![]() Highly relatable for many South Africans (presumably the target audience) and again, seen through the lens of the changes hitting South Africa, the book remains relevant. To be fair, some of the humor borders on puerile and locker room type banter and in that sense, one needs to read this as a title set in 1990 and at a prestigious all boys school. ![]() It all makes for great humor, particularly for fathers and sons as readers. He is a scholarship student, which allows for commentary of the system at the time. Spud is a scrappy, fun kid with wacky parents. As such, the book is a metaphor for South Africa. Nelson Mandela had just been released and the country was in a period of uncomfortable growth (note that South Africa experienced a mini civil war at this time which is largely absent from the history we are taught). At the same time, this is a historical novel as 1990 South Africa was a place emerging from Apartheid to Independence. The book is a bildungsroman of sorts as Spud offers hilarious stories of growing up. ![]() Written in diary style, the story follows John “Spud” Milton and his adventures at a private school in 1990 South Africa. Spud is perhaps the most successful South African Young Adult title. ![]() Review by: John Kurtenbach Spud by John van de Ruit ![]()
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