Still writing in his diary, the Spud of this year will chronicle his mother's plans to emigrate, The Wombat continuing to lose her mind, and his father's moonshine business his first breakup, first ball hair, and first trip to England the Crazy Eight's torture attempts at the Normal Seven (the new batch of first years) his actor career hitting a snag when he's cast as the Dove of Peace in a disastrous school play and all the usual adventures of midnight swimming, cricket matches, brews, books, and broads, with just a hint more seriousness this year than last.

Despite his optimism (and the eventual voice-cracking, ball-dropping accomplishment), Spud soon finds that with both enemies and allies still at school, this year will not be any smoother. Spud is going to turn 15 during this year, is no longer in his first trembling year at the school, and has high hopes for both ball dropping and hair appearing in that same region. In Spud: The Madness Continues, the madness of the Crazy Seven (Seven due to a loss of one boy in Spud then Eight, when a new boy comes then Seven, when the new boy leaves then Eight, when they induct Roger the Cat as an official member then Six, when two of the boys get expelled then Seven, when one of the boys gets back) really does continue. Two thumbs up for the good reader, with loads of 'guy' humor that a woman will still laugh at. The book is epistolary, which would usually not be a problem, but because the seasons are reversed in the Southern hemisphere and Spud goes to a private school, you may find yourself confused by the scheduling of the missives. If you don't read well, the setting (South Africa during the end of Apartheid) may be a problem, as may the style. The plot is much steadier than in the first book, and leaves plenty of fodder for a third book (get on with it, Mr. Somehow, even the 'bonkers' characters are well-rounded, managing to be both tragic and hilarious at the same time. The casual violence (we went to breakfast, threw a first-year in the fountain, then went to rugby practice), the borderline alcoholism, the general shiftiness of all characters involved, and the deep and abiding love they have for each other is not only worth reading, it's a study in humanity. You're going to need to pause frequently so you can ease the diaphragmatic cramps from laughing.

Spud by john van de ruit