In 2007 Penguin Books decided to do the unthinkable (well, in a South African context anyway) and produce an audiobook version of Spud, the bestselling novel that has broken every South African sales record imaginable, and made its author JOHN VAN DE RUIT a household name. A studio was booked, renowned theatre director Alan Swerdlow was brought in to produce and direct, and John was dragged out of bed and forced (while still wearing his pyjamas) to read his novel from start to finish. The end product is fantastic, hilarious and, dare we say it, better than the original book. We think it’s the perfect gift for any Spud fan. For the first time, listen to the entire text of Spud, read by the author, and relive Spud Milton’s first event-filled year at an elite boarding school.

If anyone's capable of portraying hell, it's John Milton. In this case, hell is an elite, all-boys boarding school in Durban, South Africa, in 1990, and Milton is 13-year-old John Spud Milton, his nickname referring to the diminutive private parts of this preadolescent boy, an indicator of the level of humor and behavior (and privacy) at the school. Spud is a good guy, a companionable narrator whose journal captures his first year - classmates Mad Dog, Rambo, Gecko and Fatty, and teachers Sparerib, Viking and The Guv. Spud is a good observer and, unfortunately, his portrayal of boarding-school life rings true. A parallel story line - Nelson Mandela's release from prison - lends depth to Spud's tale as he begins to develop a social conscience. Some readers may tire of 300-plus pages of random acts of meanness and the parade of quirky characters, but those humored by it will be eager for the forthcoming sequel. A bestseller in South Africa, it's likely to be a hit with American readers as well. (Fiction. 12+) (Kirkus Reviews)