Spud

Spud gets a scholarship to a smart boys’ school where he soon joins in with a mad bunch of boys – the Crazy Eight.

He reveals all in his diary - the midnight swims, drunken teachers, the books he reads, bullying and pursuing the school ghost. He writes about his mad parents too, his first relationships with girls and his confusion about almost everything.

Although set in South Africa as apartheid is coming to an end, this book is very accessible to English readers.

Spud is a charming character. His story is funny and heartwarming, including the base humour of farting competitions but also the sadness at the loss of a loved teacher and good friend.