Rating: 
Summary: Interesting
Review: If you have ever watched a smart person with cerebral palsy being treated like an idiot by those around him, you will appreciate this short novel. This book calls into question the assumption made by many that a severe physical disability automatically indicates a severe mental disability. Shawn, the protagonist of this story, attends public school in a Severely Handicapped Special Day Class. He is surrounded by people who baby-talk to him and talk around and over him, assuming that he does not understand. Being fiction, one cannot take this story as proof that all people like Shawn are highly intelligent, but it should make one question the assumption that they are not. I loved his description of the Special Day Class, although I thought he was unbelievably forgiving of the people around him. I personally cringe (and sometimes enter into a deep depression) when I have to enter such a class, knowing that the students who are being changed and fed and listening to the same stupid nursery rhymes day after day have surely got other places they would rather be. It has to be extremely frustrating to be so unseen. If this book can make people question their assumptions about people with disabilities, then it has done a wonderful thing. It is less dangerous to assume that someone understands what is going on than to assume that they cannot, in terms of how much damage you are going to inflict on that person. Anyone who is going to work, play, or live with someone with severe CP should read this book. I used to reccommend Christy Brown's "Down All The Days" which is incredible, but a long, hard read and no one finishes it. This book is short and engaging and is more likely to be read.
Rating: 
Summary: mikes magnifacent all time best reviews
Review: this book is about a boy named Shaun McDanial, a young crippled boy who cant move or talk. His parrents are divorced, and he lives with his mom. On the outside he looks misrable and barly alive but on the inside hes is the happiest person ever. he livs in Seattle and he loves going for walks to see new things. As the book progresses his father starts seeing him more and more. In one scene his father was sitting outside with him and a crow flys by and his father throws a glass cor when it starts flying towds him. Then he says, "If i wasn't here the bird could of atacked you." His father sees him more and more and he thinks his son is misrable but he is extreamly happy. on the last time he takes his son he brings him to his house and then tedders on killing his son. you will need to read the book to see what happens.
Stuck in Neutral is an outstanding novel about life and how to value it. Truman realy brings you through a thrill ride of emotions and nail-biters. He had the caricters comeing to life and he creates realistic dioloug between him and his father.
Stuck in Neutral is a edge of your seat kepp you reading every night novel.I recomend this novel to any one who wants to read a novel that will teach you to love and charish life. This is and exrordanary novel and i hope you will read it to.
Rating:
Summary: Stuck in Neutral
Review: This is a book that you won't want to put down, even after you have read the last sentence. As a reader, you feel honored to get inside the head of Shawn, a 15-year old boy with Cerebral Palsy. You are able to see how the world seems or feels to someone like him. I laughed and cried while I read this book. You might not, but you will definitely think. Be prepared because the book deals with serious issues, such as euthanasia.
Rating:
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:
Summary: Very strong, powerful, and entirely unique perspective
Review: This was such an extraordinary story. The main character, Shawn, has been completely disabled by the misfortunes of cerebral palsy. At birth, a blood vessel exploded in his brain "in exactly the 100 percent perfectly wrong spot". This has left him entirely paralyzed, without the ability to move any of his muscles.
The first chapter is a brilliant piece of writing. Before we know that Shawn is entirely disabled, he tells us the good news and the bad news of his life. The good news is that he's lived on Earth for fourteen "(almost fifteen!) years and that he remembers everything that he sees or hears. The bad news is that he is a "retardate", a total retard. He tells us that everyone thinks that he is stupid, that his brain doesn't work, then saying: "They don't know that's only partially true".
What we get to see throughout the rest of the book is what it *might* be like inside the head of someone who has cerebral palsy, and it's fascinating. Shawn speaks of being attracted to women, speaks of not being able to control himself "down there" (although that has very, very minor mention in the story), goes into details about the seizures he has when he blacks out, what he hears other people saying when he comes out of him (very telling and intriguing), and that he believes his father is trying to kill him.
He has good reasons for thinking so. His father has commented on his "uselessness", although doing so, perhaps, from a loving place. He has also said to Shawn in a whisper, "Maybe it would be better if I ended your pain?" The father's torn emotions are nearly as powerful as Shawn's.
The voice in this book is so powerful and strong, Shawn's thought processes so infectious, that we are live with him on the very first page. The book has an interesting ending, which may seem to break a cardinal sin of writing, but as we never really know the ending, we can't be certain of that.
Rating: 
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:
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:
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:
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.
Rating:
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.
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