Pastor is Happy. Did the book change you in some major way? How? If not, why didn’t you identify with it? In read faster and in doing my L2L. Who you would recommend it to and why? To Chaly because it is for his level.
August 26, 2022
So disappointing. Only finished it because it’s short. Have read other Anne Fine books and think this book is below her standard. There were 3 issues. (1) Something wasn’t right with the main character/narrator; a bit too mature to be believable and not likable enough. (2) There isn’t much of a plot to speak of. I know it’s a short book, but still expected more. (3) So much slang. Breaks the reading flow every time I had to look something up.
March 8, 2023
Cuando lo leí lo amé, ver que se toque la temática de la neurodivergencia, aunque no sea el protagonista, me hizo sentir feliz siendo autista, aunque no trate de eso específicamente.
Es el único libro que pedí prestado de la Biblioteca del colegio para llevármelo a mi casa, disfrutarlo un rato y escribir los datos que me permitieron encontrarlo aquí, aunque en librerías de segunda mano solo me daban Manuales de Escritura jaja, y me apena que no sea tan conocido.
Es el único libro que pedí prestado de la Biblioteca del colegio para llevármelo a mi casa, disfrutarlo un rato y escribir los datos que me permitieron encontrarlo aquí, aunque en librerías de segunda mano solo me daban Manuales de Escritura jaja, y me apena que no sea tan conocido.
June 26, 2021
Para mi este libro fue uno de relleno antes de leer el ultimo libro de una saga así que no fue la gran cosa. Seguramente lo olvidaré fácilmente
Desde un principio no me gusto la actitud de Vicente, aún que se notaba que lo que buscaban hacer es que fuera cómico yo lo vi más como algo ofensivo. Aún que si cambio un poco sobre la marcha no es como que me haya agradado tanto.
Desde un principio no me gusto la actitud de Vicente, aún que se notaba que lo que buscaban hacer es que fuera cómico yo lo vi más como algo ofensivo. Aún que si cambio un poco sobre la marcha no es como que me haya agradado tanto.
February 24, 2019
Siêu đáng yêu!!! Một câu truyện dễ thương về tình bạn bắt đầu từ câu chuyện chuyển trường quen thuộc và cùng nhau hoàn thành bài tập thực hành của đôi bạn Howard và Joe. Truyện cũng đưa những lời khuyên cho các bạn viết ngoáy bằng cách rất thú vị nữa.
September 27, 2022
تا آخر کتاب منتظر بودم نویسنده توضیح بیشتری درباره شخصیت اصلی بدهد که نداد. نفهمیدم بالاخره مشکلش با مدرسه چی بود!
ترجمه جالبی نداشت.
برای بچه های سوم ابتدایی به بالا مناسب است. هرچند به خاطر ترجمه ضعیفش، زیاد پیشنهاد نمیکنم.
ترجمه جالبی نداشت.
برای بچه های سوم ابتدایی به بالا مناسب است. هرچند به خاطر ترجمه ضعیفش، زیاد پیشنهاد نمیکنم.
February 28, 2023
Un retorn a la infància que encara em fa riure. El sarcasme i la relació entre el Javi i el Vicente Martín són els punts forts de la història. Es llegeix en un moment (no tant ràpid quan tens 8 anys però també es porta bé)
March 18, 2018
Funny!
December 29, 2019
Me encantó !!!
April 22, 2020
It's a nice book, no real problems with it just not the most captivating. Think there's definitely better books about. Probably good for year 3+
April 28, 2020
Really Unique and Really Gives a Life Lesson
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May 9, 2020Chắc phải kiếm bản gốc đọc thử
September 18, 2020
عنوان ترجمهٔ فارسی: چطوری خیلی بدخط بنویسیم
November 6, 2020
Dễ thương không tả nổi, mỗi tội sách lắm chính tả dữ.
November 29, 2020
Pensé que iba a hablar de la dislexia, me habría gustado que aprovechara para dar visibilidad al tema
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews