Stuck in Neutral

Trueman, Terry, Stuck in Neutral, HarperCollins, 2000, 114 pg.

Summary: Shawn is a 14 year old boy who loves most everything a 14 year old loves: boobs, rock and roll, and eating potato chips. Shawn also has cerebral palsy which has rendered him completely unable to control any muscle movement. Any time his muscles do move it is completely involuntary. Stuck in Neutral is a candid narrative of what it is like for Shawn day to day. The entire book is from Shawn’s point of view. The ups and downs of Shawn’s life are expressed through jokes and the stark reality of Shawn’s debilitating disorder. The weight that Shawn feels from knowing that his disorder has split his parents apart and driven his father into a life of guilt is felt from page one. The novel slowly builds suspense as the debate of ending another’s life because of the pain they are in, is a crime or an act of love. The strong messages of belief, family, love, and hope are rawly expressed in this Printz honor award-winning novel by Terry Trueman.

Evaluation: This is a very powerful novel. Not only are there the usually struggles of becoming a young adult in this book, but a new layer is put on with Shawn having limited communication and feeling the guilt of driving his parents apart. I think the unique viewpoint provides the reader with a new perspective. The seriousness of the possibility of Shawn’s father “putting him out of misery” is so gripping that it is obvious why it won the awards it did.

Annotation: I think my Dad is planning to kill me and I am the only one who knows.

Significance of Book: This book highlights a disorder that not a lot is known about. The unique view point from inside Shawn, who cannot speak, is powerful.

Genre/subject: fiction, cerebral palsy

Awards:

National:

• · ALA Notable Children's Books: 2001
• · ALA Popular Paperbacks: 2010
• · ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers: 2001
• · Best Fiction for Young Adults: 2001
• · Michael L. Printz Honor: 2001

State:

• · Arizona: Grand Canyon Reader Award Nominees: 2003
• · Illinois: Lincoln Award Nominees: 2005
• · Indiana: Eliot Rosewater Award Nominees: 2003
• · Kentucky: Bluegrass Award Nominees: 2002
• · Kentucky: Bluegrass Award Winners: 2002
• · Maine: Student Book Award Nominees: 2002
• · Maryland: Black-eyed Susan Award Nominees: 2003
• · New York Pulic Library Books for the Teen Age: 2001
• · Tennessee: Volunteer State Book Award Nominees: 2003
• · Utah: Young Adult Book Award Nominees: 2003
• · Washington: Evergreen Young Adult Book Award Nominees: 2003
• · Wisconsin: Golden Archer Award Nominees: 2003

Why I selected the book: My background in Psychology drew me to this book. I have worked with youth with cerebral palsy and was fascinated to read a book from their point of view.

Price: $6.99