Spud

TITLE: Spud

AUTHOR: John van de Ruit

OVER-ALL RATING: 4.0/5.0

Everything is extra-ordinary around Milton (nick-named Spud.) After all, he is the grandson of the whacked out Wombat. His dysfunctional parents send him off to an all boys boarding school in South Africa, trying so hard to adapt. Everyone gets nicknames. He becomes Spud. (You will have to read this to find out why!) The boarding house in which he lives, is called the Crazy Eight.

This particular group of boys, including Spud, Gecko, Simon, Boggo, Mad-Dog, Fatty, Vern, Simon, and Rambo begin to do the craziest of things (refer back to nickname of their house!). Swimming at the lake, regardless of what the rules are for the school, lying about what they were doing when coming back from the lake, and more.

1) Thou shalt not disobey those in authority.

2) Though shalt not behave in a depraved fashion

3) Though shalt no tease my cat.

4) Though shalt not waste toilet paper

5) Though shalt not play with yourself( or others) after lights out.

6) Though shalt not go night swimming.

7) Though shalt not play darts (a bit strange considering lack of a dartboard)

So there you have it. Rules, rules, rules. Vern is Spuds cubicle mate, who is known as the bed wetter, and is a little sphycotic. Fatty, the one who wants to set the record for the longest fart (gross!), and Gecko, the one who comes down with the strangest diseases and illnesses. Spud is just a spud, none-the-less. Until, play auditions. Having the voice of an angle, he enrolls in the play Oliver. Amanda, one of the girls from another boarding school, who comes to audition as well, begins to make Spud dream about her and a hamburger she begs him to eat. Not knowing what the hamburger means, Spud takes it as a sign. But he is already dating The Mermaid, a girl back in his South African Community. He is torn between girls. So, his friend Gecko, guides him through the rules of girl dating. (which is weird, since he doesn't have a girlfriend).

In the meantime, caught between the play, girls, Wombat's crazy stories, dad's non-stop talk about how black Africans are going to take over the whites, Cricket competitions, and a mysterious under-wear thief, who has yet to be caught, Spud decides to make a name for himself. But what will it take?

MY THOUGHTS:

I have to be honest. The beginning was super slow and boring. I had no idea where the story was headed. All the names confused me, because there were so many that were important to the story. But, as I got further into this book, it dawned on me. There was no meaning to it! It was beginning to catch up. The plot became hilarious, and worth-while in the middle. I felt as if I were part of the Crazy Eight. The story became deeper, as Spud was caught between 3 girls. Only being 13/14, the relationships are becoming serious for his age, as well as the others. I do have one question though. Are kids/teens allowed to drink wine, and alcohol without getting busted for it in South Africa? The only reason I ask just a random question, is because there was quite a bit of it going on.

The ending is totally unexpected. Though I will not reveal it all, I will tell you one thing. Some one dies!!!! Yes! Through all the humor, love, rule-breaking, mean birthday presents, and book discussions, there is death involved!!!! Which, was super sad, I must say.

Overall, I do recommend this book. But I am warning you...SLOW BEGINNING! Parts made me laugh UN-controllable, so if your in the mood for a few laughs, this is a book for you! Oh, and there is some *adult content* involved. Not as bad, but they do mention a few in-appropriate things.

TAGS: alcohol, funny, humor, africa, boarding school, school, laugh, big, death, life, books, reading, list