Books like 'Spud'
Readers who enjoyed Spud by John van de Ruit also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary comedy action / adventure humor coming-of-age boarding-school realistic historical-fiction friendship high-school
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Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 33 ratingsAn utterly wonderful debut novel of love, crime, magic, fate and a boy’s coming of age, set in 1980s Australia and infused with the originality, charm, pathos, and heart of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.The mind can take you anywhere you want to goEli Bell’s life is complicated...Categorized as:
bildungsroman coming-of-age drama friendship historical-fiction humor realistic 21st-century -
The Unteachables by Gordon Korman, Sarah Beth Goer
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsA hilarious new middle grade novel from beloved and bestselling author Gordan Korman about what happens when the worst class of kids in school is paired with the worst teacher—perfect for fans of Ms. Bixby’s Last Day.The Unteachables are a notorious class of misfits, delinquents, and academic train wrecks...Categorized as:
bullying coming-of-age friendship high-school humor realistic action-adventure audiobook -
Astrid the Unstoppable by Maria Parr, Guy Puzey
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsPippi Longstocking meets Heidi meets Anne Shirley in this tale of an irrepressible girl in a mountain village who navigates unexpected changes with warmth and humor.Speed and self-confidence, that’s Astrid’s motto... -
Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 57 ratingsWhen Cammie "The Chameleon" Morgan visits her roommate Macey in Boston, she thinks she's in for an exciting end to her summer break. After all, she's there to watch Macey's father accept the nomination for vice president of the United States. But when you go to the world's best school (for spies), "exciting" and "deadly" are never far apart... -
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Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 66 ratingsCammie Morgan is back, and it's clear that her life hasn't calmed down since the events of I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You. At first, giddy anticipation is in the air. Gallagher Academy, Cammie's elite spy school, is hosting a visit from a covert training center for boys... -
Heartbreak Boys by Simon James Green
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFaking the best summer ever is a lot harder than it looks...At the start of summer, Jack and Nate find themselves dumped as their respective exes, Dylan and Tariq, start up a new relationship together. Not only that, their exes start posting pics on social media, showing the whole world how fabulous their new life together is!Jack and Nate are reeling... -
Mr Stink by David Walliams
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 35 ratingsMr Stink stank. He also stunk. And if it was correct English to say he stinked, then he stinked as well…” Chloe sees Mr Stink every day, but she’s never spoken to him. Which isn’t surprising, because he’s a tramp, and he stinks. But there’s more to Mr Stink than meets the eye (or nose) and before she knows it, Chloe has an unusual new friend hiding in her garden shed... -
Picture Perfect by Holly Smale
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratings"My name is Harriet Manners, and I'll always be a geek." It's the hilarious third book in the No.1 bestselling, award winning GEEK GIRL series! Harriet Manners knows more facts that most. She knows that New York is the most populous city in the United States. She knows that its official motto is "Ever Upward". She knows that 28% of Americans believe we never landed on the moon... -
Chester's Way by Kevin Henkes
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 30 ratings“I like croquet and peanut butter and making my bed.”There is only one way for Chester to do things—his own way. “You definitely have a mind of your own,” said Chester’s mother. “That’s one way to put it,” said Chester’s father.Luckily Chester’s best friend, Wilson, likes doing things just the same way as Chester. When they cut their sandwiches, it's always diagonally...Categorized as:
bullying friendship humor male-mc realistic action-adventure animals anthropomorphism -
Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars · 43 ratingsIt was Sloane who yanked Emily out of her shell and made life 100% interesting. But right before what should have been the most epic summer, Sloane just…disappears. All she leaves behind is a to-do list.On it, thirteen Sloane-inspired tasks that Emily would normally never try. But what if they could bring her best friend back?Apple picking at night? Okay, easy enough.Dance until dawn? Sure... -
Five, Six, Seven, Nate! by Tim Federle
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThe sequel to Better Nate Than Ever —a New York Times Book Review Notable Book of 2013, Publishers Weekly Flying Start and Best Book of 2013, and Amazon Best Book of 2013 ★ “This is an encore performance that will leave them standing in the aisles.” —Kirkus (starred review) ★ “[W]ill appeal to every budding theater geek... -
Notes from the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsFrom hot new talent Jordan Sonnenblick, a "Tuesdays with Morrie" for teens. Coincides with the publication of his new hardcover novel.16-year-old Alex decides to get even. His parents are separated, his father is dating his former third-grade teacher, and being 16 isn't easy, especially when it comes to girls... -
Edensor by Andrea Hirata
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsI wanted to climb to the summit of challenges, attack my way through hardships as solid as granite, tempt all sorts of peril, and break through mysteries with science. I longed to inhale all sorts of experience and then explore the labyrinthine ins and outs of life that in the end cannot be guessed... -
Ninth Grade Slays by Heather Brewer, Z Brewer
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 40 ratingsHigh school totally bites when you’re half human, half vampire. Freshman year sucks for Vlad Tod. Bullies still harass him. The photographer from the school newspaper is tailing him. And failing his studies could be deadly... -
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The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThe humor of Diary of a Wimpy Kid meets a Godfather-like tale of crime and betrayal in this first book in Chris Rylander's The Fourth Stall Saga.Do you need something? Mac can get it for you. He and his best friend and business manager, Vince... -
The Book of Polly by Kathy Hepinstall
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 18 ratings"Delightful. . . funny and poignant." --People With a kick like the best hot sauce, this is the laugh-out-loud story of a girl determined to keep up with her aging, crazy-as-a-fox mother"If you ever pined for a mother who would take a hunting falcon as her wingman to a parent-teacher conference, Polly is the gal for you. Delicious...Categorized as:
bildungsroman coming-of-age drama friendship historical-fiction humor realistic action-adventure -
Curveball: The Year I Lost My Grip by Jordan Sonnenblick
Rated: 4.05 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsSometimes, the greatest comebacks take place far away from the ball field.Meet Peter Friedman, high school freshman. Talented photographer. Former baseball star. When a freakish injury ends his pitching career, Peter has some major things to figure out... -
Winger by Andrew Smith
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsRyan Dean West is a fourteen-year-old junior at a boarding school for rich kids. He’s living in Opportunity Hall, the dorm for troublemakers, and rooming with the biggest bully on the rugby team. And he’s madly in love with his best friend Annie, who thinks of him as a little boy...Categorized as:
bildungsroman boarding-school bullying coming-of-age drama friendship high-school humor -
Ungifted by Gordon Korman
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsThe word gifted has never been applied to a kid like Donovan Curtis. It's usually more like Don't try this at home. So when the troublemaker pulls a major prank at his middle school, he thinks he's finally gone too far... -
There's A Boy In The Girl's Bathroom by Louis Sachar
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsWith the new school counselor's help, Bradley begins to see himself as less of a monster and more of an individual capable of believing in himself... -
Youth in Revolt: The Journals of Nick Twisp, Book One by C.D. Payne
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsSix months in the life of the world's most dangerous teenager.Youth in Revolt is the journals of Nick Twisp, California's most precocious diarist, whose ongoing struggles to make sense out of high school, deal with his divorced parents, and lose his virginity result in his transformation from an unassuming fourteen-year-old to a modern youth in open revolt...Categorized as:
bildungsroman coming-of-age high-school humor male-mc realistic 20th-century action-adventure -
Spud: Learning to Fly by John van de Ruit
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsAs Spud Milton continues his diabolical stagger through adolescence, he learns one of life's most important lessons: when dealing with women and cretins, nothing is ever quite as it seems. In this third instalment, Spud, now 16 and growing up, takes on one of Shakespeare's most popular comedies, 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'...Categorized as:
boarding-school coming-of-age drama exploration historical-fiction humor action-adventure book -
Four for the Road by K.J. Reilly
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe Perks of Being a Wallflower meets The End of the F***ing World in this dark young adult comedy about four unlikely friends dealing with the messy side of grief who embark on a road trip to Graceland.Asher Hunting wants revenge.Specifically, he wants revenge on the drunk driver who killed his mom and got off on a technicality... -
How to Ruin a Summer Vacation by Simone Elkeles
Rated: 3.96 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsMoshav? What’s a moshav? Is it “shopping mall” in Hebrew? I mean, from what Jessica was telling me, Israeli stores have the latest fashions from Europe. That black dress Jessica has is really awesome. I know I’d be selling out if I go with the Sperm Donor to a mall, but I keep thinking about all the great stuff I could bring back home... -
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Holes by Louis Sachar
Rated: 3.97 of 5 stars · 92 ratings(Librarian's Note: Alternate Cover Edition for ISBN 9780440414803)Stanley Yelnats is under a curse. A curse that began with his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather and has since followed generations of Yelnatses...Categorized as:
coming-of-age drama friendship high-school historical-fiction humor male-mc realistic -
My Double Life by Janette Rallison
Rated: 3.94 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsHer whole life, Alexia Garcia has been told that she looks just like pop star Kari Kingsley, and one day when Alexia's photo filters through the Internet, she's offered a job to be Kari's double. This would seem like the opportunity of a lifetime, but Alexia's mother has always warned her against celebrities. Rebelliously, Alexia flies off to L.A. and gets immersed in a celebrity life... -
Piglettes by Clémentine Beauvais
Rated: 3.94 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsAwarded the Gold, Silver and Bronze trotters after a vote by their classmates on Facebook, Mireille, Astrid and Hakima are officially the three ugliest girls in their school, but does that mean they're going to sit around crying about it?Well.. -
Don't Get Caught by Kurt Dinan
Rated: 3.93 of 5 stars · 14 ratings10:00 tonight at the water tower. Tell no one. -Chaos ClubWhen Max receives a mysterious invite from the untraceable, epic prank-pulling Chaos Club, he has to ask: why him? After all, he's Mr. 2.5 GPA, Mr. No Social Life. He's Just Max. And his favorite heist movies have taught him this situation calls for Rule #4: Be suspicious. But it's also his one shot to leave Just Max in the dust..Categorized as:
bullying coming-of-age friendship high-school humor male-mc realistic action-adventure -
Nothing's Fair in Fifth Grade by Barthe DeClements
Rated: 3.92 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsJenny knows one thing for sure - Elsie Edwards is a fat thief who steals people's lunch money to buy candy. So when the book club money disappears, why is the whole class punished? Nothing's fair!But soon Jenny realizes some things aren't fair for Elsie, either. Elsie is on a strict diet, but when she starts losing weight, her mother won't buy her new clothes...Categorized as:
bullying coming-of-age friendship historical-fiction humor realistic 20th-century action-adventure -
Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle
Rated: 3.89 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsNate Foster has big dreams. His whole life, he’s wanted to star in a Broadway show. (Heck, he'd settle for *seeing* a Broadway show.) But how is Nate supposed to make his dreams come true when he’s stuck in Jankburg, Pennsylvania, where no one (except his best pal Libby) appreciates a good show tune? With Libby’s help, Nate plans a daring overnight escape to New York... -
Swim the Fly by Don Calame
Rated: 3.88 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThree adolescent boys with a single goal: see a reallive naked girl. The result? Razor-sharp, rapid-fi re, and raunchy, of course. And beyond hilarious. Fifteen-year-old Matt Gratton and his two best friends, Coop and Sean, always set themselves a summertime goal... -
Flush by Carl Hiaasen
Rated: 3.88 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsTake a romp in the swamp with this New York Times bestselling mystery adventure set in the Florida Keys from Newbery Honoree Carl Hiaasen!Noah's dad is sure that the owner of the Coral Queen casino boat is flushing raw sewage into the harbor--which has made taking a dip at the local beach like swimming in a toilet... -
Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley
Rated: 3.88 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsLucy is in love with Shadow, a mysterious graffiti artist.Ed thought he was in love with Lucy, until she broke his nose.Dylan loves Daisy, but throwing eggs at her probably wasn't the best way to show it.Jazz and Leo are slowly encircling each other... -
5 cm by Donny Dhirgantoro
Rated: 3.88 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsBestseller book di Gramedia Bookstore selama 2 tahun berturut-turut! Lima sahabat telah menjalin persahabatan selama tujuh tahun. Mereka adalah Arial yang paling tampan, Riani sebagai satu-satunya wanita dalam kelompok itu, Zafran yang berlagak seperti seorang penyair, Ian yang paling subur badannya, dan Genta yang dianggap sebagai leader dalam kelompok itu... -
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Satria November by Mia Arsjad
Rated: 3.80 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsCuma mo pengakuan aja.Sebenernya tiket itu gue beli buat gue nonton berdua sama lo.Tapi dipikir-pikir, kayaknya lo bakalan lebih seneng kalo nontonnya sama Gian.Sebagai cowok yang berjiwa besar, bertanggung jawab, dan heroikkayak gue, ya gue ikhlasin deh.Kalo habis ini Gian masih maju-mundur gak nembak-nembak, bilang sama gue.Biar gue aja yang nembak lo. Soalnya.. -
Schooled by Gordon Korman
Rated: 3.86 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsHomeschooled by his hippie grandmother, Capricorn (Cap) Anderson has never watched television, tasted a pizza, or even heard of a wedgie. But when his grandmother lands in the hospital, Cap is forced to move in with a school counselor and attend the local middle school. While Cap knows a lot about tie-dyeing and Zen Buddhism, no education could prepare him for the politics of public school... -
I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter
Rated: 3.89 of 5 stars · 47 ratingsThe Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women is a fairly typical all-girls school, that is, if every school taught advanced martial arts in PE, the latest in chemical warfare in science; and students received extra credit for breaking CIA codes computer class. So in truth, Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniuses, but its really a school for spies... -
Mosquitoland by David Arnold
Rated: 3.86 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsI am a collection of oddities, a circus of neurons and electrons: my heart is the ringmaster, my soul is the trapeze artist, and the world is my audience. It sounds strange because it is, and it is, because I am strange... -
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz
Rated: 3.89 of 5 stars · 70 ratingsThings have never been easy for Oscar, a sweet but disastrously overweight, lovesick Dominican ghetto nerd. From his home in New Jersey, where he lives with his old-world mother and rebellious sister, Oscar dreams of becoming the Dominican J. R. R. Tolkien and, most of all, of finding love...Categorized as:
bildungsroman coming-of-age drama high-school historical-fiction humor journey realistic -
When We Were Vikings by Andrew David MacDonald
Rated: 3.84 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsFor Zelda, a twenty-one-year-old Viking enthusiast who lives with her older brother, Gert, life is best lived with some basic rules:1. A smile means “thank you for doing something small that I liked." 2. Fist bumps and dabs = respect. 3. Strange people are not appreciated in her home. 4. Tomatoes must go in the middle of the sandwich and not get the bread wet. 5...Categorized as:
bildungsroman bullying coming-of-age drama friendship historical-fiction humor realistic -
Mates, Dates, and Tempting Trouble by Cathy Hopkins
Rated: 3.79 of 5 stars · 14 ratings""I wonder what would have happened if I'd met you before Nesta," said Luke as he took my hand and looked deeply into my eyes. A bolt of electricity shot through me and I snatched my hand back as if it had been burnt. This can't be happening, I thought."When Luke, the boy that Nesta has been dating, declares passionate love for T.J., she doesn't know what has hit her... -
15 Days Without a Head by Dave Cousins
Rated: 3.75 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA compelling US debut about family, forgiveness, and hopeDespite having a depressed alcoholic mother and a little brother who's convinced he's a dog, fifteen year-old Laurence Roach is trying to live a normal life. But when his mom doesn't come home after work one night, Laurence is terrified that child services will find out she's gone and separate him from his brother... -
Young and Revolting: The Continental Journals of Nick Twisp by C.D. Payne
Rated: 3.70 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe revolt (and laughs) continue in Book 5 as Nick and Sheeni duck the FBI and assorted angry parents by escaping to Paris. Try as he might to lie low, blend in, and even learn a little French, Nick soon finds himself the elusive target of a storm of European media attention. Oui, America’s most dangerous teenager may be too outrageous for the French... -
Denton Little's Deathdate by Lance Rubin
Rated: 3.78 of 5 stars · 18 ratings**WINNER of the ILA Young Adult Book Award!**Get ready to die laughing: this is an outrageously funny ride through the last hours of a teenager’s life as he searches for love, meaning, answers, and (just maybe) a way to live on. Denton Little’s Deathdate takes place in a world exactly like our own except that everyone knows the day on which they will die... -
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Ms Ice Sandwich by Mieko Kawakami
Rated: 3.78 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsA young boy returns obsessively to a supermarket sandwich counter, entranced by the beauty of the woman who works there. Her aloof demeanour and electric blue eyelids make him feel the most intense joy he’s ever known. He calls her Ms Ice Sandwich, and he wants nothing more than to spend his days watching her coolly slip sandwiches into bags...Categorized as:
bildungsroman coming-of-age friendship humor journey realistic 21st-century action-adventure -
Fishbowl by Bradley Somer
Rated: 3.78 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsAt turns funny and heartbreaking, a goldfish named Ian escapes from his bowl and, plummeting toward the street below, witnesses the lives of the Seville on Roxy residents.A goldfish named Ian is falling from the 27th-floor balcony on which his fishbowl sits. He's longed for adventure, so when the opportunity arises, he escapes from his bowl, clears the balcony railing and finds himself airborne... -
Small Steps by Louis Sachar
Rated: 3.80 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsTwo years after being released from Camp Green Lake, Armpit is home in Austin, Texas, trying to turn his life around. But it’s hard when you have a record, and everyone expects the worst from you. The only person who believes in him is Ginny, his 10-year old disabled neighbor. Together, they are learning to take small steps... -
The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
Rated: 3.83 of 5 stars · 45 ratingsMia Thermopolis is pretty sure there's nothing worse than being a five-foot-nine, flat-chested freshman, who also happens to be flunking Algebra.Is she ever in for a surprise.First mom announces that she's dating Mia's Algebra teacher. Then Dad has to go and reveal that he is the crown prince of Genovia... -
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Rated: 3.81 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsFrankie Landau-Banks at age 14: Debate Club. Her father's "bunny rabbit." A mildly geeky girl attending a highly competitive boarding school. Frankie Landau-Banks at age 15: A knockout figure. A sharp tongue. A chip on her shoulder. And a gorgeous new senior boyfriend: the supremely goofy, word-obsessed Matthew Livingston...Categorized as:
bildungsroman boarding-school coming-of-age drama friendship high-school humor realistic -
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
Rated: 3.84 of 5 stars · 67 ratingsUnfortunately, Roy's first acquaintance in Florida is Dana Matherson, a well-known bully. Then again, if Dana hadn't been sinking his thumbs into Roy's temples and mashing his face against the school-bus window, Roy might never have spotted the running boy. And the running boy is intriguing: he was running away from the school bus, carried no books, and-here's the odd part-wore no shoes...
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