Nothing Special

July 1, 2012

Gr 9 Up-In this sequel to Stupid Fast (Sourcebooks, 2011), Herbach continues the saga of the dysfunctional Reinstein family. Written as a journal from 17-year-old Felton's perspective, the story follows the teen's journey to bring his runaway brother home. In the wake of his mother's mental breakdown and Felton's rise to fame as a sports phenomenon, Andrew feels lost and, well, like nothing special. He travels to Florida to finally meet his father's relatives in hopes of figuring out where he fits in his crazy family. What Andrew doesn't realize is the scope of his grandfather's bitterness over his son's suicide. After a wild, hazardous trip with his best friend, Felton arrives in Florida and becomes involved in a cousin's elaborate scheme to fool their grandfather into liking his grandsons before he discovers who they really are. The jig is up when the grandfather recognizes Felton's tennis style as that of his deceased son's. After an explosive exchange, Felton takes off, but Andrew stays and helps to smooth the way toward reconciliation. With this book, Herbach brings to fruition the exploration he began in the first novel of how a parent's suicide has a profound ripple effect on the lives of his family for years beyond the event. The combination of outrageous circumstances and humor expertly balances out the very serious issues of guilt, anger, and mental and emotional collapse. Felton's voice is fresh and believable as a teen on the edge of manhood. Boys especially will discover kindred spirits in Felton and Andrew. Kudos to Herbach for this deep, moving, LOL funny, and completely original story.-Cary Frostick, Mary Riley Styles Public Library, Falls Church, VA

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2012
Over the course of a cataclysmically awful trip, Felton Reinstein journals for his girlfriend about breakthroughs in his familial relationships. Last year, at 15, nerdy Felton hit a growth spurt and became Stupid Fast (2011), a track star and a football star. This year, with his girlfriend Aleah in Germany, Felton must deal with his fame and the possibility that his younger brother Andrew could be falling apart. Andrew has convinced their mother to let him go to band camp, but Felton discovers that Andrew, usually the sane member of the family, has in fact run away to Florida. An impromptu road trip with erstwhile best friend Gus turns up surprising reasons for Andrew's escape. Herbach's sophomore effort is impenetrable to those who have not read his first, due to a complete lack of character introductions. The conceit of telling the tale of the road trip while on a different trip is a convoluted one that buries the heart of this potentially touching tale in a flabby, confusing construct few readers will enjoy. Felton's voice is frenetic, often annoyingly self-deprecating and repetitious; his fans are the only ones who need apply. If Herbach had avoided playing narrative games and just run with his story, this might have been something special. (Fiction. 12 & up)

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June 1, 2012
Grades 7-10 In this sequel to Stupid Fast (2011), Felton Reinstein, whose athletic prowess stunned himself, his family, and his classmates, once again narrates a saga of discovery. This time the focus is on younger brother Andrew, whose life in the football phenom's shadow is dreary. When Felton figures out his bro has absconded to Florida in lieu of orchestra camp, he takes his own road trip to right his wrong of being too wrapped up in himself. On the way he reconnects with old friend Gus and with his dead father's family. Felton and Andrew are both appealingyou gotta love a runaway who finds his niche playing piano for the Golden Rods (seniors who sing Beach Boys standards) and attempts to know his estranged grandfather by hiding in plain sight, playing tennis in 1970s whites complete with a terry headband. Readers who like their funny stories mixed with sports (Felton waxes rhapsodic over Ultimate Frisbie) will root for the siblings' reconciliation. While the novel can stand alone, it'll be more accessible to kids who've read its predecessor.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)