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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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May 31, 2012 Ankit Agrawal rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: humor, young-adult, series

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 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 level. The hilarious book almost made you cry. And hence I decided it to rate 4 stars.

Talking about the book:
I usually borrow books from the library rather than buying it because I don't have much savings. But since this book was not available in the library I had to buy it. I wouldn't say that I regretted buying this book but at the same time I didn't cherish it either.

NEGATIVES:-
1) The book began with total hilarity but then due to the same jokes and stories being repeated again and again it made me boredom.
2) Very few dialogues were used in the book. I think a few more good memorable dialogues would have made this book even more brilliant, albeit it is already brilliant.

POSITIVES:-
1) Had a mixture of both simple and vulgar jokes. And every jokes and stories were believable. I myself have spent 2 years in hostel life away from home so I can understand what goes around with boys there.
2) The secret to success to some extent of a book are its Characters. All the characters in this book(apart from Pike) were enjoyable no matter how good or bad roles they played. Wombat was the best of them all though. I also pretty much liked some of the other characters like MadDog, Gecko, Spud & The Guv.
3) There is atleast a smile if not laughter throughout the whole book.

Whether I would like to read next part of the series?
A: Yes, I would definitely but I had like to get it from the library rather than buying it. This book is not as bad as not reading the next part of it and at the same time its not as good as saving some money and specially buying it. Every young boy should read it atleast once but you also got to make sure that if you don't have much money to buy books than there are better books than this available in the market.(less)

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Feb 25, 2008 Janet rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: yanovels

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

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Feb 02, 2008 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone looking for something different and those YA readers

Shelves: ya-fiction, fun, southern-africa, coming-of-age, boy-point-of-view, favorites

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

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Feb 10, 2008 Jean rated it 4 of 5 stars

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

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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

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Dec 02, 2008 Anina Ertel rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen

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.

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Jan 01, 2012 Karin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, south-africa, boarding-school, books-for-boys, teenagers, high-school, adventure, realistic, funny, borrowed-from-the-library, friendship, apartheid

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Spud is fourteen and is off to boarding school for the first time in his life. He lives in South Africa in the 1990’s amidst apartheid and Mandela’s release. After meeting the lovely socially conscious Amanda, he decides that he’d like to be a freedom fighter. Most of this is just background to the normal trials and tribulations of a boys’ boarding school. His dormitory mates – called the Crazy Eight by the rest of the campus – are a bunch of not-entirely-sane hooligans. There’s Mad Dog (intent...more

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Feb 25, 2011 Debra rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

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

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Feb 20, 2011 Gavin added it · review of another edition

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 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 John Van de Ruit. This is a must read for all teenage boys becasue it tells the story of Spud’s comical love life, the book’s characters seem real and it is written in the best diary format I have every read.
Spud probably has the most comical love life of all of the boys in the “crazy eight” because there are three girls that he likes or that like him. They are Mermaid, Amanda and Cristine. Gecko offered to help Spud with his girl problems so Spud made a list. “Mermaid… Pros first love, bewitching (when not crackers), beautiful and enchanting (when not crackers), is still technically still my girl friend, I know her mom, my parents like her. …Cons mentally unstable, is in England, prone to depression. …Cristina…. Pros very affectionate, very forward, father has a BMW… Cons probably also crackers, prone to hysteria, huge mood swings, could be a sl•t (this would be a pro if I wasn’t a Spud). Amanda… Pros beautiful, sexy, intelligent, catlike(?) reads books Poetic I can’t take my eyes off her Can’t stop dreaming about her… Cons she is older than me, she is cleverer than me, despite what Gecko says—not sure if she likes me, could also be crackers” (233). This shows what Spud thinks of the girls in his love life. The quote showed that he thinks that all the girls that like him are crackers. Those girls are a sizeable part of this book.
If this book was a movie it would probably be rated PG-13 or R because it is very raunchy. It includes bad language and talk about sex. The author has made the characters seam like 13 and 14 year old boys and girls. In the school play Spud played Oliver. He was embarrassed to play the part of Oliver because Oliver looked like a girl. Looking like a girl is something any boy at this age would be afraid of. What boy wants to stand up on stage and look like a girl in front of his friends?
The way Spud is written helps enhance the storyline. Since every section is dated, the reader knows when and where Spud is in the story. I like the author’s writing style. He uses short sentences which really keep my interest and make it sound like a school boy is writing. “I lay on my bed, trying not to vomit. Even breathing was difficult.” (153). This just made me want to keep reading, to learn more about what happened to Spud and his mates after they had stolen the food from the cafeteria.
This is a must read for all teenage boys because it tells the story of Spud’s comical love life, the book’s characters seem real and it is written in the best diary format I have every read. I can connect to this book because it took place in South Africa when Nelson Mandella was released from prison. During this time there were many riots in South Africa like the riots currently going in Egypt and other countries in the Middle East. Anyone who likes the first Spud, they would definitely like Spud, the Madness Continues.

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Dec 17, 2010 Richard Nixon rated it 4 of 5 stars

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

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Jan 29, 2010 Tammy Dahle rated it 5 of 5 stars

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

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Nov 03, 2009 Sara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: humor, real-thinking, ya-guy-or-girl

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

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Nov 02, 2009 Ron Bajrami rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: grade-8-ir-books

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

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Apr 06, 2009 Amanda B. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: advisorybooks-2008-09

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

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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 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 can't remember exactly where) as the South African Catcher in the Rye. I haven't read Catcher in the Rye though, so I wouldn't know. I definitely saw similarites, although few, between Spud and the Perks. Spud and Charlie share a similar way of thinking and their situations are closely related, in terms of the fact that they are both learning about themselves and the world around them. Unlike the Perks, which is written in letter form, Spud is written as journal entries. Another small similarity is the fact that they are close to their English teachers. They go over the teachers' houses and have meals with them and their wives, and they are given books which they discuss frequently. I would have to say that Spud is a bit more mentally mature, despite the fact that he is a few years younger than Charlie.

Spud is a thirteen year old boy who comes from a dysfunctional family. His grandmother Wombat is senile, and his parents are crazy and will most likely become senile soon. He wins a scholarship to an elite boarding school for boys in South Africa. Once there, he is a bit homesick and overwhelmed by the new environment, which is expected and perfectly normal. Spud eventually gets into his new life at school and he forms a close bond with his seven housemates, nicknamed the Crazy Eight. Playing cricket and being cast as the lead in the school's play, Spud gets to know more of his schoolmates (and girls through the play). A few times Spud goes home, and there he meets "the Mermaid", the daughter of one of his mother's friends. They start dating and Spud is happy as could be. But when the Mermaid, her real name is Debbie, becomes depressed after her parents' divorce and is relocated to England, he isn't sure what to do. Things become more complicated when Spud forms a relationship with Amanda, a girl in his play. Plus there's a flirtatious girl named Christine involved.

I think this book is a series, but I doubt I will read the other ones. Not because I didn't like Spud, but because I feel it does fine as a standalone book. It was a very funny book, perhaps not quite as funny as I thought it would be. Mainly because the reviews I have read describe it as:

The "funniest book of the year." Julia Paterson, The Citizen

"Achingly funny." Michele Magwood, Sunday Times Lifestyle

*I'm getting these from the inside of the book. And I've also seen some reviews online.

I think the reason I didn't find it super funny was because my sense of humor is very different than a lot of people. But who knows, I haven't read many funny books recently so this might be my funniest book of the year. Also because I've been reading a lot of depressing YA, as well as adult books this year. However, I think it is just as funny as some of the middle-grade humor I read recently, like My Haunted House and Edgar & Ellen (the latter of which is a little bit dark, but in a creepy way, whereas Spud has some dark parts in terms of the struggles South Africa is facing and how he and his friends are affected by aprtheid and the release of Nelson Mandela, etc.)

Definitely add this to your collection of coming of age stories. Spud is a break from more serious YA, and it put me in a good mood upon finishing it, which is one thing I was hoping to get out of it. Also, there is a movie so check that out. I haven't seen it but I might, just to compare it to the book.(less)

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Sep 04, 2010 Mari rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jul 29, 2010 Stefanie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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

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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.

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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 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, nicknamed Spud (becos his balls haven't dropped)on the first day of school starts his first year away from home with the Crazy Eight - his seven dorm mates.
This book follows his first year at school - I'm assuming that he's in Std 6 becos he mentions that he finished primary school, so he is very low man on totem pole and I imagine that this is even worse at boarding school. The first years are slaves to the prefects throughout the year and bullying by the higher classmen is the norm. The bullying bugged me a bit at the beginning - probably because it's so un-pc at the moment - but for 1990 it sounds about right. There are also good moments - he makes good friends, his cricket team is unbeaten, he wins the lead role in the schools production of Oliver, he falls in love twice - once with a Mermaid back home and then with his leading lady in the play, he is taken under the wing of one of those teachers that opens up all his horizons. Some of my favourite episodes are of his lunches with the Guv who gives him those horizon broadening books to read and then discusses them with him.

Some things that caught me a bit off guard were a 14 year old student's affair with one of the teachers, some harassment of the younger boys by the older ones (to paraphrase Downton Abbey's Lord Grantham - If I had to scream everytime some boy came onto me, I'd never shut up - yup that's part of the boarding school experience) and a rather heavy and sad episode at the end of the book that I did not see coming. Somehow things like perpetually drunk parents and teachers who offered young students glasses of wine and on a trip to the Cape got the whole student body rip-roaring drunk didn't faze me at all.

I will definitely get the second book bacause I love the authors voice and I want to know what happens next to these characters. Also where else am I going to read words I havent heard in ages like moffie? And hear about ex army dudes that become PT teachers and treat their students like they should be navy seals?

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Feb 16, 2011 Gill rated it 5 of 5 stars

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 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 that he shares with his diary. Many of these journeys are funny, and some even tear jerking. Eventually Spud becomes a big factor in the play, and he has girl problems so he has a lot on his mind at boarding school. I would like to note that I read this book on my iPod so the page numbers will not be accurate. Three reasons why SPUD is such a captivating book is because we all want to know what it would be like to live at a boarding school for a while, people want to know how he handles his girl troubles, and the book is laugh out loud funny.

To begin, the first reason why this book is engrossing, is because we all want to know what it would be like to live at a boarding school. I think at one point or another people think about boarding school and the benefits that it gives us. The thought of leaving your parents for such long periods of time is just too crazy for some people to relate to. Spud says, “I look around at the massive buildings and tall trees, which seem o surround me. I’ve never felt so small in my life.” (50). I really like this quote because it really explains how Spud feels when his parents leave him. No matter how much I hear people say, “I hate my mom and dad!” I know they don’t because when they are on the brick street looking back at their parents abandoning them at boarding school, that’s when the kid is going to love their parents most. I jumped out of bed and called out Mom, before I could stop myself.” (55). This is another example of wanting parents, and just expecting them to be there for you at all times. I think I’m in for a nasty surprise when I go to college.

The second reason why Spud is such a captivating book is because Spud is kind of in a sticky situation with girls so people are interested in how he is going to deal with that situation. “ I had a dream about her last night, Amanda that is,[…] to ease my guilt I decided to call Mermaid.” (870). Spud decides to call his girlfriend to ease his guilt about liking another girl. I find it amusing to know that only Spud would get himself in this position. The situation gets worse throughout the book, when Spud can’t make up his mind. He is now sandwiched between two girls not knowing what to do, and I think this is the perfect romantic touch to a book that is supposed to be funny. “She was gone my Mermaid was gone.” (889). Spud has some trouble when Mermaid becomes depressed, because her parents are getting a divorce. This makes Spud not want to hurt Mermaid’s feelings. The depression shows that Spud isn’t supposed to be all funny and I think there should be some dimension to a book.

Lastly, the third and final reason why Spud is so captivating, is because the book is hilarious. “And dances like a loon on the lawn in front of my bedroom window. Maybe boarding school won’t be so bad after all.” (26). Spud says this when his dad is spraying deadly chemicals with only a mask and underpants on. John van de Ruit does very well making it look like he doesn’t try to make the book funny. He kept me engaged throughout the book because I kept finding funny jokes in just the right places that made be laugh out loud.
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Nov 09, 2012 Sherry Chiger rated it 3 of 5 stars

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

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Aug 28, 2011 Yara Balestrero rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Adorei esse livro. Muito bom.

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Aug 04, 2011 Gilbert Patten-Elliott rated it 5 of 5 stars

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

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Oct 09, 2012 Jessica rated it 2 of 5 stars

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

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Oct 07, 2010 Katie Cooper rated it 4 of 5 stars

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

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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

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Jun 16, 2011 Lord Nouda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

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

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May 23, 2011 Iskreads rated it 4 of 5 stars

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

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Jan 19, 2011 Kim rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, south-african

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

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Jul 12, 2009 Suzanne rated it 3 of 5 stars

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

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Cultural > Africa

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Humor

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Realistic Fiction

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About John van de Ruit

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.

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“Exit, pursued by a bear.” — 9 people liked it

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