Stuck In Neutral - Hardcover

Terry Trueman

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0340805994 ISBN 13: 9780340805992

Publisher: Hodder, 2001

Synopsis

Shawn has cerebral palsy: highly intelligent, he has no control whatsoever over his body or its functions. His eyes wander or settle without control. His mouth, tongue, swallowing muscles all have a life of their own. No act of will by Shawn can affect anything he does or anything that happens to him. Yet Shawn's mental life is full of dreams and hopes and love and appreciation of all that is around him - music he happens to hear, things and people that happen to cross his line of vision. Then Shawn begins to fear that his father - from despair at Shawn's condition and believing that Shawn has no life, and never can have, is no more than a vegetable, and never will be - is planning the unthinkable - to put him out of his misery - to kill him...

About this title

About the Author

Terry Trueman was born in Alabama and has been writing since he was seventeen. 'Stuck in Neutral', Terry's first novel, is based very loosely on experiences related to the birth of his first son, Henry Sheehan McDaniel Trueman. Terry lives in Spokane, Washington, with his second son, Jesse. In addition to writing, he teaches college English classes on live television. 'Stuck in Neutral' was a Michael L. Printz Honor book in 2001.

Review

'An extraordinary journey into the landscape of someone else's mind ! a seriously good book that cuts to the heart of issues concerning the disability ! a real page-turner.' -- Lyn Gardner, Book of the Month in The Guardian 'a moving, thought-provoking novel, whose subject matter lingers in the mind.' -- Anne Marley, Principal Librarian, Children's and S 'An intensely moving autobiography of adolescent angst and supreme loneliness. It's an impressive book, harrowing to read, and very difficult to forget.' -- Marilyn Brocklehurst, Norfolk Children's Book Cent 'Extraordinary, prize-winning novel ! a page-turning thriller as well as a celebratory book about simple pleasures.' -- The Sunday Times, July 2001 ' Readers spend the whole book inside a place ... so vivid, so unique, they will be hard pressed to forget its mix of heaven and hell ... An intense reading experience.' -- Booklist Starred Review ' ... a fascinatingly horrifying premise. Is there anything more scary to us than being trapped inside a broken body that doesn't work ... ?' -- The Enterprise 'Stuck in Neutral is a marvellous book full of hope and humour and one I would actively encourage 12+ readers to pick up.' -- Samantha Eels Taylor, BfK July 2001 ' ... a truly unique journey into the mind of a truly unique character ... an original and moving debut.' -- Amazon.com '! this book will not easily be forgotten ! one which has much meaning and deserves to be read by many.' -- Kids Out 'Because it lends itself to the unknown and tells us things we normally would never even think about and because the narrator's down-to-earth, open-hearted candour is so persuasive ... Stuck In Neutral is a page-turner of a novel- exciting, approachable, inclusive.' -- Carousel Issue 19

Edition details

• Publisher: Hodder
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0340805994
• ISBN 13: 9780340805992
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 121