Spud - Learning to Fly

John van de Ruit was born in Durban, South Africa and educated at the University of Natal where he completed a Masters degree in Drama and Performance. since 1998 he has been a professional actor, playwright and producer. His first novel, Spud, has become an international award-winning bestseller, and the fastest selling book in South Africa's publishing history.

Spud Milton (practically a man in most areas) is hoping for a smooth ride as he returns to boarding school as a senior. But instead he finds his vindictive arch-enemy is back to taunt him and a garrulous new boy has taken residence in his dorm, along with the regular inmates and misfits he calls friends. Spud's world has never felt more uncertain as he attempts to master Shakespeare, girls, religion and the meaning of life. 
 
Once again, armed only with his wits and his diary, Spud invites us on a hilarious journey deep into the sublime and ridiculous world of being a teenager.

Spud - The Madness Continues

Spud's nearly 15 and although he is no longer the youngest or the smallest in his dorm, his second year at boarding school is beset with women trouble, misguided late-night adventures and excruciating family visits. With his dreams of a stage career in tatters after a disastrous house play production of Noah's Ark, Spud, armed with only his wits and his diary, invites us to delve further into the mind of a boy who discovers that the long path to manhood is never easy... especially when all around him the madness continues...

Spud

Meet thirteen-year-old John 'Spud' Milton as he takes his first hilarious steps towards manhood in this wickedly funny, yet heart-warming debut novel.

Spud is the hilarious debut novel by John van de Ruit 
 
It's 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 dysfunctional parents, a nutty granny and a dormitory full of strange characters, Spud has his hands full trying to adapt to his new home. With only his wits and his diary, he takes readers on a rowdy boarding school romp full of illegal midnight swims, catastrophic cricket matches, ghostbusting escapades, girls and disastrous holidays. 
 
South African comedian John van de Ruit invites the reader into the mind of a young boy whose eyes are being opened to love, friendship and complete insanity! 
 
Some rave reviews from South Africa: 
 
'Funny, fast-paced and wonderfully observant' - The Daily News 
 
'Once you pick it up it's almost as if the pages turn themselves' - Metrobeat 
 
'Achingly funny' - Sunday Times Lifestyle 
 
John van de Ruit was born in Durban, South Africa. He went to the University of Natal where he completed a Masters degree in Drama and Performance. Since 1998 he has been a professional actor, playwright and producer, winning numerous awards. Spud is his first novel.

Funny, fast-paced and wonderfully observant

Once you pick it up it's almost as if the pages turn themselves

John van de Ruit was born in Durban, South Africa. He went to the University of Natal where he completed a Masters degree in Drama and Performance. Since 1998 he has been a professional actor, playwright and producer, winning numerous awards. Spud is his first novel.

It's 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 dysfunctional parents, a nutty granny and a dormitory full of strange characters, Spud has his hands full trying to adapt to his new home. With only his wits and his diary, he takes readers on a rowdy boarding school romp full of illegal midnight swims, catastrophic cricket matches, ghostbusting escapades, girls and disastrous holidays. 
 
South African comedian John van de Ruit invites the reader into the mind of a young boy whose eyes are being opened to love, friendship and complete insanity!

John van de Ruit

One of those books which could easily be dismissed as nothing more than an adolescent read at first glance, but once you pick it up it's almost as if the pages turn themselves. All in all, a wonderful book.

'Dare I say it... for the first time in my life I feel like I'm on a bit of a roll.' 
 
Spud Milton is in his final year at boarding school. Now a prefect and on the cusp of adulthood, he thinks this may be his best year yet. But soon his life is as chaotic as ever as he wages a battle for his room, directs a play in which the actors refuse to learn their lines and (most terrifyingly of all) attempts to find a date for the matric dance. 
 
For the last time, armed once again with his wits and his diary, Spud invites us to share the agonies, the victories and the sheer absurdities of growing up.

Spud: Exit, Pursued by a Bear

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Praise for Spud: Exit, Pursued by a Bear

One of those books which could easily be dismissed as nothing more than an adolescent read at first glance, but once you pick it up it's almost as if the pages turn themselves. All in all, a wonderful book.

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