Stuck in Neutral
by Terry Trueman
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Book Summary Information
Author: Terry TruemanEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2001-10-09
ISBN: 0064472132
Number of pages: 144
Publisher: HarperTeen
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780064472135
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of Stuck in Neutral
Book Review: Shifting Gears
Summary: 5 Stars
Shawn, 14 has a sister, Cindy who is 16 and a brother Paul who is 17. Shawn has a killer wit; a wicked sense of humor and an auditory memory that is off the charts. He also has cerebral palsy. Shawn cannot talk; swallow independently; walk or do any self-care skills. He is incontinent and has seizures.
The only really sad thing about this story is that Shawn is a bright young man trapped in a body that doesn't work and who cannot communicate so that others are aware of his inherent abilities. Shawn learned to read by watching his sister sound out words; he learned to count and add in much the same way. Most of his knowledge came from observation and listening. Shawn is a very deep thinker. He is also funny.
His well meaning family and other caregivers treat him like an infant. It is upsetting that many people assume that a person who has limited physical capacity and who cannot speak is also unable to think, feel and reason. Sadly, many people in Shawn's shoes are treated as incompetent and are not taken seriously. One especially poignant part of this novel was when Shawn was attracted to a girl at his sister's sleepover, knowing that nothing would ever come of his infatuation.
Shawn, whose parents are divorced sees his father occasionally. He fears his father will kill him (euthanasia, a word Shawn learned) and his fear escalates when Cindy and their father appear on a trashy tabloid talk show, discussing a man who killed his severely disabled son. Their father is sympathetic to the man, showing his human side and discussing why he chose to "end his son's life of pain" instead of condemning him as a filicidal monster. Other sides of the issue are explored. Paul, who has a bad relationship with their father refuses to be part of the show, but he does watch it with the family the day it airs.
Shawn's description of the self-contained class he attends at the public high school is funny. Instead of feeling bitter at having to be fed, changed and endure infantile routines such as nursery rhymes and watching his peers put nonedible objects into their mouths, he views his situation realistically and with humor. It is what it is. He finds one of the aides attractive and jokes about a male aide. I loved the way he described his class and was impressed with how tolerant he was of those working with him. It begs the question of respect: upon meeting a group that requires skilled care, it is generally best not to discuss the people as if they were not there and had no feelings. Although not all people with severe physical limitations have Shawn's intelligence and insight, there is no way to prove which ones don't. As a general rule of thumb, talking in normal tones of voice and not pushing infantile projects onto students such as Shawn's classmates to see what areas can be tapped seems like a good approach. The best form of damage control is preventive measures and assuming people understand what is being said and done is far better than assuming they do not.
This is a shining gem of a book and one that I cannot recommend highly enough. I also recommend the companion book to this one, "Cruise Control" which is written in Paul's voice.
*Note: In INSIDE OUT, the protagonist is Zach McDaniel Wahhsted. The McDaniel connection catches readers who have read this work as well.
Summary of 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
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