Spurt

by Chris Miles

From this hilarious debut novelist comes Spurt, a YA novel for teenage boys about faking it till you make it - and what it means to be a man.Jack Sprigley isnOCOt just a late-bloomer. HeOCOs a no-bloomer. HeOCOs about to start the last term of year nine and puberty is still a total no-show.Worse yet, he hasnOCOt heard from his friends all holidays. He assumes theyOCOve finally dumped him and his child-like body - except then he finds out that itOCOs much worse than that. His friends are now so far ahead of him that theyOCOve started hooking up and getting girlfriends. Jack is screwed. But then he comes up with a plan to catch up and win his friends back. And his plan is perfect: he just has to fake puberty."

Genres: Young Adult, Humor, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Coming Of Age, Friendship

277 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 20, 2014

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**Spurt is a young adult humorous contemporary by Chris Miles. It features a guy named Jack who has not yet gone through puberty and he decides to fake it to fit in with his friends. Stop. Stop right there, I didn't need to read any further. Christ Miles already had me. Spurt is a hilarious book. It is a book I think will appeal to all readers of all ages and genders. I really can't say enough good things about this book, other than it was a blast.

All of Jack's friends have either gone through or are currently going through puberty and he feels left in the dust...so he comes up with a genius idea...he can just fake puberty. I still crack up every time I think about this, because puberty is no fun for anyone, so I can't imagine faking it is any more fun. But either way, Spurt was a hilarious ride through Jack's various antics with his friends. The humor is spurt is at times outlandish, but always a lot of fun. Jack, though misguided sometimes is a great guy. I really liked him. You can't help but like him and root for him.

And can we take a moment to talk about the cover. The front is freakin' hilarious, with the single taped on hair. (I really laughed at that longer than I should have.) but the really cool thing about the cover is that it has a reversible "decoy" cover. First, what a cool idea! I want books to have reversible covers! Like two different versions. (Publishers...let's talk! and make this happen!) But in Spurt's case, the back side of the cover was to keep your book safe from prying eyes. It was about epic hot air- balloon explosions and other really cool many things. There was even a very manly author and fake author bio. It was so funny. I knew right then and there that I was going to love Chris Mile's writing style. And I did! I need to read more books by him ASAP. He is super funny.

Bottom line: If you are a boy going through puberty, a young adult or an adult who already has gone through it, Spurt is a book that you do not want to miss. It is tons of fun and it is sure to put a big smile on your face. I Lol-ed multiple times while reading. This book made me smile. I loved Spurt.

This review was originally posted on Book Briefs

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hilarious book about a boy faking it (puberty) until he makes it. I was thrown for a loop when the reality show became such a large part of the plot. It just wasn't something I'd anticipated from reading the jacket. Overall there is humor, growing pains, and maybe a little redemption, but it's mixed with almost unfathomable selfishness that could put off some readers. So happy I'm not 14 anymore!

[Penni Russon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not usually very good at dealing with cringe comedy (I spent most episodes of Fawlty Towers behind the couch) but I really loved the heart in this. My daughter (10, an advanced reader with an oddly anthropological fascination with puberty) read it and wrote a book report on it. She seemed to really relate to Jack's social worries and the way he kept getting himself into foolish situations. I think the friendships at the core of the story kept her emotionally involved while all the shenanigans tickled her sense of humour.

She wrote:
The book was a funny and interesting introduction to puberty. There wasn’t anything that I didn’t like about the book. I rate this book 5 stars. I rate it 5 stars because it is both interesting, and hilarious beyond words. I would recommend this to anyone who likes a laugh.

[Kate Whitfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious and brilliantly rude, but written with so much heart. Cringe-comedy can go the wrong way for me, and make me despise the character for what he/she puts me through, but Jack Sprigley is so sensitively and smartly written that he made me love him.

A very funny and entertaining read for anyone approaching or going through puberty, as well as those who are thankfully past all that.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this middle grade book from a Goodreads Giveaway. I laughed and cringed as Jack makes one gaffe after another in his efforts to hide the fact that he has not yet reached manhood. This is a great book for this age group.

[Essie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of book s are marketed as "laugh out loud" but few of them actually deliver in the way that 'spurt' does. I spent a lot of time literally cackling at the scrapes that Jack Sprigley found himself in on his belated journey to puberty.
But this story isn't just about wanking jokes and home-made merkins - it's about finding the courage and he self confidence it takes to grow up.
I would recommend this book to teens and tweens, and anyone who remembers what it's like to be an adolescent, and deserves a place in every secondary school library.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miles does a bang-up job of showcasing what a dash of self-confidence can do in the face of a no-show puberty. All of the main character's friends are all going through it, yet he hasn't yet, so he's doing to fake it till he makes it and hilariously takes the readers on a journey.

It's the kind of humor that you can't help but laugh at its self-effacing truth and don't think it crass at all. Totally funny and enjoyable.

[Michelle (FabBookReviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prepubescent & pubescent lunacy! Starts off sharply and VERY funny, though the edginess of it tapers off in the middle and through to the end when the focus of Jack's story settles on the reality show component. Readers who enjoy Gordon Korman, Louise Rennison or Don Calame might particularly enjoy.

[Andrew McDonald]

A completely endearing novel about a boy so desperate to grow up that he tries to fake puberty. Cue an avalanche of hilariously rudetastic jokes. A perfect book for young readers (especially boys) dealing with, or about to deal with, the many ups and downs of adolescence.

[Alyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

More 2 and a half. Started off promising, and it's definitely funny through out, but didn't think the character really lost anything or was held accountable for his actions at the start.

[Penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Pheweeeeee.... this book has me perplexed!!

On the one hand it is a pretty funny and entertaining insight into a boy's journey into puberty - paranoia about pubes (or lack there-of), worry about friends who are developing faster than him, misguided attempts to display his manliness.

On the other hand it is a story which I suspect might appeal to pre-teen girls more than pre-teen boys (this is obviously a gross generalisation and I hate pigeon-holing books into 'girls' and 'boys' but I am thinking about my library clientele and I suspect it would be picked up by more girls... maybe it's the cover??)

HOWEVER, I did enjoy it. Jack is a late-bloomer and absolutely paranoid about his complete and utter lack of pubertal change. (The book opens with him checking for developments down his pyjamas!) He is worried that his friends have shunned him after they didn't get in touch over the holidays and this sparks the most bizarre chain events which ends up with Jack getting himself into increasingly embarrassing situations.

The main plotline involves him potentially reprising a role on a TV show he was involved in two years previously, and so the embarrassing situations are often magnified by the presence of a TV crew. It is all very, very cringeworthy, but I can imagine some of our 11-13 year olds finding it quite relatable (although hopefully not at quite the same level... Jack makes some very odd choices...!)

[Melissa Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway, and normally would not have read it. However, I am impressed with this YA novel. It is written from a frank male point of view, which the YA genre needs more of. The main character, Jack, is ashamed he hasn't begun puberty, and thinks all his friends are leaving him behind because they've begun puberty.
Add in the fact he was a contestant on a reality show 2 years ago, which wants to do a reunion show to show how much the characters change. But Jack feels he hasn't changed. How can he show he's the "big man" in every aspect of his life still looking like an 8 year old?
This book shows that despite all all our different situations as a teen, we all wish he had something another person had; and we all think we're different and no one else understands what we're going through.

[LitPick Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spurt is about a boy named Jack Sprigley who hasn't gone through puberty yet. He thinks his friends completely forgot about him and moved on to other people because he is the last in the ninth grade to go through puberty. They are busy getting girlfriends and dating, but he still looks like a little kid. He decides to fake puberty to try and win his friends back.

Opinion:
I really loved this book. I couldn't put it down and I always wanted to find out what was going to happen next! Its story and humor kept me reading, and the characters were relatable. I suggest this book to anyone who wants a great read that will keep them entertained the whole time. I recommend this book to ages 9-12 who enjoy a well-written and humorous story.

Reviewed by a LitPick student book reviewer, Age 11

[Trudy Zufelt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack Sprigley managed to get the raw end of the puberty deal. Not only is he a late-bloomer, he hasn't even sprouted which proves quite embarrassing for a ninth grader. It seems like all of his friends are leaps and bounds ahead of him in the manliness department.

When Jack feels abandoned by his friends over winter break, he handles it in the most cringeworthy way, by bragging how he masturbated the entire vacation. It wouldn't be so bad if Jack kept his conversations among the guys, but the readers can't help but squirm when the girls are included in his big talk to prove he's normal.

As if Jack hasn't proven he's socially awkward enough, he tries to prove his popularity by appearing on a reality T.V. show and presenting a mature and improved version of himself. What starts out what's supposed to be a funny look at the pitfalls of puberty, gets lost in the change of direction.

The novel has a few moments that might elicit some uncomfortable laughs, including a clever reversible cover. The novel is billed as a Judy Blume for boys but it lacks the heart of its predecessor that allows the reader to really connect with the protagonist. The story starts out promising but ends up getting off track.

Word of warning: Let the reader find this one without guidance or he may never look you in the face again.

This is a copy of my original review, found on my blog Boys to Books. I received a copy from the publisher to facilitate my review.

[Kelly Sierra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a hilarious look at the mind of a prepubescent adolescent. The main point of this story was that Jake is a late bloomer, and he hates it. It's almost the end of 8th grade and he has yet to have hair grown down there, he can't seem to figure out how to...um... play his flute, and he hasn't grown an inch. I found this to be a breath of fresh air, as we do have books in YA that specifically deal with becoming a young woman and all the crap that unfolds. It's great to hear a male voice on this subject.

3 stars

[daffystjob · Rating 2 out of 5]

I should have read this when my son was going through this phase in his life, it would have given me some insight in what he was going through. As it stands, it's a little late for that. This book is obviously done with a little tongue in cheek and normally I would enjoy that. I reckon I was just not in the mood for this one which is a shame as I had a feeling it could have put a smile on my face eventually.

[Joelzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I were a teenage boy I would probably give this book 5 stars for humour, entertainment, relatibility and just te general awkward concept turned into a truthful narrative aspect. As an adult reading it, i found it all of those things but it was never going to have the same effect on me in all honesty. I also found it a little cheesy, crude and sort of immature, despite its best efforts.
But if your in your early teens highly recommend! its entertaining and a little educational as well.

[Aliff Awan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tak pernah tahu ada orang akan terlalu stress sebab masih belum tumbuh bulu (dibaca: baligh). Jack tak kelakar; dia cuma seorang budak yang terkesan dengan keadaan. Menyedihkan. Vivi adalah rock star.

Lambat untuk saya tangkap perasaan sehingga ada muka surat yang terpaksa ditinggalkan. Blurbnya lagi menarik daripada isi. Buku ini totally shows betapa teruknya saya dalam memilih buku.

[patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Billy LOVED this because it was about puberty and had some bad words. He thought it was funny and a good story.

I thought it was OK probably 31/2 stars and lol'd a few times but thought it got mucked up in the reality tv kids show

[Kid Lit Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fourteen-year-old Jack Sprigley just spent the past two weeks alone. Friends have not called or sent even one text. Jack has no idea why, really, but he convinces himself the problem is his puberty, or lack thereof. The eighth-grader is one of only a few boys who have not begun puberty and Jack believes he will lose his friends if he doesn’t get his “manliness” soon. To that end, Jack decides to fake it and makes a huge point of telling his friends—and anyone else who would listen—how manly he has become.

Throughout the story, Jack is not a very likable character. He’s actually quite a jerk. Most boys, in all stages of puberty, will love SPURT, finding many things to laugh at. Girls may simply recoil, finding the story a cringing experience. In general, readers will need a high tolerance for awkwardness and embarrassing situations. . . .

Originally reviewed on Kid Lit Reviews. Read full review at: http://bit.ly/SPURT2017

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review can be found on Mary Had a Little Book Blog.

There are approximately one million and one nonfiction books about puberty for parents to check out of the library and place ever so discreetly in front of their children's door in hopes of avoiding awkward discussions about puberty, commonly known as "The Talk". There's nothing wrong with The Body Book or The Care and Keeping of You or any of these books (unless they're from the 70s. Keep it current, parents!), exactly, but these books are often extremely dry and scientific or on the other end of the spectrum, super buddy buddy. That doesn't work on most kids. Dry is boring, and buddy buddy is disingenuous. That's why I liked Spurt. I don't like to gender books, but Spurt is literally the male equivalent of Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret. It's funny, it's honest, it's awkward. Most of all, it's relatable.

Jack is this derpy eight grader who feels out of touch with his closest friends after a two-week winter vacation and who is bullied in the locker room by a post-pubescent classmate. He's so insecure about his status as a late bloomer that he assumes his shortcomings in the puberty arena are why his friends didn't call him or hang out with him during the break. What does Jack do? Well, because this is fiction and not real life, Jack doesn't keep quiet and try to blend. Oh, no. Instead he makes absurd, hilarious, and suuuuper cringe-worthy lies about masturbating all throughout his break, the state of his body, etc. Because he thinks that he's blending that way. Shenanigans obviously ensue.

I think a lot of kids can really relate to Jack's struggle. Children are usually pretty open about things, especially when they're mad at you. But something about middle school makes kids go really private. It could be puberty, or it could be something else. But suddenly you feel really insecure about everything. Sometimes you can't figure out why your best friend won't talk to you. So Jack makes the only conclusion he can (because he's fixating on his body so why wouldn't his friends be?) and then tries to fix it by pretending to have hit puberty. As an adult reading this book, I'm like, Jack, obviously that's not why your friends didn't call you, but I'm an adult, and I tried to keep that in mind while reading. This book is NOT directed toward me. It very much feels tailored toward a younger audience and has a perfect young voice. I really appreciate that.

As mentioned in School Library Journal's full review, there are copious references toward anatomy and masturbating, and while I think it's good to have that honesty, it won't be for every reader. But I definitely would recommend it to readers in 5-9th grades because if it is for them, it will be for them. If that makes sense. It's funny and explores not only a boy's relationship with his body but also with friends and family. Spurt discusses loneliness and also using talents and exploring interests when you're a teen. Parents, teachers, and librarians would do well to make sure this books gets into the hands of young readers everywhere.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was provided to me as an uncorrected proof by the publisher, via Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.

A boy who’s the last in his class to go through puberty tries to fake it till he makes it through a series of cringe-worthy and hilarious events in this balls-and-all coming-of-age novel that’s Judy Blume for boys! Jack Sprigley isn’t just a late-bloomer. He’s a no-bloomer. He’s in the ninth grade, and puberty is still a total no-show. Worse yet, he hasn’t heard from his friends all winter vacation. He assumes they’ve finally dumped him and his child-like body—except then he finds out that it’s much worse than that. His friends are now so far ahead of him that they’ve started dating and getting girlfriends. Jack is out of luck. But then he comes up with a plan to catch up and win his friends back. And his plan is perfect: he just has to fake puberty.

I nearly gave up on this book early on, going so far as to start the next book on my review list, but ended up going back. It’s a relatively quick read, and, as the blurb implies, it is something of an “Are You There, God” for boys, but without the emotional investment. Maybe I fell that way because I’m female and could relate to Judy Blume’s story better, but I don’t know, the characters in Spurt didn’t come across as likeable to me. And I mean none of them. They all seemed very self-absorbed and whiny. There are funny parts, but unless one is prepared to learn what a merkin is, and to have that particularly disturbing item returned to their attention repeatedly, the humor is not worth the potential of wanting to bleach your own brain. I mentioned earlier that I nearly gave up on the book, and now I tell you I wish I had gone with my first impulse. I would not recommend this book to anyone, but most definitely not to anyone who has not yet gone through puberty; unless parents are prepared to (or already have) discuss the significance of pubic hair and masturbation in relation to growing up. Yikes.

[Gwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this books through Goodreads giveaways.
This is a story about Jack, who is in 8th grade. Everyone around him is changing as they hit puberty, but not Jack. He decides to fake puberty, with often hilarious results. A book worth reading and possibly, rereading.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very quick read. Jack is the only one in his grade who had not yet gone through puberty, and is very self-conscious about that. He had not heard from his friends during the last break from school, and assumes it is because they are embarrassed to be with the late-bloomer. He decides to fake it. His friend creates a merkin, he talks abour nonstop masterbation, and manages to get back on the reality show he was on a couple of years ago, back when he felt popular. General miscommunication occurs: he doesn't realize that two of his friends are dating, he ignores a third who then starts hanging around the guy who makes the locker room a living hell for Jack, he becomes Mayor For The Week as a stunt for the reality show, even though his co-mayor really wanted the position and would do a much better job. At times hilarious and at times repetitive, this book was pretty enjoyable.

[St. Gerard Expectant Mothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading this this could easily be a Sherman Alexie The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian to Judy Blume's Are You There God, It's Me Margaret. Spurt, which would be a better working title than A Balls and All Story, concerns a young man who hasn't hit his stride with puberty. As his friends are maturing faster and getting into the dating pool, the main character is determined to fake his way into his development which includes creating fake pubic hair (dubbed a Merkin-an Aussie version of a jockstrap) to competing in a teen reality show. Hilarity ensures.

Author Chris Miles has created a middle school to transitional teen book that discusses the horrors of young boys struggling with puberty. From funny discussions concerning locker room physiology to alluding descriptions of masturbation, this is certainly one of those controversial coming of age books that is necessary to put into any library or bookshelf for children. Plus, it is geared for males who can relate to the struggles of one's own body changing in very comical and delightful manner.

Highly recommended.

[Stephanie Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Spurt' is a contemporary young adult novel rife with comedy. Fans of the genre will surely enjoy it, and readers of the same age group as Jack will easily connect with his character and plight. This is certainly not my usual type of read and that plays a big part in my opinion of the book. While I found it mildly funny and full of embarrassing moments that almost every one can identify with, I wasn't able to really get into the story as a whole. I'm completely different than the main character, Jack, and although I sympathized with him throughout the novel, I couldn't really connect on the right level. The plot was both heartfelt and humorous, and sheds a realistic light on some of the struggles that young teens go through. Jack's antics and issues were endearing and fun, and I'm sure most readers are able to identify with at least some of the topics discussed throughout the story. It was a solid novel with great writing, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. Overall, I think fans of young adult, middle grade, contemporary, and humor fiction will really enjoy this book and should check it out.

Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Ani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elvetemült, buta, de jópofa történet. Ha lenne fiam, akkor bátran adnám a kezébe, mert kell egy könyv, ami rádöbbenti a kis srácokat, hogy minden fiúnak vannak hasonló gondolatai, sokan paráznak azon, hogy nem serken a hónaljkutya. Külön tetszett, hogy nem csak ezen a szálon mendegél a cselekmény, hanem befut néhány érdekes titkolózós szál a nagyi körül, a testvér és a barátnői körül, a bolond és az izomagy pedig felváltva röhögteti és izzasztja le a marhaságaival az olvasókat. Fincsi volt.
(Én sok furcsa regényt olvasok, de a fanszőr-pepi valami olyasmi, ami soha az életben meg nem fordult a fejemben. OMG!)

Ajánlás: FIÚKNAK! Pubertás előtt, után, de még közben is jó olvasmány. (Mondjuk ez sejthető. Nem véletlenül van a borítón elrejtve egy fütyi…)

Blog: http://hagyjatokolvasok.blogspot.hu/2...

[Emily J · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through the Goodreads Giveaway program for an open and honest review. What a fun, light-hearted read that tackles some seriously awkward parts of growing up! It was refreshing to read something from the male perspective, as I was only ever exposed to the girly side of things in my pre-teen years. I can't wait to pass this book on to my nephew in 7th grade - I'm hoping he'll appreciate the "cringe-factor" in some of the situations Jack finds himself in. I had quite a few good laughs and facepalm moments while following Jack's various...."adventures".

[Bernadette Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

They may not know it yet, but Spurt is the book that teenage boys have been waiting for. Now having never been a teenage boy, I can't be entirely sure that's true, but Spurt is one of the funniest and most appealing YA's I've read in a long time, and I'll take a wild guess and say there is plenty of stuff in this book that is completely relatable for the average adolescent male. I couldn't stop giggling through it all and I now know what a Merkin is - thanks for that invaluable information Chris Miles! Do yourself a favour and read it. Then buy another copy and give to your favourite male teenager. He may not tell you but he'll love you for it.

[Rachel Seigel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really funny story about an 8th grader who has not started puberty yet, and is super worried about being left behind by his friends as a result. I have never seen male puberty put as out there as in this novel, and after reading, I am much more aware of how painfully difficult it can be for a boy. There are quite a number of mentions of pubes, masturbating and balls, but you'll understand why when you read it. There is also a merkin involved and a hot air balloon shaped like a scrotum. If you are struggling to find a great book for a middle-school boy, this is definitely the one.