Going Nowhere Faster

By Sean Beaudoin

Book Overview

Stan Smith has the world's dullest name, and the world's dullest life to go with it. At 17, the former junior chess champion turned "Town's Laziest Register Monkey at the Town's Only Video Store" has no car, no college, and, of course, no girl. If that weren't pathetic enough, he's got an organic-food-freak vegan mother, an eccentric inventor father, a dead-end job, a dog with a flatulence problem, and a former classmate threatening to kill him. With a 165 IQ, Stan was expected to Be Something and Go Somewhere. But when all he has is a beat-up old bike that keeps getting vandalized, he's going nowhere, faster.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0316014168
• ISBN13: 9780316014168
• Release Date: September 2008
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.4" x 8.1"
• Age Range: 13 to 18 years
• Grade Range: Grade 8 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

FOUR REASONS TO BUY THIS BOOK

1) Stan is hilarious and truly going nowhere faster than anyone I know. 2) Stan's precise descriptions of Ellen make her oh so edible. 3) It's amazing how in touch Beaudoin is with his adolescence. 4) Does there really need to be a 4 when the next step is buying this book?

Who can you trust?

The Library Journal review guy above obviously DIDN'T READ this book. I thought is was really retty good. I laughed out loud a bunch of times, which I almost never do. I would definitely read another of Beaudoin's books, but I don't think there are any. It was really nice not to have to read about preppie girls being mean to each other. The thing about the van was excellent, too. I give a 9 of 10.

Funny and Smart - Stan's the Man

Sean Beaudoin has created an unforgettable character in Stan Smith. Stan is addicted to making zany lists, wages a personal campaign against Hugh Grant films, displays incredible multiplication talents, pokes fun at his wannabe-hip therapist, and goes home to an irregular house (built by his dad) and a wild and wacky family that drives a car fueled by vegetable oil. Amid this astonishing hilarity and creativity, Beaudoin crafts an incisive, original portrait of the problems kids have growing up and fitting in, from dating to bullies to college pressure to getting life launched. This is an intelligent and relentlessly entertaining tale; highly recommended for young adults of all ages.

A great read

I thought this was a rare book that combined hilarity with real heart. Stan is cutting and funny while being sympathetic, a guy you would want as your friend or brother or road-trip buddy. I loved his view of people and the world and find myself thinking, weeks after reading the book, "What would Stan think about this?"

A Great Read

I got into this book on the first page. It's a great read. So funny. Stan is a genius that works in a video store so there are plenty of movie references.... and a great list of all time bad movies.