Stuck in Neutral

Shawn McDaniel is an enigma and a miracle--except no one knows it, least of all his father. His life is not what it may seem to anyone looking at him. Not even those who love him best have any idea what he is truly like. In this extraordinary and powerful first novel, the reader learns to look beyond the obvious and finds a character whose spirit is rich beyond imagining and whose story is unforgettable.

My life is like one of those "good news-bad news" jokes. Like, "I've got some good news and some bad news--which do you want first?"

I could go on about my good news for hours, but you probably want to hear the punch line, my bad news, right? Well, there isn't that much, really, but what's here is pretty wild. First off, my parents got divorced ten years ago because of me. My being born changed everything for all of us, in every way. My dad didn't divorce my mom, or my sister, Cindy, or my brother, Paul--he divorced me. He couldn't handle my condition, so he had to leave. My condition? Well, that brings us to the guts of my bad news.

Books for the Teen Age 2001 (NYPL), Books for Youth Editor's Choice 2000 (Booklist), Top 10 Youth First Novels 2000(Booklist), 2001 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA), 2001 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Readers (ALA), and 2001 Michael L. Printz Honor Book

Fourteen-year-old Shawn McDaniel loves the taste of smoked oysters and his mother's gentle hugs. Unfortunately, it's impossible for Shawn to feed himself or to hug his mom back. Shawn has cerebral palsy, a condition he has had since birth that has robbed him of all muscle control. He can't walk, talk, or even focus his eyes on his own. But despite all these handicaps, despite the frustration of not being able to communicate, Shawn is still happy to be alive: "Somehow all the things I think about and remember turn to joy... favorite movies... pinecones... chocolate pudding... the scent of Comet in a stainless steel sink.... Life can be great, even for me. Even for me." That is why he panics when he begins to suspect that his father is thinking of killing him. Shawn knows that his father is trying to be kind; he imagines that his son's life is an endless torment. His dad has no idea of the rich life that Shawn lives inside his head. And Shawn, helpless and mute, has no way of telling him.

Stuck in Neutral is a truly unique journey into the mind of a truly unique character. Shawn McDaniel, who is literally trapped in his own body, will serve as a powerful metaphor for teens who feel cornered by circumstances or their own physical shortcomings. Terry Trueman's first-person portrayal of Shawn is made all the more poignant by the fact that Trueman's own son, Henry, also suffers from cerebral palsy. This is an original and moving debut. (Ages 11 to 15) --Jennifer Hubert

When I first started reading this book, I was not quite sure if it was going to be too good because it was so short. However as I read, the book started getting deeper, and it also made you think really hard about the simple things in life that we take for granted. The main character in this book would be Shawn. He has a special condition called severe cerebral palsy and he cannot function properly. He has no control of his muscles whatsoever. This makes everyday tasks a challenge for him, and he always needs someone to help him with everything. However, he is a genius on the inside. He can perfectly remember anything he has seen from ages ago and has a perfectly fine mind. This is what gets you thinking about how fortunate and lucky we are. There is also his mom who cares about him a lot. She is the one who always has to take care of him. Shawn also has a brother and a sister. His sister is sweet and kind, but his brother his over protective of him and is short tempered. His dad is a complicated person. He loves Shawn a lot, and has written a poem about him which is constantly repeated throughout the book. The one main conflict in the book would be that Shawn's dad might be planning to kill him. He wants to end Shawn's pain, because he has a lot of seizures and his dad thinks he is enduring a lot of pain, but no one knows that he enjoys having these seizures. The story takes place in many different places, but it is mainly in his house. I thought this book was very deep and emotional. The book had many good qualities about it, but one bad quality would be that it is too short. Some of the good qualities would include very good, deep characters. Another good quality would be the mood of the book. The mood doesn't change throughout the book, but the lugubrious feeling the book gives off is very excellent. I would recommend this book for anyone older than 13. This is a very short read so young people would enjoy reading it. It is a good book for all ages because it really does make you think what life would be like with the same syndrome as Shawn. Even people who don't enjoy reading might get into this book because it is only 150 pages, and it has a lot of exciting moments starting from page one. I would rate this five out of five stars.

This is a short book written from the point of view of a teenage boy who has severe CP, and can't communicate otherwise. He is actually very smart, and very appreciative of his life.

He discovers that his dad wants to kill him to "put him out of his misery". The sad part of this is that the boy comes to accept this.

It is certainly a different way of looking at severely disabled people. What if they really can perceive everything around them? And think about it?

It is written by a man whose own son has CP.

If you read this book, expect to have your thoughts provoked, but it is not an action novel. Or a mystery.

Fourteen-year-old Shawn McDaniel isn't your ordinary kid. His affliction, cerebral palsy, denies him any control over his muscles, but unbeknownst to all who know him, he (p 10) remembers "everything" and is, in fact, "pretty smart." Typical of teenagers, he's interested in the opposite sex but feels differently about his seizures than one might think. Due to his father's interest in a man who mercy-killed his young, suffering son, Shawn believes his dad has designs on him to do the same. In Stuck in Neutral, the boy narrates the story of his surroundings. Even beyond the overall idea, parts of the plot go over the top at times, including an entire incident involving bullying boys and another's overreaction to their bad behavior. Especially after reading About the Author, one can't help but wonder what goes on inside the minds of those whose mental capacities and conditions are beyond our comprehension. Stuck in Neutral is a short, thought-provoking story. Also good: Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keys and A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar.

Product was as described in excellent condition. However, I paid for the premium expedited shipping and received it 9 days later. Longer than it would have taken regular mail from previous experience. Skip any shipping upgrades here. Otherwise okay.

"If my dad walked into my room right now and killed me, no one would ever know what I was really like. I want to love someone, and feel loved in return, for my real self. What if someone loved me enough to somehow break through and discover that I'm inside this body?"

***

STUCK IN NEUTRAL is a book that will stay with me. I will never look at the Life Skills kids in my school the same. Terry Trueman's story pulled me into Shawn's world-- and ultimately opened my mind about people that I am just as guilty of ignoring as Shawn's family is. What an amazing, amazing, powerful read. Should be required reading in high school.