If you loved
Books like Spud
A laugh-out-loud, diary-format romp through the awkward, hormone-fueled chaos of a 1990s boys' boarding school. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with Spud.
- boisterous
- nostalgic
- awkward
- energetic
- 01
Waiting for the Rain
Sheila Gordon
A heartbreaking exploration of a childhood bond slowly fractured by the inescapable weight of systemic division.
- 02
The smell of apples
Mark Behr · 1995
A devastatingly quiet coming-of-age story where a child's naive observations slowly reveal the monstrous rot at the heart of his family and country.
- 03
The Legend of Spud Murphy
Eoin Colfer
A hilarious, fast-paced romp through the terrifying terrain of the local library and the unexpected joy of a good book.
- 04
The power of one
Bryce Courtenay
A sweeping, mythic coming-of-age epic that balances brutal hardship with the soaring triumph of the human spirit.
- 05
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4
Sue Townsend
A masterclass in deadpan cringe comedy that perfectly captures the agonizing, self-important delusion of being thirteen.
- 06
Winger
Andrew Smith
A hilarious, hormone-drenched boarding school romp that unexpectedly shatters your heart into a million pieces.
- 07
Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging
Louise Rennison
A laugh-out-loud, gloriously unhinged plunge into the chaotic mind of a teenage girl navigating the horrors of puberty and crushes.
- 08
Riotous Assembly
Tom Sharpe
A pitch-black, escalating farce that ruthlessly skewers institutional incompetence and the absurdities of systemic prejudice.
- 09
Born a Crime
Trevor Noah
A masterclass in using humor as a survival tool, anchored by an unforgettable tribute to a fierce, rebellious mother.
- 10
The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole
Sue Townsend
A masterclass in second-hand embarrassment that perfectly captures the agonizing, self-important delusion of being a teenager.
- 11
Knocked Out by My Nunga-Nungas
Louise Rennison
A laugh-out-loud, slang-filled plunge into the chaotic, deeply embarrassing, and utterly hilarious mind of a dramatic teenager.
- 12
Bad Dad
David Walliams
A high-octane, laugh-out-loud heist caper anchored by the unbreakable bond between a boy and his dad.
