In 2009, Penguin published my young adult novel, The Vast Fields of Ordinary, the story of a gay Midwestern teenager and his last summer before heading off to college. The New York Times named it a Notable Book of the Year and an Editor’s Choice, and it received a Stonewall Award from the American Library Association. The book has been optioned for film and translated into German and Italian.
"Fascinating and dreamy…the best kind of first novel." The New York Times
"Burd breathes new life into the old coming-out formula…His carefully drawn characters and raw tone make the drama of Dade’s life feel urgent and very real. One of the best in a new generation of LGBTQ novels." Kirkus Reviews
"Burd takes a familiar plot — boy struggles with his sexuality, then meets a love interest who changes everything — and makes it fresh…An author to watch." Publishers Weekly
“Nick Burd reaps a bounty from The Vast Fields of Ordinary.” Vanity Fair
“Burd is a terrific writer and a new talent to watch.” Booklist
“A beautiful blur..somewhere between Twin Peaks and My So-Called Life.” Flaunt