Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman

Pages: 114

Intended Audience: Teens and mature tweens

Genre: real life

Notes for Parents: Contains some mature themes

The Back Cover

Shawn McDaniel’s life is not what it may seem to anyone looking at him. He is glued to his wheelchair, unable to voluntarily move a muscle—he can’t even move his eyes. For all Shawn’s father knows, his son may be suffering. Shawn may want a release. And as long as he is unable to communicate his true feelings to his father, Shawn’s life is in danger.

To the world, Shawn’s senses seem dead. Within these pages, however, we meet a side of him that no one else has seen; a spirit that is rich beyond imaging, breathing life.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

It’s an American Library Association Honor Book.

What’s good?

This is a charmingly bittersweet story about a charismatic young man with a heartbreaking disability. It forces us to question many things, like: How much do we really know about people who are uncommunicative? How far would you go for someone you love? How do you define quality of life?

Seeing this all unfold from Shawn’s perspective is brilliant, especially as he offers up blunt truths about himself and others. The story is short, quick, in your face and very satisfying.

Best Part: The end.

What isn’t good?

While I wanted to sympathize for the father, I just couldn’t muster any respect for a dad who would leave his family because raising his son was too hard. I understood his fear that his son may be suffering physically, but I certainly don’t think he was in any position to decide what was best for Shawn. His plan seemed less about helping Shawn and more about ending his own suffering. Also, it was difficult to read the politically incorrect terms such as “retarded” and “vegetable.” We’ve come a long way since this book was written 13 years ago.

Worst part: There’s a sequel – so much for the good ending!

Recommendation þþþoo

This was a very quick read, both because it’s only 114 pages, and because of the excellent, precise, and imaginative writing. Shawn is a wonderful character telling a thought-provoking tale about suffering, dignity, mercy, and love. Recommended.

Trueman, Terry. Stuck in Neutral. New York: HarperCollins, 2000.