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STUCK IN NEUTRAL
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Trueman, Terry. 2000. STUCK IN NEUTRAL. New York, NY: HarperCollins Children’s Books. ISBN 006285192
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Shawn McDaniel is a fourteen year old boy who loves his mother, enjoys the taste of smoked oysters, and has never taken care of any of his own needs. Although Shawn has never spoken a word, he can remember every conversation he has ever heard, and he is able to read. Since he is unable to express himself, Shawn’s IQ measures out to be that of a three to four month old baby. The worst part of his cerebral palsy isn’t the seizures that often plague him nor his life of total dependence: it is the feeling Shawn has that his dad wants to kill him. “If my dad walked into this room right now and killed me, no one would know what I was really like.”(Trueman, 60)
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Terry Trueman writes this novel in the voice of Shawn, who can’t communicate with the outside world. Using Shawn’s voice is a powerful way to present this tough subject of possible euthanasia and the life of a person trapped within themselves. Although Shawn is physically imprisoned within his own body, his mind is free.
“Have you ever wondered if a definition of love might not include taking responsiblility for someone who can’t take responsibility for his or her self?” This is the question that Shawn’s father grapples with as he watches his son “suffer” or so he believes. It is obvious that there is a bit of man vs. man conflict here, but there is also man’s conflict within himself, as Shawn begins to accept the possibility of his own death at his father’s hands. When I began this book, I was incensed at the thought of a father taking his son’s life, but Trueman’s masterful development of each character, especially those of Shawn and his father, helped me not to cast Shawn’s father in such a bad light. The ending is one that has the reader revisiting the story, trying to decide what was the fate of Shawn. “But before either of us can speak again, I feel crackle-crackle-crackle. I can’t tell what’s going to happen next. My seizure begins to spin slowly through me. What will my dad do? Whatever it is, in another moment I’ll be flying free. Either way, whatever he does, I’ll be soaring.” Even more gripping are the author’s notes at the end that explain Mr. Trueman based the character Shawn after his own son. “While I invented Shawn’s world and make up all the things that happen, I also based what I wrote on being the parent of a kid like Shawn, my son Henry Sheehan Trueman.”
4. AWARDS/HONORS
2001Michael L. Printz Honor Book
2001 ALA Best Book for Young Adults
2001 ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
2000 ALA Booklist Top Ten Youth First Novels
5. REVIEW EXCERPTS
School Library Journal recommends this book for Gr 5-9. The review: “Shawn McDaniel has cerebral palsy. With no control of physical functions, he appears to the outside world, including his family, to be hopelessly retarded-a "vegetable." Because he narrates the story, readers know that he is, in fact, a near genius, completely aware of his surroundings, and able to remember everything he has ever heard…His struggle to be known, and ultimately loved, is vividly captured, and the issue of euthanasia is handled boldly but sensitively…This story is bound to spark much lively discussion.”
From Barnes and Noble’s customers’ reviews: “I JUST LOVE THIS BOOK, and definitely recommend this book to any age. I'm an eighth grader, and I just love to read. And this is one of my favorite books. As you read you become so excited that you want to read more. WOW GREAT BOOK.. SAD ENDING TOO.”
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