Stupid Fast: Geoff Herbach: 9781402256301: Amazon.com: Books

Review

"Surprises abound in this future youth classic..." --VOYA, June 2011

"It's rare to gain access to a male teen's thoughts at his most vulnerable... "--Shelf Awareness

"Young readers looking for a genuinely memorable first-person narrator...should really catch up to Stupid Fast..." - Minneapolis Star Tribune

"...one of my freshmen boys asked to read my ARC. I had to say yes because he's one of my reluctant readers. He isn't reluctant anymore! He tore through this book and was so proud when he gave it back to me; he finished the book and wanted to read another. As a teacher or librarian, does it get any better than that?!

If you want to read something fantastically funny, pick up Stupid Fast. If you want to read something honest and refreshing, pick up Stupid Fast. I can't recommend this debut novel enough. Geoff Herbach has really impressed me and I CAN'T WAIT to read more of his work!" - YA Love

" In this struggling and often clueless teen, Herback has created an endearing character coming to terms with his past and present in a small, well-defined Wisconsin town." - Booklist

" Herback is at this peak limning the confusion and frustration of a young man who no longer recognizes his own body, and Felton's self-deprecation take on his newly awarded A-list status is funny and compelling." - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"This story has a little bit of everything: the challenges of growing up, the issues surrounding interracial romance, navigating tough class issues, and a narrator who is one of the most real, honest, and still funny male voices to come around in a while." - Yalsa

"STUPID FAST is a great addition to a genre that is lacking in stories based around a main male teenage character." - An Avid Reader's Musings

"Geoff Herbach does a nice job of getting into Felton's mind and presenting his thoughts in a realistic tone." - Reading Vacation

"Felton Reinstein is one of my favorite male protagonists of the year." - Happy Nappy Bookseller

"Stupid Fast is Geoff's debut novel and I can say this is the most pleasant surprise so far this year!" - Cari's Book Blog

"I fully admit that I devoured this book in one complete sitting. The mixture of serious emotions, life changing discoveries, and all out humor, made Stupid Fast a book that I simply couldn't set down." - Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile

"Delving straight into the teenage boy mind and hitting on topics both funny and hefty, Stupid Fast hits right into the struggles of a teenage guy from first love to finding himself to dealing with a quirky family in a great way. With a main character that truly is "average," a jerk at times and a total sweetheart at others, confused and awkward but then confidant and sure, this one is engaging and real. Through rambling in voice at times, and most definitely very boy in a way that could be a turn off to some female readers, the story is well written and well developed, providing a solid debut." - A Good Addiction

"In the end Fenton's sarcasm, anxiety, self-doubt, thoughtfulness, and compassion carry the day and perfectly capture the voice of his generation." - School Library Journal

"Reading Felton's thoughts, feelings, fears, and frustrations are sometimes funny as well as touching, revealing his gentle and sensitive side amidst the stupid. This title provides a great read for all teen and adult readers. I loved this! It almost moved me to tears as it provides insight into the mind of an adolescent." - Library Media Connection (starred review)

"Once I got into it, I loved Stupid Fast. Felton is a great character - he's just so likeable! He's awkward in a fun way, and his comments and way of seeing things are hilarious. He's complex and dynamic, and there's just so much to him, lots of which I probably didn't even get reading Stupid Fast for the first time. His voice is honest, original and realistic, and it felt like he was talking to me throughout the entire book. The secondary characters are fully-developed; I could imagine everyone easily - Aleah, Jerri, Andrew, the jocks, all of the characters! I also loved the dynamic and realistic relationships between Felton and all the other characters. Aleah and Felton are adorable together!

Stupid Fast reminded me of a John Green book. I don't mean the story, because that's really different from John Green's books - I just mean the style and the feel of the book. Stupid Fast conveys so many emotions - it's sad and funny and heartwarming and hopeful and honest and raw, all at the same time, just like John Green's books. You're crying one minute, and the next minute you're laughing. That's probably what I enjoyed most about this book - I love when a book can really make you feel something, both good and bad.

This is a great read! Don't be discouraged by the football-topic - I'm not big on sports, but I really enjoyed Stupid Fast. Felton is such a likeable main character, and Stupid Fast is emotional and hilarious at the same time, reminding me of a John Green book. I definitely recommend it!" - Paperback Treasures

"I really liked the elements in this book. A broken home, a main character growing up faster than he ever thought he would. So much goes on in the book that it is hard to not stop reading. A great, young, fresh voice, Felton is the American boy dealing with an average American life. Nothing is perfect but of course he is Stupid Fast." - Books With Bite

"So, without giving anything away, I'll just say: it has a great character voice, Pete Hautmanesque story-telling, and a deft recognition of human complexity." - Daughter Number Three

"Whip-smart and painfully self-aware, "Stupid Fast" is a funny and agonizing glimpse into the teenage brain. . . .In that gap between being big and being grown-up lies a lot of the best young-adult fiction, including Geoff Herbach's painfully funny debut, "Stupid Fast."
"Young readers looking for a genuinely memorable first-person narrator -- in the vein of Sherman Alexie's "Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" or Pete Hautman's "Godless" -- should really catch up to "Stupid Fast" this summer." - The Star Tribune

"This is what I call a "smart guy-book". When you guys are ready to move away from fantasy into realistic fiction about teenage guy issues, Stupid Fast is one of the books you will have to turn to." - Beyond The Middle

About the Author

Geoff Herbach is a novelist, but he also loves writing for performance. He co-created PowderKeg Live! and is also the co-founder of The Lit 6 Project, a group dedicated to bringing literary storytelling to broader audiences. He teaches creative writing at Minnesota State University-Mankato. Visit geoffherbach.com

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Customer Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars

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“ Stupid Fast is one of those rare things - a serious book that's so funny that it will have you laughing until tears roll down your face. ” Alissa | 10 reviewers made a similar statement

“ There are so few good young adult books for boys - this is definitely one of them. ” Rachel McElhany | 8 reviewers made a similar statement

“ Young Adult Notes: This book, due to the awesome cover with a football player on it, will draw in boys initially. ” J. Elliott | 6 reviewers made a similar statement

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This book. THIS book! June 6, 2011

By Gae Polisner

Format:Paperback

If you have boys, between the ages of 11 - 18 especially, THIS book is for them. It doesn't matter what kind of boys either. The book is totally about sports and nothing about sports, so it has something for anyone. The book is about being a boy and a teen and going through the brutally awkward changes that our bodies and our lives hurl at us. This book is funny and real and heartbreaking and hopeful, and more than that, unique and genuine. Also, I am a girl. So if you have girls, this book is for them. Trust me. THIS book.

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Lisa the Nerd's Review May 31, 2011

By Lisa the Nerd VINE™ VOICE

in a sentence or so: in the summer his best friend abandons him to go hang with his sick grandma leaving poor Felton all alone, Felton gets taller, bigger, and faster. he grows so much, in fact, it seems he's outgrown his quirky and increasingly bizarre family.

Felton's always been different. it could be because he walked in the garage after his dad died by suicide. it could be because his mom is kind of a hippie and taught him how to meditate to keep him calm after the incident and made him even more of a social outcast. it could be because he has a geeky little pianist prodigy of a brother. whatever the case, Felton has always been an outsider and he could care less.

then his growth spurt hits him like a knee shattering linebacker and Felton has no idea what to do. his mom has totally gone off the deep end and won't leave her room, won't buy any food, and barely registers Felton and his brother Andrew exist. meanwhile, Felton attracts the attention of the football team as a potential prospect, and therefore the cool kids. after having to pick up his absent best friend's paper route, he also attracts the attention of the beautiful and more talented pianist that moved into his best friend's old house for the summer. Felton keeps himself sane by acknowledging he has to keep moving, keep running, keep biking, keep lifting weights and just keep going until he's about to break from all the pressure of his dirty house, the sad and scary person his brother's become, and most of all, he's about to break from the disgust his mom shoots his way.

i wasn't sure where this book was taking me, and that only helped me connect with Felton that much deeper. this poor kid had no idea where his life was taking him, and neither do we. alternating between current reflective chapters with the flashback style narrative made this feel more personal than it already did. you form a relationship with Felton and his family.

even though Felton is surrounded by a distinctive supporting cast, from his brother to his very first girlfriend to the jock who just might be his friend, this is truly a story of Felton coming to know the truth about himself and his family, and having to wade through a lot of heartache, confusion, and pain to get there.

Felton's life is so full of drama it almost makes you cringe to read it. but you do because you want things to be okay and you want Felton to come through on the other side a better person and a whole person because of it all. you can't help but root for this guy and his story is one you will want to hear.

fave quote: "Then we kissed for about 25 years, I think." (184)

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Heartfelt, hilarious story about love, loss, and putting the fun back in dysfunction May 16, 2011

By Megan Bostic VINE™ VOICE

Felton Reinstein (Rein Stone to his fellow classmates) has one of the most original voices I've ever read. He's funny, stupid, goofy, adorable, sweet, and I think the only thing he's sees in himself is the stupid part.

Oh yeah, and he's big, really big, and hairy, and hungry, and sleepy, as many boys reaching puberty are. He suddenly goes from "squirrel nut" to stupid fast in the eyes of the high school coaches and classmates.

But this story isn't just about high school and puberty and sports. It has a dark side. It's also a story about loss, and love, and what it takes to pull a dysfunctional family back together. Geoff weaves drama, comedy, and tragedy together seamlessly. The story is heartrending, yet hilarious, evocative, yet poignant.

The characters the author has drawn are all very unique and original. From Felton, to his insecure, neurotic brother Andrew, to the neo hippie mother, Jerri who struggles with the past and present coming face to face, to the love interest, Aleah, quirky, strong willed, and determined.

I really hated the times in which I had to put this book aside. Still yet, it only took a few days to read. The short chapters, the dialogue, the characters, the storyline made this an easy, enjoyable read. Congrats to debut author Geoff Herbach. I can't wait to read what he releases next.