Stupid Fast

I so appreciate the reward of having served on the Cybils panel judging the YA finalists this year. If I had not served, this little gem of a novel would have been off my radar entirely. STUPID FAST by Geoff Herbach (Sourcebooks Fire 2011) introduces readers to one of the most distinctive narrative voices in the person of Felton Reinstein. A sudden growth spurt has caused others to look at the former "Squirrel Nut" with fresh eyes. Felton is not only big, he is fast. Before long, he is hanging out in the locker room with the guys who used to bully him daily. Felton meets a new girl in town, a piano prodigy. As things seem to be on the upswing for Felton, though, his home life begins to crumble around him and his new found status. Herbach walks a very narrow line here between triumph and potential tragedy and between uproarious comedy and all-too-close defeat. Perfect for high school guys, especially those pesky reluctant readers, this is a novel that will give much food for thought. <225>