74 pages • 2 hours read
Geoff HerbachStupid Fast
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2011A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Geoff Herbach’s young adult novel Stupid Fast (2011), 15-year-old Felton Reinstein transforms from a nerdy outcast to a talented athlete after hitting puberty. While navigating new friendships and a budding relationship with Aleah, he struggles with his mother's worsening mental health and the lingering trauma from his father's death by suicide, ultimately seeking help to manage his family's crises. Stupid Fast contains content concerning suicide and may be emotionally challenging and cause discomfort or distress for some readers. Additionally, the novel uses racially charged language, as well as stigmatizing language around mental health.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach has garnered praise for its authentic portrayal of adolescence and humor. Readers appreciate the protagonist's growth and relatability, as well as the engaging, humorous narrative. Some find the pacing uneven and secondary characters underdeveloped. Overall, it's celebrated as a heartfelt and entertaining read that resonates with teenagers.
Who Should Read Stupid Fast?
Readers who would enjoy Geoff Herbach's Stupid Fast are typically teens who appreciate coming-of-age stories with humor and depth. Comparable to fans of Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and John Green's Looking for Alaska, they seek narratives exploring identity, growth, and resilience amid personal and social challenges.
RecommendedReading Age
14-18yearsLexile Level
670LBook Details
Humor
Coming of Age / Bildungsroman
Realistic Fiction
Sports
Depression / Suicide
Mental Illness
Life/Time: Coming of Age
Identity: Mental Health
Relationships: Family