Spud, by John van de Ruit
About Spud
Right from the start, Spud is a completely hilarious novel. Set in 1990s South Africa, John "Spud" Milton wins a scholarship to a prestigious all-boys boarding school. Luckily for us, he begins keeping a diary and so begins recording his insane adventures as a teenage boy.
Spud does not shy away from any topics of school life, and we're definitely taken through the thought process of a 13 year old boy. Expect some 'objectionable content'-- we'll just say Spud receives his nickname for a reason. The book definitely isn't totally politically correct (Spud's overweight friend is nicknamed "Fatty") but it's a hilarious insight into the day-to-day dealings of a teenage boy.
Many of Spud's adventures seem like typical boarding-school-story fare-- illegal night swimming, girls, elaborate pranks, the hierarchy of prefects vs. first-years, girls, crazy roommates, girls, crazy teachers, and embarrassing parents-- however, van de Ruit provides a serious background against the hilarity of boarding school life. Apartheid is losing ground and Mandela is being released from prison, and the diverse cast of students and teachers in the school react in surprising and varied ways. (Hint: you will need a box of tissues as you read!)
Spud does not shy away from any topics of school life, and we're definitely taken through the thought process of a 13 year old boy. Expect some 'objectionable content'-- we'll just say Spud receives his nickname for a reason. The book definitely isn't totally politically correct (Spud's overweight friend is nicknamed "Fatty") but it's a hilarious insight into the day-to-day dealings of a teenage boy.
Many of Spud's adventures seem like typical boarding-school-story fare-- illegal night swimming, girls, elaborate pranks, the hierarchy of prefects vs. first-years, girls, crazy roommates, girls, crazy teachers, and embarrassing parents-- however, van de Ruit provides a serious background against the hilarity of boarding school life. Apartheid is losing ground and Mandela is being released from prison, and the diverse cast of students and teachers in the school react in surprising and varied ways. (Hint: you will need a box of tissues as you read!)
How could I teach Spud?
Some themes encompassed in Spud include:
Friendship and belonging
The "In-group" vs the outsider/the other
Loss and Adolescence
Coming of Age
Discrimination and ignorance
Friendship and belonging
The "In-group" vs the outsider/the other
Loss and Adolescence
Coming of Age
Discrimination and ignorance
What resources could I use to teach Spud?
To give context to the time period surrounding the events of Spud, it would definitely be necessary to spend time building background knowledge about South Africa and apartheid.
If students enjoy the boarding school setting, other novels with similar settings include:
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks
Looking for Alaska
Anna and the French Kiss
The Name of the Star
Prep
Spud also spawned a recent film starring Troye Sivan and John Cleese.
The Verdict
I would absolutely feature this book in my classroom library for grades 10 and up. I might also think about featuring it in literature circle discussions.