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Stuck in Neutral

Stuck in Neutral

List Price: $14.95
Your Price: $14.95
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Stuck in Neutral
Review: New to the growingly-popular genre know as YA fiction, it's hard for me to judge the whats good and downright bad in the field. All I can say is that the story of Shawn McDaniel's is, yes, touching but also kind of slow. I really don't understand the other reviewers comments about this book being fast-paced, when I viewed it simply a month-or was it a year, two?-in the life of a disabled child. Yes there were moments you wondered if Shawn's father would kill him, but where would the story be then. In the end, the readers don't really learn anything of Shawn's fate.

Who knows, maybe I'm too young to get it? But then again, I am the targeted reader. Why this book didn't get my attention by the shirt and take me on a adventure is beyond me. But I'm in the minority in my beleifs, of course. I know the story was good,and well written, but many tend to confuse those two traits as only those featured in "the best book ever"(exclamation points included).

Please don't brand my review "unhelpful" without reading Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson and Crazy Lady by Jane Conly, this book includes a child similar to Shawn.

All in all, Stuck in Neutral was good. If Trueman wrote a sequel, I would read it. One star was knocked off because of the ending. Great for a debut work.

R

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A New Perspective
Review: Although many people would put down Stuck in Neutral because of its size, the author uses many different techniques to captivate readers of any age by utilizing vivid characterization, an exciting plot line and descriptive dialogue, Trueman has made a truly inspiring piece of art. I guess what I'm trying to say really though is, Stuck in Neutral is a very good book. Sure, they may cut you off at the nding but overall, the content makes up for that. Being able to go into Shawn's mind, to know how someone like him might feel. It's amazing. Sure, some people may not like the idea of this book... but me, I thought it was an interesting read. Of course I'd recommend this book to anyone. After all, if you can get into his mind, really connect with him... Shawn could help you understand other people like him. So read Stuck in Neutral, it could change your life.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Stuck in Neutral
Review: As University of Wisconsin Oshkosh students in the Special Education program, we are often assigned projects that are lacking in excitement. However, for one of our classes we were assigned the reading of Stuck in Neutral. What an amazing book!!!! We found that all members of the group were able to relate in one way or another to the characters. The book is an eye opening experience that has forced all of us to look at the ways we interact with children with severe disabilities.
This book is great for young adults as well as adults. Both groups gain a lot of insight into what may be happening in the minds of people who are unable to express themselves. The book takes the reader through the daily experiences of a fourteen-year-old boy, Shawn, who has severe disabilities. As readers, we are given the opportunity to know exactly what Shawn is thinking, a privilege that nobody who knows him has ever been given.
There is also a possible life threatening concern that Shawn has found himself consumed by. This situation will keep readers deeply immersed in the story until the very last page. We highly, highly recommend this book to people of all ages who love a good read.


Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Review
Review: Even though Stuck in Neutral is a book about a handicapped boy, it can apply to anyone that loves a great story. Terry Trueman (the author) creates great characters that people can connect to. With Shawn, (the handicapped) Terry can really put you in his shoes. Stuck in Neutral has great realism, If you look around in our society, you will find "real" people just like Shawn. Stuck in Neutral's point of view is also very interesting, because Shawn describes every thing as he experiences it. These are the many reasons why I believe that Stuck in Neutral is a great book that everyone should love.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Short but Good
Review: for 114 pages, Trueman really does do a great job in trying to explain how mentally challeneged people might feel.
i feel that this book was great eevn though you never find out if Shawn's dad killed him or not.
the characters are realistic and the plot is very well put together.
people of all ages will enjoy this book and I'm sure when you're done, you'll have awhole new attitude for mentally challenged people.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Review on Stuck in Neutral
Review: I really liked this book because it had alot of emotion and true thought. A boy named Shawn Mcdaniel has cerebal palsey and a dad that's trying to kill him. And if that's not enough, he can remember everything he ever heard, and saw. It could be an extrodinary gift, but noone will ever know because he can't talk, or communicate with anyone. He's a vegetable. I like this book because his father loves him, very much. Shawn goes through seizures every day, and when his dad see's him having them he feels that he's suffering. But really Shawn looks forward to them. His dad feels that he should put him out of his misery, by killing him. It's a story of bad new's and good news. The only part I don't like about this book is that at the end it has kind of a cliff hanger ending. Out of nowhere the book just ends. I wish I could know what his father was going to do to him, or if he did anything at all. This is a very good book because, it keeps you interested,and you never know what is going to happen. I would recommend it to anyone who likes fast reading with emotion in the thought.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Stuck in Neutral
Review: Imagine living in such an intricate world, and never being able to respond to anything around you. That's exactly what Shawn McDaniel, a victim of Cerebral Palsy, has to go through every day. According to Shawn, a day full of seizures, is a typical day for him. When he was born, a tiny blood vessel burst in his brain causing all this damage. Since the vessel burst and wiped out all of his muscle control, he cannot do anything. Despite not being able to do anything for himself, Shawn has had a good fourteen years of life so far. Shawn's good life turns bad when his father interviews Earl Detraux. A man who was convicted of second degree murder of his two-year-old mentally challenged son, Colin. Whenever someone asks him if he really killed his son, he claims that his son was suffering from a terminal inoperable disorder so he wanted to end his suffering. After this occurrence Shawn gets the idea that something terrible is going to happen. Something like his own dad killing him. If you want to find out what happens to Shawn, you should read Stuck in Neutral, by Terry Trueman.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: good piece of work
Review: My only complaint is the book was extremely short. I hoped maybe the plot could have been a bit more developed, but unfortunatly- the writer felt it wise to leave the rest to the reader. I guess thats a virtue, but I was left wondering and wishing that I could delve deeper into Shawn's life and truth.

The story's plot was unique, and the end left me biting my nails and begging for more. If you want a good read, this is definatly your book!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Stuck in Neutral By Terry Trueman
Review: Stuck in Neutral, a story told through a 14-year-old boy's mind, is full of questions. Some questions are answered clearly, and some you have to answer based on what you believe in. Shawn, the character who tells the story, has the condition of cerebral palsy. He can't control any of his physical actions. The way this story was written made me want to explore the book further. Stuck in Neutral really caused me to reflect on what ohter people feel inside themselves. After reading this book I had a new insight about people with special needs. Now I think carefully of their feelings, thoughts, and values. Shawn enjoys life, likes living, but is worried about one thing. Is his father thinking about killing him?

I could see everytyhing that was happening in the story. Shawn's situations were so real to me. I could relate to how Shawn's mind worked and the thought process he went through. Although I could not realte to his condition, I learned what it felt like to be in Shawn's place according to the author, Terry Trueman. Through his writing, Trueman has convinced me that the character of Shawn is real. Mr. McDaniel was realistic to me also. I could see Mr. McDaniel's thought process for and against killing Shawn, however, I don't see eye to eye with him. Trueman's characters were in real life situations, and had real decisions to make. Terry Trueman made all the characters so well developed that they are all factual to me.

Shawn wishes he had a normal life, but he did not mind reality either as long as he had his mind and imagination. Shawn might not be able to communicate wiht other people, but he could think and imagine whatever he wanted. He was not in agony, but nobody knew that, and no one ever would. Shawn's dad hated to see Shawn in what he thought he was suffering. Really it was more painful for Mr. McDaniel to see Shawn having a seizure than for Shawn to auctaully to have one. Throughout he book Shawn starts to pick up signs from his dad. Shawn becomes scared because he thinks that his dad wanst to kill him, or put him out his misery. Will Mr. McDaniel auctually kill his own son?

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: It will keep you wondering until the last page!!
Review: The book Stuck in Neutral is about a boy named Shawn McDaniel who has cerebral palsy. He can't move at all, and he sits in a wheelchair all day. If that isn't bad enough, he thinks that his dad is trying to kill him. This book will keep you reading until the very last page. Some things I liked about the book that is was told in his perspective. I think that it is cool because I never thought about how kids with that disorder could be a normal kid with a normal mind. Another thing is that he tells the story like you are right there with him. Also, the book isn't depressing at all like you might think. Sometimes it's funny, too. The only part of the book that I didn't like was a part at the end. I don't think it was as good as it should have been. Because of this, I gave this book four starts.


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