Stuck in Neutral

Rating:
Summary: Chilling!
Review: It kinda gets down and dirty. Nothing is sugar coated in this book. You are forced to face the reality that we can't judge a book by it's cover, so to speak. It has expanded my way of thinking so much that I have chosen to change my attitude towards those people our society has labeled "retarded."

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Summary: There Is A Voice
Review: Quality works of fiction give us a voice we know we've heard before, but can't quite place. After reading the first chapter of STUCK IN NEUTRAL I realized that the voice in this book is one I've heard in my own mind. It says, discard the shell and concentrate on what's within. What if that autistic child, that comatose woman, that profoundly disabled individual has an interior landscape that looks hauntingly familiar? I was immediately smitten with the possibilities this book has to offer. The reading of it turned magical for me. I found myself cheering for Shawn McDaniel, even envying his capabilities. And in so doing, I realized the victory that Mr. Trueman has achieved by his rendering of this story. I will never again look at "disabled persons" in the same way. I am not naive to the grim realities of everyday life for folks with CP; on the contrary I have had very real firsthand experience with it. But every group of people needs a champion and I think Shawn McDaniel assumes this role with considerable aplomb. Thank you, Terry Trueman, for a brilliant read.

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Summary: M.S. and H.S. Staff and Students must read this book
Review: As a veteran teacher, I have frequently taught and observed children with disabilities, in both a classroom and extra-curricular setting. None of those experiences have equaled my connection felt with these young people, while I read this book. Written by a father of an exceptional child, this short novel (which I read in one day), sent waves of emotion through my body and a greater appreciation of life and all of the people who live with disabilities. I told my students and parents that this was THE one book they MUST read this summer. Thank you, Mr. Trueman. I will never forget you or your son.

Rating:
Summary: Best book I've Read Since Speak
Review: This was a very powerful book. I will add it to my read aloud list for 5th grade next year. Terry Trueman gave Shawn his voice. I can't wait for another winner like Stuck in Neutral.

Rating:
Summary: Stuck in Neutral
Review: Hi,I just want ot say I love this book!! My teacher Mrs. Donato (the coolest reading teacher ever hehe ) :) :), is reading this to us and it is really good. I love the way he used a kid with C.P.'s out look on things and the fact that the kid (Sean) is really smart, but no one else can tell. Also, I like how one minute he story is soooooo deep, but then all of a sudden after those thoughts are done, somehing hilarious happens!! Well, I g2g, but just so you know this book rules!!! ~Michelle in the 7th grade~ P.S. Hey Mr. Trueman, mrs. Donato's reading us your emails . . .They are really neat and thanx for writing back!!!!!

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Summary: KUDOS TO TERRY TRUEMAN AND STUCK IN NEUTRAL
Review: I am a seventh grade teacher who is currently reading this book aloud to my 5 classes. It has opened up a world of discussion that has lead to a deeper awareness, acceptance and appreciation for people who are different. Terry Trueman has given us a story that is moving, funny, sarcastic and real. My students beg to have it read to them as soon as I enter the class each day. They are touched by Shawn and by the tenderness that Mr. Trueman exhibits in this book. I hope it sells millions of copies!! I will read it again next year. Please try it. Lois Donato

Rating:
Summary: WOW!
Review: this is an incredible book. if i could give it more than 5 stars, i would. i'd give it a million. completely incapable of communicating anything or controlling any of his muscles, living in a world where dreams are his true reality, and his reality is made of things he's seen and heard, the main character describes his world with the incredible irony of a true genius. he is trapped in a cage that only his dreams can free him from. and his father... he feels incredible love toward his son, but the love is held by misunderstanding. This book made me cry, made me laugh, made me understand love freedom, and dreams more than i ever would have.

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Summary: A Different Perspective
Review: I purchased this book because it won an honor in the Michael L. Printz awards for writers of fiction for young adults. My adult son has had a disability (not cerebral palsy) since birth. I have spent 30 years reading literature written by adults who have disabilities. I know many people with disabilities. I welcomed an excellent book that would help my grandchildren grow in their understanding. I found this book to be without any value. I found it to be shallow in character development. Rather than showing us, it told us what it wanted us to know. (e.g. It told us the father loved his son but he couldn't bear to live with the family because of the child's suffering. We have to accept that without the author building credibility.) The relationships were rather stereotyped. The information about disability was not consistent with anything I know. And the fact that the author's real life situation was re-created in the book was the final sadness for me: a father, who has a son with a disability, writes a book about a man who writes a book (about a father who kills his son with a disability) as a way to explore the "self-sacrifice" of killing a disabled child. I am not shocked or offended about such feelings. I am disappointed that the book wasn't richer. I think the raves over this book tell us more about how little most people know about the experiences of persons and families living with disabilities. I would like to read reviews from more of these people.

Rating:
Summary: an enlightening adventure through the mind.
Review: This book, "Stuck in Neutral" but Terry Trueman is really wonderful. It makes you think about the person in the wheelchair, not just the fact they are there. The thing I found most intresting though, is that Terry Trueman's son, Sheehan has cerebral palsy. It makes you think how closely knit he is with this story. For he could put himself in the fathers shoes, and relate so closely with Shawn. I feel this is a great book and very intresting to read and learn from. My one problem is its length, I feel like 114 pages just isn't enough for this complex character. I guess you can only let it go so long, when you have a main character that cannot do anything but think. I loved this book and would reccomend it to anyone who seems intrested, its deffinetly a wonderful read and an adventure through one couragous boys mind.

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Summary: Something for us all the think about
Review: I don't have Cerebral Palsy and do not know anyone who does. Regardless, I found so much to relate to in Stuck in Neutral. As teenagers, many of us feel/felt like we couldn't be heard, or that we were stifled. The reality of Stuck in Neutral shows so clearly that what appears to be so on the surface is not what lies beneath.