Stupid Fast Stupid Fast By Geoff HerbachBy Geoff HerbachPublished By Sourcebooks Published By Sourcebooks Fire in 2011Fire in 2011

Greg BrownGreg Brown

Introduction to NovelIntroduction to Novel

o The story is set in in Bluffton, The story is set in in Bluffton, Wisconsin around present times.Wisconsin around present times.

o A few keys events happen at the A few keys events happen at the beginning of the story;beginning of the story;o It is revealed that that Felton’s dad committed suicide, It is revealed that that Felton’s dad committed suicide,

when he was 5, so he only remembers his dad through when he was 5, so he only remembers his dad through memories.memories.

o Felton gets bigger Felton gets bigger o Jerri goes crazyJerri goes crazyo Gus goes to visit his grandmaGus goes to visit his grandmao Aleah moves into Gus’ old houseAleah moves into Gus’ old house

CharactersCharacters

o Protagonist- FeltonProtagonist- Feltono Antagonist- FeltonAntagonist- Feltono Felton- big , really fast, and toughFelton- big , really fast, and tougho Jerri- nice, caringJerri- nice, caringo Andrew- smart, good at playing Andrew- smart, good at playing

pianopianoo Aleah- nice, good at playing pianoAleah- nice, good at playing piano

Central ConflictCentral Conflict

o Felton’s mom ,Jerri, has gone Felton’s mom ,Jerri, has gone insane and he has no clue what's insane and he has no clue what's going on and he tries to help but going on and he tries to help but that just makes things worse. that just makes things worse. When he gives up things get When he gives up things get worse and his brother, Andrew, worse and his brother, Andrew, starts to act weird.starts to act weird.

Minor CharactersMinor Characters

o Ken Johnson- hurts Felton’s back; Ken Johnson- hurts Felton’s back; in the end he calls off the people in the end he calls off the people after Felton; track starafter Felton; track star

o Cody- befriends Felton when Gus Cody- befriends Felton when Gus leaves town and Quarter-Back for leaves town and Quarter-Back for the high school football teamthe high school football team

o Gus- Felton’s friend who is gone Gus- Felton’s friend who is gone during the summerduring the summer

ReviewsReviews

““Wow. So much more than a sports book. Yet, like Tangerine and Pop, it's a book that shows a non-athlete the draw, the thrill, is to sports.

Felton used to be the awkward kid, the one whose dad killed himself. Starting in November of sophomore year, he grew and grew, and ate and ate, and slept a lot, too. Some of this seemed to make his mom mad; he yelled at his little brother, who's really OK. It all made him mad, and one day he took out the anger in the 600 yard dash. He ran stupid fast. Suddenly coaches are calling him, jocks befriend him. Summer comes. Felton's buddy Gus has gone and he's doing his paper route, which is how he meets the amazing girl living in Gus's house for the summer. He starts working out with the football players. His life is feeling kinda cool -- but then his mom starts losing her grip on reality. Felton misses some opportunities to ask for help, but once he does, he finds it's everywhere.“-Lisa K.

“Felton just realized that he was stupid fast the year he was 15. Fast enough to get noticed during gym class by the track coach. Fast enough that he should have beaten two-time states winner Kennedy Johnson during the last track meet – except that he was on the sidelines puking instead. Fast enough to hear Coach Johnson talking about arranging for him to have his own recruiting page and hosting D-I (Division I) scouts to see him play a game he has never even gone to see on a fall Friday night.

He is not quite fast enough to escape what seems to be happening around him. He still can’t shake the memory of finding his father hanging in the garage when he was five years old. His mother Jerri has checked out of her life and cannot even look at him anymore. His little brother has quit practicing piano, become a pyromaniac, and looks like he hasn’t showered all summer. His first best friend Gus (who is gone to spend the summer with his family in Venezuela with his ailing grandmother) has quit returning his emails and left him abandoned by the only real friend he has ever known.

While there is likely enough sports (track, running, training, football) to appeal to those readers who enjoy reading about them, there is also a fine story about growing up, fitting in, and dealing with life. “-Cindy

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9639243-stupid-fast

My ReviewMy Review

o I thought it was a good story I thought it was a good story about a kid who in a few months about a kid who in a few months goes from a nobody to a goes from a nobody to a somebody.somebody.