Spud by John Van De Ruit (author)

South Africa, 1990. Apartheid is crumbling, Nelson Mandela has just been released from prison… and thirteen-year-old Spud Milton is about to start his first year at an elite boys-only boarding school. Cursed with embarrassingly weird parents, a nutty granny and a dormitory full of strange characters, Spud has his hands full trying to adapt to his new home. There will be trouble ahead, from illegal night swimming to ghost-busting, girlfriend disasters and teacher baiting… From South African comedian John van de Ruit, Spud’s diary is a fresh, hilarious romp into the world of a boy whose eyes are being opened to love, friendship and complete insanity! Tongue-in-cheek comic writing with a real bite, it’s a savagely funny account of growing up in a country in the process of a great transition.