Title: Stupid Fast
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire (June 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1402256302
ISBN-13: 978-140225630
It’s about a boy. It’s about sports. It’s about being a serious dork. It’s about a paper route. It’s about bullying and the opposite. It’s about a girl. It’s about hair growth. It’s about a little brother. It’s about piano. It’s about a depressed mother. It’s about learning to be who you are. It’s about not hiding.
LISTEN TO GEOFF READ THE FIRST FEW CHAPTERS.
Stupid Fast is the 2011 Cybils Award winner for best YA fiction, a YALSA (American Library Association) Best Books for Young Adults selection for 2012, a 2011 selection to the ABA’s list of Best Books for Children, a Penn Young Readers Finalist, a Georgia Peach Award finalist, and a 2011 Junior Library Guild Selection!
“In the tradition of great young adult protagonists like Holden Caulfield and Eric “Moby” Calhoune comes Felton Reinstein, soon to be sixteen… 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… Felton is a hero for all readers–male and female. And Herbach (who admits to growing up in Wisconsin as “both a dork and a jock”) is a writer to watch.”– Jennifer M. Brown, Shelf Awareness, May 18, 2011.
“Whip-smart and painfully self-aware, Stupid Fast is a funny and agonizing glimpse into the teenage brain…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.” – Minneapolis Star Tribune, June 8, 2011
BUY Stupid Fast on Amazon.
Or, at Indiebound!
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Title: Nothing Special
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire (May 1, 2012)
ISBN-10: 1402265077
ISBN-13: 978-1402265075
Nothing Special is the follow-up to Stupid Fast. It’s next year and Felton is as big and bad as everyone thought he’d be. Unfortunately, he’s still a little kid on the inside. He’s a jerk to his pal, Gus. His little brother, Andrew, struggles mightily without Felton’s help. Really, Felton’s got the curse of the monkey, real bad. He can’t see beyond his own tiny little problems. But if he doesn’t clean up his act, he’ll lose Gus. He’ll lose Aleah. And, honestly, he may already have lost Andrew who says he’s going to orchestra camp, but never shows up. Ride with Felton as he tries to get his head out of his rear. Ride with him as he tracks his little brother to the dangling sack of America (Florida).
Nothing Special is a Junior Library Guild selection for 2012.
“The look inside Felton’s head as he makes inroads in his family relationships is both funny and genuine.” Boys and Literacy
“Felton is genuine, self-reflective and charming in his honesty, even when he is being a narcissistic gorilla. His tender heart and great juvenile sense of humor repeatedly left me in tears and giggle fits.” Good Reads with Ronna
“This is definitely a smart guy book—a book for smart guys, who definitely love a good chuckle.” Reading Beyond the Middle
“I really, really liked how this story was written. The whole idea of this story being one huge letter from Felton to Aleah was really cool. And with the book being written from Felton’s point of view it really creates this awesome reading experience.” — Justin’s Book Blog
Pre-order Nothing Special on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound!
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Title: The Miracle Letters of T. Rimberg
Publisher: Three Rivers Press (April 15, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0307396371
ISBN-13: 978-0307396372
NOTE: THIS IS NOT YA. IT IS DEFINITELY “R” RATED.
Having destroyed his life, the suicidal T. Rimberg strikes out on a journey through history and geography. From Minneapolis to Europe to a fiery accident near Green Bay, he searches for a father who is likely dead, digs for meaning where he’s sure there is none, fires off suicide letters to family, celebrities, presidents, and football stars, and lands in a hospital bed across from a priest who believes that Rimberg has caused a miracle. This funny, moving novel asks us to consider the nature of second chances and the unexpected form that grace sometimes takes.
“The Miracle Letters of T. Rimberg is a darkly comic, extraordinary peek into the delicate mind of a suicidal no-hoper. T. Rimberg is a superbly crafted character: death obsessed and soulful, resentful and ashamed, chivalrous and scruffy. In his brilliant debut novel, Geoff Herbach parks good and evil side-by-side in the sandbox and, with masterful confidence, allows them to figure things out for themselves.”
–Tish Cohen, author of Town House
Buy at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound
Congrats on the book and the JLG selection.
Really loved the first chapters and how chapter one reads like a free verse. It was fun to get a sneak peak. Wish I didn’t have to wait for June!!
All the best.
Thanks so much, Paula! I really appreciate it (I’m on pins and needles until June).
Hey, well I’m Leo’s friend Brigitte. And I read stupid fast in about 4 days, and it’s sooooo good!!! I wanna just read it again and again cause it’s just.. Just a really good book. Leo told me that there’s gonna be a sequel, and I’m pretty much dying cause I need to read it.
I’m writing the crap out of the sequel right now, Brigitte! It’ll be out next spring, but I’ll get you the electronic file as soon as it’s done. I can see by your email why you and Leo are friends! Thanks for writing!!
is the book nothing special sequel to stupid fast? if it is which one should i read first?
Hey Leo, Nothing Special is the sequel. Stupid Fast is the one to go after first.
I’m glad you asked.
Geoff
I am currently listening to the cd version and am thoroughly enjoying it! I will definitely spread the word….great work.
Thanks, Jennifer! It took me a while to like the audio, because (of course!) I hear Felton differently in my head. I think Fred did a really great job, though. Glad you’re listening!
Hey Geoff -
I just finished this book (Stupid Fast) and is was great! I chose this book for our book club for a few reasons – because way back when, we were in Groundings in Fiction with Sheila together, you’re a local writer, and I wanted to choose a genre with a protaganist who was someone our group is not – a bunch of women in their mid 40s! I read your first book (The Miracle Letters of T. Rimberg: A Novel) and found it gratifying to read the whole story, since it was that story idea you used in our Groundings class to workshop. I loved it in class and was excited and happy to read the book length version. So when I learned you had this new book out, I had to read it too and fortunately, it coincided with my turn for book club choice. We are meeting this Wednesday, 4/11 (at the Pig & Fiddle in Mpls, at 7:30 – if you happen to be around, stop by!) and wondering if you have a “study guide” or questions that will help stimulate our conversation. Great work and congratulations! I enjoyed it and I think my book club did also! Loved Felton, but Andrew was my favorite! YAY!
Hi Lori! I teach in Mankato, so am not in the Cities during the week at all during the school year. So glad you guys are reading SF. Funny you should ask about questions. I’m working on a study guide. If I have a bit done, I’ll send to you before tomorrow! Hope all is great. -Geoff
Thanks Geoff! I figured you were in Mankato, but thought I’d try. Excited for our discussion tonight! I’m sure it’ll all be thumbs up!