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NOTHING SPECIAL by Geoff Herbach


copyright date: May 2012
primarily marketed for: young adults (12 and up)

This is Geoff Herbach's sequel to Stupid Fast and continues Felton Reinstein’s story in true Felton fashion.  This is definitely a smart guy book—a book for smart guys, who definitely love a good chuckle.

The story opens at the end of summer with Felton typing a letter to his girlfriend Aleah while flying in an airplane on his way to retrieve his younger brother from Florida.  The entire book is written as one giant letter to Aleah explaining how his summer led him to this moment in time. 

After Felton and his brother Andrew got some help with their mother’s issues, Felton went right back to throwing himself into football and track—because he is stupid fast.  However, Andrew did not cope quite as well as Felton did. 

Felton ignores his brother’s cries for help and continuously lets him down.  His brother ends up cooking up an elaborate plan to run away.  When Felton realizes what has happened and that he was the main cause, he tries to take matters into his own hands, which makes for an amusing journey.

Similar to Felton’s first story, Nothing Special is filled with borderline inappropriate (but hilarious nonetheless) humor, dry sarcasm, romantic pining, family issues, family secrets, and character development of depth beyond typical young adult literature. 

Geoff Herbach has solidified his place in my book-loving heart with Stupid Fast and Nothing Special.  Open your heart to him too!

Comments

  1. I don't even bother taking time to search for the next YA novel to read; I just come straight here. :)

    ReplyDelete

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