Thursday, April 30, 2009

What Mrs N's Been Reading - Spud


Just finished John Van De Ruit's Spud, the story of 13-year-old John Milton (nicknamed Spud) who is attending a boarding school in South Africa in 1990, just as apartheid is ending. It follows Spud through his first year at the school via his journal entries about his dormmates, his girl troubles, his alcoholic, nutso parents, and his starring role in the school musical production of Oliver. I usually enjoy what would traditionally be considered "guy books" - mystery, sci-fi, thriller, adventure, etc. It was billed as hilarious in reviews, but I think you really need to actually be a guy to fully appreciate the humor in this one. Not a favorite, but then I'm the wrong gender, so go figure. Some mature content, but none of it graphic, so I'd say it's ok for older middle schoolers as well as high school students.

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