Spud (Spud, #1)

Spud (Spud #1)

4.01 of 5 stars 4.01  ·  rating details  ·  2,358 ratings  ·  333 reviews
It's 1990. Apartheid is crumbling. Nelson Mandela has just been released from prison. And Spud Milton - thirteen-year-old, prepubescent choirboy extraordinaire - is about to start his first year at an elite boys-only boarding school in South Africa. Cursed with embarrassingly dysfunctional parents, a senile granny named Wombat, and a wild obsession for Julia Roberts, Spud...more
Hardcover, 352 pages
Published October 4th 2007 by Razorbill (first published March 20th 2006)
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Ankit Agrawal
The book I read had 309 Pages in Paperback

For the first about 100 pages I thought this book was fully hilarious and I had 5 stars in my mind. But it got a little boring after halfway through as the same jokes were being repeated and I thought there was a lack of creativity from the writer. So for the next 150 pages from 5 stars I had come down to 3 stars for this book. But thanks to the last few pages of the book that I was caught with some good creativeness and the book went to a different leve...more
Janet
Definitely not South Africa's Catcher in the Rye, despite the many plot parallels and the blurb making big claims. Still, pretty good. As a parent, I was kind of creeped out by the author's acceptance of a horrible boarding school. Are beatings, uncontrolled bullying, insanity,rampant drunkenness, and affairs with students par for the course in South African schools? Yikes!

Spud is very likeable, though a little too good to be true -- star of the school musical, star cricketer, excellent student...more
Jennifer
Feb 02, 2008 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone looking for something different and those YA readers
This is a cool book. It is written in the form of a diary of a 14 year old boy living in South Africa. The year is 1990 and it is his first year at an elite private boys boarding school. The hilarity ensues. All of his experiences and thoughts are realistic and although the feeling of the book is comedic, there are more sobering experiences as well. This is a brand new book this year, a hit in South Africa, and the author is coming out with a sequel. I'm definitely interested in seeing what come...more
Jean
Fans of Adrian Mole and Georgia Nicholson will appreciate this latest entry in the adolescent teen diary mode. With wacky family members, teen romance problems, and faithful friends, Spud doesn't disappoint the reader. The added benefit is that it takes place in South Africa at the time of Nelson Mandela's release from prison and the end of apartheid. The seriousness of the political situation is a stark contrast to the laugh out loud situations in Spud's life in a private boy's school. I'm look...more
Lauren
Sep 27, 2007 Lauren rated it 4 of 5 stars
Shelves: ya
This book has been number one on the bestseller list in South Africa for the last couple of years. Now it is number two, only because the its sequel is number one. With a tag line that touts it as the South African Catcher in the Rye and a rave review from my Penguin rep, I knew I had to read it. Told in almost diary form from the perspective of a 14 year old boy (nicknamed Spud by his dorm mates because his balls haven't dropped yet) who has just started boarding school, this book is laugh out...more
Anina Ertel
All the reviews say it's very funny but maybe it's not my type of humor or something because I didn't tjhink it was hilarious.
Karin
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Debra

In Spud, we read the diary of 13-year-old John Milton, a.k.a. “Spud,” as he navigates his first year at a boarding school in South Africa. His entries describe being (justifiably) mortified by his parents, terrorized by sadistic older students, confused by girls, and embarrassed about being a “spud”—meaning his “balls haven’t dropped” and he sings like a girl [albeit beautifully].


The reader follows Spud and his first-year roommates (The Crazy 8) as they experience pranks, peer-pressure, and som

...more
Gavin
Spud:
Away From Home
What is your nickname? For John Milton 14, it is Spud. He goes to an all-boys boarding school in South Africa and is the book’s storyteller. Spud has a messy love life that makes things interesting. When he was at boarding school, he meets the “crazy eight”, a group of eight boys who do many outrageous things. The group is made up of Spud, Rambo, Mad Dog, Simon Brown, Rain Man, Gecko, Fatty and Boggo. This historical fiction novel is set in 1990. The author of the book is Joh...more
Richard Nixon
I went to Irish and British boarding schools in the mid-seventies to early eighties. The bulk of my time was spent in Northern Ireland where I experienced The Troubles.

Spud takes place in South Africa at the time of Nelson Mandela's release from prison which serves as the backdrop that "keeps it real" so to speak.

Thirteen year old John Milton goes away to boarding school for the first time, and while he's apprehensive about what awaits him he's equally eager to get away from his crazy family....more
Tammy Dahle
If you are looking for laugh out loud funny this is the book for you. Spud by John van de Ruit is one of the funniest books I have read in a while.
The story comes from John "Spud" Milton who attends an all boys boarding school in South Africa set in 1990. His tale is written by way of journal entries which relate his various adventures, trials and humiliations.
John rooms with a group known at school known as the "Crazy Eight" and they never fail to live up to their name. These 13 year old boys a...more
Sara
If you like Georgia Nicholson but you're ready for something deeper, more 'guy,' and better-fleshed, read Spud. Though it's set in the 1990's, the references to historical events are few and far between and vague enough that the story will feel fresh for a long time.
The main character, Spud (nicknamed this because he has yet to go through puberty), has won a scholarship to an exclusive private school in the boonies. Upon arrival, he discovers that not only are the people around him brilliant, b...more
Ron Bajrami
Spud is about a boy named John Milton, who just joined a boarding school. He has a hard time adapting to his friends and he is being made fun of and being called Spud. The main character is John, and he narrates the story. The setting is in Durban, South Africa. John's main internal conflict, is him trying to go through the process of puberty. His main external conflict is him being picked on and being called a spud.



During reading this book, I made a text-to-text connection. When he is trying to...more
Amanda B.
I stumbled upon this novel in advisory and was slightly discouraged when I saw how long it was. But after reading the blurb and a look at the cover, I thought it would be an easy read. As I flipped through the novel, I saw that it was written in journal entries which I thought was very interesting. And from the cover, I got the vibe it was a comedic story, which I don’t usually read. I thought I could give it a try and I really liked it. This novel tells the story of a young boy by the name of...more
Owen
Oct 13, 2012 Owen rated it 4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Owen by: Sam
I decided to read Spud because it is sort of like my situation. Mainly the school aspect, which is pretty much the entire book. We both go to all boys schools and have to dress in pointless dress codes. Except, I go to a nearby(ish) school and Spud is at a boarding school in South Africa in the 1990s, at the time of apartheid. Other than that, there isn't much more similarity.

I almost want to say that this is sort of like The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I think it's been described somewhere (I...more
Mari
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Stefanie
Spud tells the hilarious and sometimes touching story of a young South African boy's first year at a posh private boarding school. Based loosely on the author's own high school experiences, and set just before the fall of apartheid, the story offers some insight into how a kid would have experienced the dying days of the oppressive system.

The main focus of the story, however, which takes the form of the titular character's diary entries, is the crazy misadventures he gets up to with his dorm ma...more
Morné Volschenk
Oct 06, 2007 Morné Volschenk rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone!
The adventures of John Milton “Spud” despite its oddness and quirkiness is able to connect with anyone. Refreshingly original and funny the book has a very South African feel but written in such a way as to delight anyone. With astonishing wit and cleverness, as only a 14-year-old spud can provide, there is not a sentence that will not have you giggling with glee. Every page contains some brilliant weirdness to admire and amuse you.
Elisabeth Rodrigues
Mar 20, 2013 Elisabeth Rodrigues rated it 4 of 5 stars  ·  review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone who was in SA in the late 80's, early 90's
Recommended to Elisabeth by: Alice Pitjika via Alex
Shelves: 2013, young-adult
A great walk down memory lane. This was recommended to my husband - which is hilarious becos he is NOT a reader, by a friend when he was in SA last August. Apparently it's the most sold African book ever and it's good fun.
In the same vein as the Secret Diary of Adrian Mole (which gets a shout out) and Bridget Jones' Diary it is the diary of 13 year old John Milton who gets a scholarship to an elite boarding school.
Taking place in 1990, just as Nelson Mandela was released from prison, John, nick...more
Gill
Spud:
His Succulent Story

With a soprano voice, a small body, and many bunk mates, would you get teased? Spud by John Van de Ruit, is a realistic fiction novel based in 1990 in South Africa. The main characters are Spud, Vern, Gecko, Mermaid, and Wombat. Spud goes to a boarding school in South Africa, where he meets the crazy eight that includes Vern, Gecko, Mad Dog, Rambo, Boggo, Fatty, and Simon. There is definitely a reason why they are called the crazy eight. Spud goes on many fun journeys tha...more
Sherry Chiger
A South African version of A Catcher in the Rye? I think not. This is a generic first-person coming-of-age story, a less witty Adrian Mole--a quick, entertaining-enough read for when you're in the tub or on the Tube, but nothing that will resonate the way Catcher in the Rye, Starter for Ten, or other top-notch coming-of-age stories do.

I was also disappointed that little of the turbulence and excitement of that period of South African history made its way into the story. Maybe the release of Man...more
Yara Balestrero
Adorei esse livro. Muito bom.
Gilbert Patten-Elliott
I decided to read this book because my brother had read it and thought it was good.
This book fits the category "book made into a film" on my bingo board (movie has been released in South Africa but not in NZ yet).

I thought that this book was probably one of the best books I've ever read. It was well written, hilarious and exciting. I also liked it because the boy in the book is about the same age as me so I could relate to him well.
It was also good because it was based in 1990 in South Africa a...more
Jessica
I picked it up because Alexander McCall Smith claimed it was, "South Africa's 'Cather in the Rye'." About a third of the way through I had my doubts he had ever actually read 'Catcher'. Spud is too likable and innocent, although he describes things in a similar matter of fact way. While there is nothing fundamentally wrong with this book, it just did not live up to that claim. It is definitely more appropriate for a boy starting high school. I can see it being a great growing up with the charact...more
Katie Cooper
While I'm not sure that I agree with reviewers calling this "South Africa's Catcher in the Rye" (although, to be honest, I don't know any other books by South Africans so I guess I don't really have a voice here) it is a good book. I generally prefer books by male authors with male protagonists and I did quite like this one even though it was set in a world I have no connection to: a South African male boarding school in 1990 at the end of apartheid. Shamefully, I know nothing about apartheid an...more
Heather
Jan 08, 2010 Heather rated it 2 of 5 stars
Shelves: ya
Spud is starting his first year of boarding school in South Africa during the major political upheaval about aparteid. His family is absolutely crazy and embarassing. Unfortunately, his new house mates are absolutely insane quirky as well. Spud (John Milton)makes new friends, deals with relationship issues, finds out that teachers are people too, and has a wonderful singing career. Since it is about a boys boarding school, sex is an often discussed topic, especially since Spud's nickname is rela...more
Lord Nouda
Wow, this is a fricking amazing YA read. It reminds me somewhat of my old boarding school, mixed with some quirky characters that probably are quite uncommon in the real world along with familiar characters that the reader is likely to be able to relate to. Spud is written in diary form, by a boy nicknamed...Spud. The book is catered more towards boys since a lot of the jokes and subtle references are rather crude and sexual in nature. Written from the viewpoint of our main character, the world...more
Iskreads
Spud by John Van de Ruit is a hysterical novel. It follows the adventures of John Milton in his boarding school in South Africa during the early 1990’s, He is a very underdeveloped 14-year-old and part of the “crazy eight,” a group of eight wild boys that each have their own special skills. What with family troubles, arguments with girls, late night schemes and crazy dormitory battles, his life is very unique. It is wonderfully written and very very funny.
Any teenage boy with a sense of humour s...more
Kim
Ja well - I couldn't be the ONLY South Africannot to have read this book
So I read it
It's okay - it's easy to read
it tells a story and doesn't claim to do anything else
high literature it is not - but then i don't think it even wants to be

The thing i found oddest was how i reacted to Spud and his life at boarding school. It angered me. It made me sad. I hated it. I have always been a fan or boarding school - i went and loved it. after reading Spud, if i had a son there is no way in hell he'd go t...more
Suzanne
Okay, I really put off reading this wacky boarding school tale of the early 90's in South Africa until I didn't have any choice. It was assigned to me as one of the four of the Peach Nominees for which I had to make Readers Rally questions. It did really grow on me more than I expected, and while many of the boys at the semi-fictional school were just nasty, the book did really have some moral compass to it in the longer run. I think it would be good for male reluctant readers, but I'm not sure...more
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Is this a book for teen boys in the US? 10 64 Mar 28, 2012 08:40am  
Spud (Paperback)
Spud (Paperback)
Spud (Paperback)
Cotoco: O diário (perversamente) engraçado de um garoto de 13 anos
Spud

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John Howard van de Ruit is a South African novelist, actor, playwright and producer. He has been a professional actor, playwright and producer since 1998. He was born in Durban and educated at Michaelhouse, where he stayed in Founders House and from where he matriculated in 1993. He then went on to complete a Masters degree in Drama and Performance at the then University of Natal.

He is best known...more
More about John van de Ruit...
Spud: The Madness Continues Spud: Learning to Fly Spud: Exit, Pursued by a Bear Spud: Journal The Making of Spud the Movie

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