I'm with Stupid

Gr 9 Up—In this sequel to Stupid Fast (2011) and Nothing Special (2012, both Sourcebooks), Felton Reinstein is still enjoying his high school football fame and is being heavily recruited by college programs nationwide. Life should be good, but the teen is struggling with the memory of his dad's suicide, his mom's emotional absence, his long-distance relationship with his girlfriend, and the pressure of making a college choice essentially on his own. Rather than talking about his problems, Felton internalizes them, causing him to feel even more stress. He attempts to redeem himself in his own eyes by becoming a protector to the bullied, specifically to Tommy, a freshman who has nearly as many problems as Felton. When Felton's college choice becomes a public spectacle that also makes him possibly the most hated guy in town, he begins drinking, risking his status as a school athlete and taking himself even further down the road to being just like his dad. Felton is a typical teen in many ways. Yes, he's a rising sports superstar, but he struggles with friendships, family relationships, and his own identity. He makes mistakes, some of them rather spectacular, but really wants to do the right thing. The focus here is less on sports and more on facing demons and being true to oneself.—Heather Webb, Worthington Libraries, OH