Review ~ Stupid Fast

Stupid Fast
by Geoff Herbach
Released: June 1, 2011

Summary (from Goodreads):
I AM NOT STUPID FUNNY.
I AM STUPID FAST. 
My name is Felton Reinstein, which is not a fast name. But last November, my voice finally dropped and I grew all this hair and then I got stupid fast. Fast like a donkey. Zing 
Now they want me, the guy they used to call Squirrel Nut, to try out for the football team. With the jocks. But will that fix my mom? Make my brother stop dressing like a pirate? Most important, will it get me girls -especially Aleah? 
So I train. And I run. And I sneak off to Aleah's house in the night. But deep down I know I can't run forever. And I wonder what will happen when I finally have to stop.

My review:  4 stars

     I have to start off my saying I picked up this book because my husband is a football coach, so I'm naturally drawn to anything football.  Then I read the summary and it sounded not only entertaining for me but also one my students would enjoy (and they did!).  Stupid Fast did not disappoint!  Felton is a normal boy who has some issues he's dealing with: a spaced out mom, a piano playing little brother who can do no wrong, and his dad is dead.  As if that isn't enough, Felton is going through normal teenage growth spurts and hormone changes.  

     Once an outcast "geek", Felton discover's he can run.  And not just good, but faster than even some seniors.  His speed catches the eye of the football coach and over the summer when everything else in his life seems to be falling apart, Felton makes new friends and enemies. He also discovers he loves to workout and run, oh and he's fallen for his little brother's idol, a prodigy piano player who is there for the summer while her father teaches at the university.  While there is a love interest for Felton, it's not a love story, this is a story about a boy growing up into a young man and finding out some hard and funny truths along the way.  

     There were times it was weird for me as I read, because I felt like I was in Felton's head, and well, guys just think differently.  However, it was being in his head and hearing is scattered jumpy thoughts that made this book so much fun to read.  After finishing Stupid Fast, I was brave and took my SIGNED copy to my classroom so I could share it with my students.  One student told me, "that's the coolest book ever" after he finished it, and coming from a seventh grade boy, that's a huge compliment.  If you have any young male readers or even reluctant readers, I would highly recommend you have them read Stupid Fast.  

Geoff Herbach was at the Austin Teen Book Festival last fall and I had the chance to get my book signed and snag a pic with the hilarious author.  

You can find more about Geoff Herbach:
Website
Goodreads
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