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theaceofpages 's review for:
Spud
by John van de Ruit
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Set at the fall of Apartheid in South Africa, John Milton aka Spud has managed to get a scholarship to an elite boys boarding school. From dodging second year bullies to dealing with a mad cubicle mate, an underpants thief, starring in a performance of Oliver Twist to investigating a suicide of a past teacher, he's off to a busy school year. And that's without bringing his family into the equation.
I first read this book many years back and revisiting it was a interesting experience. While he explores boys' school camaraderie, van de Ruit doesn't shy away from the darker parts of the experience. Older me is definitely more critical of some of the things that the Crazy Eight and the other boys at the school got up to and feel like I found fewer of the events humorous than I did last time. I'll see if I'll continue with the series or not. I think I might have outgrown the original books to some degree but I believe a reunion book was recently published and I am kind of interested to see what the characters think of their time at school as adults.
Some notes on some of the content warnings:
Body shaming:About puberty
Alcohol:Includes underage drinking
Suicide:Happened in the past. Largely speculation
I first read this book many years back and revisiting it was a interesting experience. While he explores boys' school camaraderie, van de Ruit doesn't shy away from the darker parts of the experience. Older me is definitely more critical of some of the things that the Crazy Eight and the other boys at the school got up to and feel like I found fewer of the events humorous than I did last time. I'll see if I'll continue with the series or not. I think I might have outgrown the original books to some degree but I believe a reunion book was recently published and I am kind of interested to see what the characters think of their time at school as adults.
Some notes on some of the content warnings:
Body shaming:
Alcohol:
Suicide:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Mental illness, Racism, Sexism, Dementia, Grief
Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail