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Shawn McDaniel #3
Life Happens Next
Stuck in Neutral, a Printz Honor Book, introduced the world to Shawn McDaniel, a fourteen-year-old kid with cerebral palsy. But what happens next?
Shawn's got a new perspective on life. But no one has a clue. That's because they can see only his wheelchair, his limp body, his drool. What they don't see? His brain, with perfect auditory memory. And his heart, which is in love with a girl. And his fierce belief that someday someone will realize there's way more to him than his appearance.
How do you connect with others when you can't talk, walk, or even wave hello? In the sequel to Stuck in Neutral, which ALA Booklist called "an intense reading experience," Shawn McDaniel discovers a new definition of "normal" and finds that life happens next for everyone.
Shawn's got a new perspective on life. But no one has a clue. That's because they can see only his wheelchair, his limp body, his drool. What they don't see? His brain, with perfect auditory memory. And his heart, which is in love with a girl. And his fierce belief that someday someone will realize there's way more to him than his appearance.
How do you connect with others when you can't talk, walk, or even wave hello? In the sequel to Stuck in Neutral, which ALA Booklist called "an intense reading experience," Shawn McDaniel discovers a new definition of "normal" and finds that life happens next for everyone.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published August 21, 2012
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530 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
May 27, 2017
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This is the sequel to Stuck in Neutral which follows a 14 year old boy with Cerebral Palsy. After his father didn't kill him like he planned, Shawn McDaniel is happy to be alive. Everyone still thinks he is a vegetable and unable to understand or communicate with others effectively. That's when Debi, his mom's 41 year old cousin with Down Syndrome comes to live with them and is the first person to see him for who he truly is.
Although I find the concept of the book being written from Shawn's perspective intriguing, I found it boring and uneventful. I did like how his family was so supportive and understanding and I really enjoyed Debi and Rusty as characters. I will say that I enjoyed Stuck in Neutral a lot more and did not think this brought anything new to Shawn's story.
This is the sequel to Stuck in Neutral which follows a 14 year old boy with Cerebral Palsy. After his father didn't kill him like he planned, Shawn McDaniel is happy to be alive. Everyone still thinks he is a vegetable and unable to understand or communicate with others effectively. That's when Debi, his mom's 41 year old cousin with Down Syndrome comes to live with them and is the first person to see him for who he truly is.
Although I find the concept of the book being written from Shawn's perspective intriguing, I found it boring and uneventful. I did like how his family was so supportive and understanding and I really enjoyed Debi and Rusty as characters. I will say that I enjoyed Stuck in Neutral a lot more and did not think this brought anything new to Shawn's story.
June 5, 2016
3.7/5
My name is Schwan McDaniel
I made it to fifteen
What now?
Life happens next, the sequel of 'Stuck in neutral'. I rarely read series novel but this one is a must read because i read stuck in neutral 4 months ago and really want to know what happens next in Schwan's life. This book is all about Schwan McDaniel, the narrator of the story, A kid whose suffering from cerebral palsy, how going through his life? What are his thoughts? How he feel? How he respond? His fear of being killed by his father? What he'll do in life?
I like this part a bit more because of the addition of a new character named Debi whose suffering from Downs syndrome. How she cares about Schwan? How she understand all the feelings of Schwan whose unable to respond a bit? finally her death, That's really touching. Above all the saddest thing is writer's own son is suffering from C.P in real life. And this book is a kind of dedication to his son and all those sufferers.
Like the previous book, this one is also Short, simple, moving & a quick read. 2 hours are more than enough for this.
My name is Schwan McDaniel
I made it to fifteen
What now?
Life happens next, the sequel of 'Stuck in neutral'. I rarely read series novel but this one is a must read because i read stuck in neutral 4 months ago and really want to know what happens next in Schwan's life. This book is all about Schwan McDaniel, the narrator of the story, A kid whose suffering from cerebral palsy, how going through his life? What are his thoughts? How he feel? How he respond? His fear of being killed by his father? What he'll do in life?
I like this part a bit more because of the addition of a new character named Debi whose suffering from Downs syndrome. How she cares about Schwan? How she understand all the feelings of Schwan whose unable to respond a bit? finally her death, That's really touching. Above all the saddest thing is writer's own son is suffering from C.P in real life. And this book is a kind of dedication to his son and all those sufferers.
Like the previous book, this one is also Short, simple, moving & a quick read. 2 hours are more than enough for this.
September 16, 2015
An interesting yet entirely speculative and grossly unrealistic story written from the perspective of an adolescent male with severe cerebral palsy. The protagonist has absolutely no ability/capacity to communicate with others or to control his body in any manner, yet is able to perfectly relate his lived experience to the reader (the first of dozens of major incongruities). The only times he feels freed from his burdensome body are when he has grand mal seizure dreams (a fanciful notion displaying the author's profound ignorance regarding the lived experience of those who undergo grand mal seizures which are, actually, quite terrifying and unpleasant, in reality) and when he is dreaming at night. He engages in various fantasy activities both during his dream periods and when daydreaming during alert periods. Though he attends school, no mention is made of exactly what he spends his time doing there every day, apart from having his diapers changed.
This primary character repeatedly identifies himself as being a "gifted" individual. The particular "gift" he perceives himself as having comes in the form of an eidetic auditory memory (a purely fantasy-related notion that is not based on science and has never been demonstrated by any human being, nor was any evidence of this ability ever tested or displayed in the storyline - see "echoic memory" articles for more data on this). Thus, the author, via the protagonist insists on "telling" rather than "showing" the reader the "gifts" and several other characteristics about this and other characters. The "sainthood" of his sister and mother are two other "tell but don't show" phenomena.
This author creates caricatures, rather than characters. This severely disabled teen has near-magically managed to have a family that is always kind and generous to him, never perceives him as a burden or gets frustrated with him for any reason, with the exception of his father who doesn't live with the family anymore, yet makes his son a hero by writing poems about him. None of them are ashamed, angered, or embarrassed by his presence in their lives, no matter when or where his grand mal seizures or tic-like screaming vocalizations may occur.
His caregivers at home and school are always gentle, protective, and kind to him and any time any potential threat may appear in his life, he always has a "rescuer" readily at hand. Having been an RN for more than a quarter century and now being disabled myself, I can assure you that there are no severely disabled individuals who are so consistently and predictably protected from harmful others or environments, unless they are literally living in a medical "bubble". Thus, this isn't any form of a realistic book about living with disabilities. It's fantasized and twisted into a cartoonish vision of what the author would like the life of a severely disabled person to be like, rather than what it ever has been or ever will be.
The author displays a profound disrespect for those actually living with severe disabilities by refusing to engage in extensive research regarding the realities of life with severe CP and/or severe developmental delays/Down's Syndrome. She projects her own fantasies onto their lives and the lives of those who are actually providing hands-on care for them, around the clock, for years/decades at a time. The author does manage to accurately reflect the layers of isolation that often separate the severely disabled from others, along with throwing in her religious wishes as to how such individuals might be able to connect with the souls of others via dreams and visions.
I profoundly reject her loose and excessive use of the term "retard' to describe either one of the two disabled individuals in this story. It's profoundly undignified/disrespectful and is grossly inconsistent with the generally positive self-concept of the protagonist. I have never found those within the black community who use the "N" word to describe themselves to EVER be individuals with any degree of genuinely high self-esteem. Those are both terms of bigotry, anger, and shame - not celebratory terms, in any form.
In general, this book displays the profound naivete of the author both as to how to write quality literature and how to relate what the inner lived experiences of others are in a meaningful and realistic way. She would have been better off titling the book, "My Fantasy Of The Lives Of Those With Profound Disabilities". That would have been a more truthful and mature reflection of the book's contents.
This primary character repeatedly identifies himself as being a "gifted" individual. The particular "gift" he perceives himself as having comes in the form of an eidetic auditory memory (a purely fantasy-related notion that is not based on science and has never been demonstrated by any human being, nor was any evidence of this ability ever tested or displayed in the storyline - see "echoic memory" articles for more data on this). Thus, the author, via the protagonist insists on "telling" rather than "showing" the reader the "gifts" and several other characteristics about this and other characters. The "sainthood" of his sister and mother are two other "tell but don't show" phenomena.
This author creates caricatures, rather than characters. This severely disabled teen has near-magically managed to have a family that is always kind and generous to him, never perceives him as a burden or gets frustrated with him for any reason, with the exception of his father who doesn't live with the family anymore, yet makes his son a hero by writing poems about him. None of them are ashamed, angered, or embarrassed by his presence in their lives, no matter when or where his grand mal seizures or tic-like screaming vocalizations may occur.
His caregivers at home and school are always gentle, protective, and kind to him and any time any potential threat may appear in his life, he always has a "rescuer" readily at hand. Having been an RN for more than a quarter century and now being disabled myself, I can assure you that there are no severely disabled individuals who are so consistently and predictably protected from harmful others or environments, unless they are literally living in a medical "bubble". Thus, this isn't any form of a realistic book about living with disabilities. It's fantasized and twisted into a cartoonish vision of what the author would like the life of a severely disabled person to be like, rather than what it ever has been or ever will be.
The author displays a profound disrespect for those actually living with severe disabilities by refusing to engage in extensive research regarding the realities of life with severe CP and/or severe developmental delays/Down's Syndrome. She projects her own fantasies onto their lives and the lives of those who are actually providing hands-on care for them, around the clock, for years/decades at a time. The author does manage to accurately reflect the layers of isolation that often separate the severely disabled from others, along with throwing in her religious wishes as to how such individuals might be able to connect with the souls of others via dreams and visions.
I profoundly reject her loose and excessive use of the term "retard' to describe either one of the two disabled individuals in this story. It's profoundly undignified/disrespectful and is grossly inconsistent with the generally positive self-concept of the protagonist. I have never found those within the black community who use the "N" word to describe themselves to EVER be individuals with any degree of genuinely high self-esteem. Those are both terms of bigotry, anger, and shame - not celebratory terms, in any form.
In general, this book displays the profound naivete of the author both as to how to write quality literature and how to relate what the inner lived experiences of others are in a meaningful and realistic way. She would have been better off titling the book, "My Fantasy Of The Lives Of Those With Profound Disabilities". That would have been a more truthful and mature reflection of the book's contents.
February 7, 2017
Really, really ableist. Made me cringe.
December 11, 2021
I did not enjoy this sequel as much as Stuck in Neutral. The plot felt didactic and the characters, two-dimensional.
September 5, 2012
When I read Stuck in Neutral, ten years ago, I remember being impressed by the story of Shawn, moved by Shawn’s character, his realistic and cynical voice and his internal struggles, and sympathetic to Shawn’s family. What must it be like to be trapped in a body which will not obey? I pondered this for a few weeks then went on with my life. I had no idea that, fast-forward ten years, I would be one of those family members caring for a severely disabled young man, and that Shawn’s story would at least in part, become my own.
My step-son Thomas is 21 years old, weighs 64 pounds, is tube fed, nonverbal, wears diapers, has cerebral palsy, seizure disorder and other various developmental disabilities. Unlike Shawn though, Thomas does have some limited motor control. I married Tommy’s dad, Terry, several years ago, after thinking long and hard about whether I was ready to jump ship from my single, no-responsibilities life into a family situation. I knew that Thomas was in his father’s sole custody, and was to be our full-time responsibility. Top that off with the fact that Thomas’s dad travels for sometimes days at a time and at a moment’s notice, and you can see how my lifestyle might change. And oh, it has changed! Over these past three years I have cared for Thomas: fed him, changed his diapers at three A.M., bathed him, washed his bedding, cleaned up his accidents, wiped his nose and mopped up pools of drool, lifted him in and out of wheelchairs, cars, his bed…you get the picture. I have become his advocate, learning how to prepare for doctor’s appointments to make them rapid and efficient, how to appeal a health insurance denial, what types of paperwork needs to be done in Thomas’s support on a yearly basis, what a “Trust” is, how to hold Thomas’s wondering hands and write a check at the same time at the grocery store, how to manage my time better so that I can work full time and still be there to get Thomas ready for school, what “Home Health Care” means and how to keep my tears under wraps when Tommy’s nutritional formula is delivered late. It’s been challenging, but I’ve learned much about myself and others in the process.
What I love about this novel what the reader learns about humanity through Shawn’s jaded thoughts and Debi’s tender, humorous voice. I have never heard my dear Thomas speak, but in these pages Trueman has gifted Thomas with a voice, and it shouts from every page. Thomas is very smart—I see it in the way he looks at me, in the way he laughs when his father and I kiss, in the way he reaches for me when I am sad, in the way he flirts with his sister’s friends, and in the way he becomes fixed on television shows and music. Thomas is magnetic—people recognize him everywhere, and he has a hug and a smile for everyone who gets near enough to touch him. So, in Shawn’s words, “what is God’s big plan” for Thomas? I have often wondered this myself as I bathe him or feed him. How will people grieve Thomas when he is gone? How will they remember him? What will he leave behind when he cannot work, get married, have kids, or even talk? In the words of Shawn’s mother, we live “in a society…that gives a material value to everything and everybody,” but that’s not really what it’s about is it? We need to look past our bodies and see what Shawn calls the “souls and spirits” that live on forever. Unless we learn to “pay attention to [our] world” and to one another, we may never really know the wonderful people like Thomas and Shawn who have a little something to give—or people like Debi, who give us the gift of knowing ourselves.
Thank you once again, Terry Trueman, for giving kids like Shawn (and Thomas) a voice.
My step-son Thomas is 21 years old, weighs 64 pounds, is tube fed, nonverbal, wears diapers, has cerebral palsy, seizure disorder and other various developmental disabilities. Unlike Shawn though, Thomas does have some limited motor control. I married Tommy’s dad, Terry, several years ago, after thinking long and hard about whether I was ready to jump ship from my single, no-responsibilities life into a family situation. I knew that Thomas was in his father’s sole custody, and was to be our full-time responsibility. Top that off with the fact that Thomas’s dad travels for sometimes days at a time and at a moment’s notice, and you can see how my lifestyle might change. And oh, it has changed! Over these past three years I have cared for Thomas: fed him, changed his diapers at three A.M., bathed him, washed his bedding, cleaned up his accidents, wiped his nose and mopped up pools of drool, lifted him in and out of wheelchairs, cars, his bed…you get the picture. I have become his advocate, learning how to prepare for doctor’s appointments to make them rapid and efficient, how to appeal a health insurance denial, what types of paperwork needs to be done in Thomas’s support on a yearly basis, what a “Trust” is, how to hold Thomas’s wondering hands and write a check at the same time at the grocery store, how to manage my time better so that I can work full time and still be there to get Thomas ready for school, what “Home Health Care” means and how to keep my tears under wraps when Tommy’s nutritional formula is delivered late. It’s been challenging, but I’ve learned much about myself and others in the process.
What I love about this novel what the reader learns about humanity through Shawn’s jaded thoughts and Debi’s tender, humorous voice. I have never heard my dear Thomas speak, but in these pages Trueman has gifted Thomas with a voice, and it shouts from every page. Thomas is very smart—I see it in the way he looks at me, in the way he laughs when his father and I kiss, in the way he reaches for me when I am sad, in the way he flirts with his sister’s friends, and in the way he becomes fixed on television shows and music. Thomas is magnetic—people recognize him everywhere, and he has a hug and a smile for everyone who gets near enough to touch him. So, in Shawn’s words, “what is God’s big plan” for Thomas? I have often wondered this myself as I bathe him or feed him. How will people grieve Thomas when he is gone? How will they remember him? What will he leave behind when he cannot work, get married, have kids, or even talk? In the words of Shawn’s mother, we live “in a society…that gives a material value to everything and everybody,” but that’s not really what it’s about is it? We need to look past our bodies and see what Shawn calls the “souls and spirits” that live on forever. Unless we learn to “pay attention to [our] world” and to one another, we may never really know the wonderful people like Thomas and Shawn who have a little something to give—or people like Debi, who give us the gift of knowing ourselves.
Thank you once again, Terry Trueman, for giving kids like Shawn (and Thomas) a voice.
February 17, 2014
And with this we get the conclusion to Shawn's story. What do you do when you are unable to move your body and express yourself? You just live and hope for the best.
I liked the final conclusion of this series and the answer to that so frequent question most authors prefer to let unanswered after giving their story a happy ending. So, "what happens next?" The answer: Life! We don't know what the future may hold, but as long as we're alive we're sure going to find out :).
I liked Debby and her dog and the way they managed to interact with Shawn. At times I also felt very sad for his helplessness and again I must admire the author for managing to keep his story on a very optimist level, even funny at times. I will surely keep an eye for his works in the future :) .
I liked the final conclusion of this series and the answer to that so frequent question most authors prefer to let unanswered after giving their story a happy ending. So, "what happens next?" The answer: Life! We don't know what the future may hold, but as long as we're alive we're sure going to find out :).
I liked Debby and her dog and the way they managed to interact with Shawn. At times I also felt very sad for his helplessness and again I must admire the author for managing to keep his story on a very optimist level, even funny at times. I will surely keep an eye for his works in the future :) .
October 14, 2012
Life Happens Next is the sequel to Stuck In Neutral by Terry Trueman and honestly, after reading this book, I can’t wait to check Cruise Control, the companion novel out of the library. So, um spoiler alert: Shawn doesn’t die, and so Life Happens Next focuses on Shawn’s life after he avoids being murdered by his dad.
Read the rest of my review here
Read the rest of my review here
June 18, 2017
LTCY 504- Sequel to Stuck in Neutral, this continues to follow Shawn McDaniel's life and the new addition of Debi, his mother's cousin with Down syndrome. When Debi and her dog Rusty move in after her parents pass away, Shawn finds that things are definitely different, but he finds a friendship in Debi that he has not had with anyone else. She seems to understand him, the real him and the way he is inside. This book gives a glimpse of not only Shawn and his struggles with cerebral palsy, but also introduces the struggles of Debi in her daily life with Down syndrome. You see the way it affects the families, but you also see the friendships and love that stem from their new relationships. Terry Trueman has based the characters of Shawn and Debi after his own son Sheehan who has CP and his sister-in-law Donna who they care for who has down syndrome. This brings another level to the book and the reality of these characters and tries to give a voice to their struggles and the hope for them to have a better future. After some unfortunate events, Shawn realizes he doesn't know what will happen next other than that life will continue on.
November 17, 2025
I thought this book was a good wrap up to the trilogy ( I won’t spoil the last few chapters but they were especially good) I’m glad Shawn McDaniel was created as a main character we need more voices like his spreading the word about normalizing disability in relationships and even just everyday basic tasks, even if Shawn’s perspective is one of fiction the character is based closely on terry trueman’s.experience with his first born son. I said it in my first review for this trilogy and I will say it again stories like Shawn’s happen to real families and are worthy of being told far more often. Disability is a topic still in need of destigmatization. This trilogy gave a lot of insight into what disability is like not only for the person living with it but also for the family doing the best they can to care for him. This trilogy didn’t disappoint for me as a disabled reader and it won’t disappoint anyone who reads it.
July 1, 2017
"It's our souls and spirits that live on forever."
After his father decides not to kill him, Shawn must go on with his life, including seeing his brother become infatuated with the the girl that Shawn is in love with. When the family takes in Debi, a relative with Downs Syndrome, Shawn starts to see a kindred spirit and sees the possibility of deeper connections with people after all.
Some meaningful insights on people not ever really knowing each other, but just what they are allowed or can see.
After his father decides not to kill him, Shawn must go on with his life, including seeing his brother become infatuated with the the girl that Shawn is in love with. When the family takes in Debi, a relative with Downs Syndrome, Shawn starts to see a kindred spirit and sees the possibility of deeper connections with people after all.
Some meaningful insights on people not ever really knowing each other, but just what they are allowed or can see.
November 22, 2016
The sequel to Stuck In Neutral gets a solid 3.5 stars from me merely because I got a resolution from the cliffhanger at the end of Stuck In Neutral. The characters did not develop much in my opinion and seemed rather superficial. The author should leave the story now as it can only go downhill from here in terms of quality. The one thing I truly admire that this series of books does is to give a new perspective on mental disability.
September 7, 2017
Fantastic book! It gets five stars because it made me laugh and cry. It touched me deeply and I will make a bigger effort to see those with physical limitations in a spiritual light. The description of the seizures setting him free to fly places in his mind was a very beautiful thought. Sometimes we need to try to communicate with other human beings in a unique way. Watching someone's body language can tell us so much more than a text!
November 23, 2025
Such a great read and insight into Shawn’s life as he finally finds someone to connect with.
Debi and Rusty’s impact on his life and the way he sees not only himself but his relationships with others was interesting to read.
I do wish we had gotten more insight into the aftermath of his father’s actions. I find it hard to believe that the man just walked away and moved on from his homicidal plans.
Debi and Rusty’s impact on his life and the way he sees not only himself but his relationships with others was interesting to read.
I do wish we had gotten more insight into the aftermath of his father’s actions. I find it hard to believe that the man just walked away and moved on from his homicidal plans.
February 28, 2019
I was very surprised at how thought-provoking this simple little book became as I read it! It changed me in how I view others.
I already have a knowledge and understanding of the purpose of life. But even with my with my testimony of the life hereafter, this book has affected how I view and treat others.
I think that we could all use a little more of that.
I already have a knowledge and understanding of the purpose of life. But even with my with my testimony of the life hereafter, this book has affected how I view and treat others.
I think that we could all use a little more of that.
July 15, 2019
Uplifting without being trite and also without being sugar-coated. A wonderful imagining of what it might be like to have an active mental life while having significant physical limitations due to CP.
August 7, 2017
More like a 3.5
January 8, 2018
Enjoyed this short, thoughtful, easy to read story from a different perspective.
December 26, 2017
Wow! Amazing look into the life of a severely disabled teenage boy. The character with down syndrome is so right on that it was creepy! Such a good book!
April 7, 2018
It’s been almost eight years since I read Stuck In Neutral, but I remembered the story. This book seems unrealistic.
November 28, 2020
I had enjoyed Stuck in Neutral and Cruise Control but hadn't known this was out. This story is just as touching and as unflinching.
Read
December 5, 2012Trueman, T. (2012). Life happens next. New York: HarperColins/HarperTeen. 144 pp. ISBN: 978-0-06-202803-7. (Hardcover); $17.99.
In Stuck In Neutral, Trueman’s Printz honor winning book, Shawn McDaniel’s father plans to smother Shawn with a pillow, thinking that he is doing him a kindness. Shawn has cerebral palsy and has absolutely no muscle control, but he does have a high functioning brain. Shawn’s father does not kill him and this sequel continues Shawn’s adventures, sans his father. While this book, obviously, will not have the surprise (and, consequently, a somewhat muted impact), what readers will notice is that Shawn functions like most teens. He dreams of girls. He laughs. He wonders about his purpose. He becomes deeply depressed. In this book, Debi moves into Shawn’s home with her dog Rusty. Debi has Down syndrome. Shawn’s fantasies, however, revolve around his sister’s hot friend Ally. Debi does not at all compete with Ally. Since nobody is even aware that Shawn is able to think, much less have fantasies, his disgust with Debi does not have to be filtered. Shawn is too smart, however, to ignore the fact that, like him, Debi is not taken seriously and often treated in an extremely patronizing manner. His own condition provides him with an essential advantage when it comes to evaluating Debi’s strength’s and weaknesses—he has the time to focus on Debi for long periods of time. When Debi reciprocates by actually communicating with Shawn, no one else in the family is even aware of it. Nor is the family really able to observe the almost psychic bond Debi has with Rusty. Recognizing the potential for communicating with others in a meaningful way helps banish the depression that has Shawn wondering whether or not his father had the right idea. It also has Shawn rethinking his comparison between Ally and Debi. Communicating with others, however, comes with its own risks and its own heartbreak. Teens will be doing the same sort of reevaluation. Readers are not getting Stuck in Neutral, but what they are getting is a continuation of that important, even essential, discussion of what it means to be human. That is plenty! Put this one right next to Stuck in Neutral; ask students to read both!
In Stuck In Neutral, Trueman’s Printz honor winning book, Shawn McDaniel’s father plans to smother Shawn with a pillow, thinking that he is doing him a kindness. Shawn has cerebral palsy and has absolutely no muscle control, but he does have a high functioning brain. Shawn’s father does not kill him and this sequel continues Shawn’s adventures, sans his father. While this book, obviously, will not have the surprise (and, consequently, a somewhat muted impact), what readers will notice is that Shawn functions like most teens. He dreams of girls. He laughs. He wonders about his purpose. He becomes deeply depressed. In this book, Debi moves into Shawn’s home with her dog Rusty. Debi has Down syndrome. Shawn’s fantasies, however, revolve around his sister’s hot friend Ally. Debi does not at all compete with Ally. Since nobody is even aware that Shawn is able to think, much less have fantasies, his disgust with Debi does not have to be filtered. Shawn is too smart, however, to ignore the fact that, like him, Debi is not taken seriously and often treated in an extremely patronizing manner. His own condition provides him with an essential advantage when it comes to evaluating Debi’s strength’s and weaknesses—he has the time to focus on Debi for long periods of time. When Debi reciprocates by actually communicating with Shawn, no one else in the family is even aware of it. Nor is the family really able to observe the almost psychic bond Debi has with Rusty. Recognizing the potential for communicating with others in a meaningful way helps banish the depression that has Shawn wondering whether or not his father had the right idea. It also has Shawn rethinking his comparison between Ally and Debi. Communicating with others, however, comes with its own risks and its own heartbreak. Teens will be doing the same sort of reevaluation. Readers are not getting Stuck in Neutral, but what they are getting is a continuation of that important, even essential, discussion of what it means to be human. That is plenty! Put this one right next to Stuck in Neutral; ask students to read both!
September 17, 2012
I found this to be an incredibly frustrating book, one which partially invalidates the first two volumes in the series, and takes it in a painful and disturbing direction. Here are my reasons:
First, it makes the author look more and more like the evil father in the story, milking another family member as source material for one of the characters in this book.
Second, by setting up a situation that finally offers Shawn some hope and then taking it away so abruptly, it felt like the author was just tormenting the main character and the readers.
Third, by taking the story in the direction of paranormal fantasy, it violated the trust of the readers that this was a real-world story. No, that was not just a "dream sequence," because of the clear foreshadowing and evidence that the Debi was announcing her own pending death.
Fourth, by indicating that Shawn has enough uncontrolled movement that it can be read as body language, it makes his family, caregivers and doctors appear inept. Debi, a relative stranger with diminished mental capacity, is able to spot this right away, and quickly interpret it by some strange empathy/telepathy/author fiat.
Fifth, by taking away any doubt that the evil father was really seconds away from murdering Shawn, it removed the dramatic ambiguity that made the first story so intriguing. It's like Ridley Scott's re-edited version of Bladerunner, which hammers the audience over the head with the idea that the detective is really a replicant, when the earlier version left it as an intriguing possibility.
Sadly, the writing itself was somewhat compelling, and the book will be recommended on that basis. My view is that it is a well-written but unnecessary book, a grim and brutal extension of a grim but thought-provoking story. I think that it will stand alone better than as a sequel, because then there are no established "rules" of the story to violate.
First, it makes the author look more and more like the evil father in the story, milking another family member as source material for one of the characters in this book.
Second, by setting up a situation that finally offers Shawn some hope and then taking it away so abruptly, it felt like the author was just tormenting the main character and the readers.
Third, by taking the story in the direction of paranormal fantasy, it violated the trust of the readers that this was a real-world story. No, that was not just a "dream sequence," because of the clear foreshadowing and evidence that the Debi was announcing her own pending death.
Fourth, by indicating that Shawn has enough uncontrolled movement that it can be read as body language, it makes his family, caregivers and doctors appear inept. Debi, a relative stranger with diminished mental capacity, is able to spot this right away, and quickly interpret it by some strange empathy/telepathy/author fiat.
Fifth, by taking away any doubt that the evil father was really seconds away from murdering Shawn, it removed the dramatic ambiguity that made the first story so intriguing. It's like Ridley Scott's re-edited version of Bladerunner, which hammers the audience over the head with the idea that the detective is really a replicant, when the earlier version left it as an intriguing possibility.
Sadly, the writing itself was somewhat compelling, and the book will be recommended on that basis. My view is that it is a well-written but unnecessary book, a grim and brutal extension of a grim but thought-provoking story. I think that it will stand alone better than as a sequel, because then there are no established "rules" of the story to violate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2013
In this sequel to Stuck in Neutral, we learn more about Shawn McDaniel, the 15-year-old boy who has cerebral palsey and while incapacitated physically, is brilliant underneath. He has perfect auditory memory and throughout the book struggles with his frustrations of appearing like a "vegetable" on the outside while completely unable to communicate with the rest of the world. He is completely and utterly in love with his sister Cindy's best friend, Abbie, and when Paul starts to date her, she is devastated and questions why he will have to live the rest of his life alone, with no one to share his future with.
In this book, his cousin Debi, who has Down Syndrome, comes to live with them along with her dog, Rusty. Debi goes to a work skills program during the week, makes her own lunch, empties the dish washer every morning, and lives within a very strict schedule she sets for herself. She occasionally comes into the room where Shawn sits and just stares. Shawn is perplexed by her but one day when she tells him that he is smart, it seems as if Debi has been reading Shawn's thoughts and finally, he feels as if someone gets him. Rusty also seems to understand Shawn and is able to predict when Shawn is about to have a seizure. At the end, when Debi dies, it is heartbreaking to hear Shawn talk about being unable to attend the funeral of the one person in the world who seemed to understand.
I listened to this book on audio and while I thought it was good, it didn't seem as "important" or eye-opening for me as the first two. When I read Stuck in Neutral, Shawn's character especially hit home because we had a student in our school who was very similar - wheel-chair bound, unable to control himself physically, etc. As I looked at him, I wondered what was inside. Was he brilliant like Shawn? Was he frustrated that the world would never know the real him? This book seemed like an "add-on".
In this book, his cousin Debi, who has Down Syndrome, comes to live with them along with her dog, Rusty. Debi goes to a work skills program during the week, makes her own lunch, empties the dish washer every morning, and lives within a very strict schedule she sets for herself. She occasionally comes into the room where Shawn sits and just stares. Shawn is perplexed by her but one day when she tells him that he is smart, it seems as if Debi has been reading Shawn's thoughts and finally, he feels as if someone gets him. Rusty also seems to understand Shawn and is able to predict when Shawn is about to have a seizure. At the end, when Debi dies, it is heartbreaking to hear Shawn talk about being unable to attend the funeral of the one person in the world who seemed to understand.
I listened to this book on audio and while I thought it was good, it didn't seem as "important" or eye-opening for me as the first two. When I read Stuck in Neutral, Shawn's character especially hit home because we had a student in our school who was very similar - wheel-chair bound, unable to control himself physically, etc. As I looked at him, I wondered what was inside. Was he brilliant like Shawn? Was he frustrated that the world would never know the real him? This book seemed like an "add-on".
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
August 25, 2012At the end of Terry Trueman's STUCK IN NEUTRAL, readers were left to decide if Shawn's father would kill him. LIFE HAPPENS NEXT gives them the answer.
Shawn is alive and well. Well, as alive and well as can be expected for an about to be fifteen year old with severe cerebral palsy. Shawn has never walked, talked, or been able to care for himself. Only his dreams and his grand mal seizures offer him a chance to feel free of the body that holds him prisoner.
Glad to be alive, Shawn is still looking for a reason that would explain why someone with such a disability would even be born. He gets some pleasure from watching his brother and sister enjoying life. They include him as much as they can. Shawn thinks he might have found a reason to live as he watches his sister's friend Ally. She is amazing, and he just might be in love with her.
It doesn't take long for Shawn to realize that Ally has eyes for his brother, and the feelings seem to go both ways. Frustrating as it is, Shawn tries to take comfort in knowing his brother is a good choice for Ally and they seem happy.
When a forty-one year old woman with Down syndrome moves in, Shawn is fascinated with the idea of sharing his home with another "retarded" person. What is most interesting is that Shawn discovers Debi may not seem connected to the world around her, but she actually sees more deeply than anyone. She may be the only person to understand what life is like for Shawn.
Author Terry Trueman wowed me when I first read STUCK IN NEUTRAL in 2000. Through the years it has inspired many of my students. I never thought about the possibility of a sequel other than CRUISE CONTROL told from the point of view of Shawn's brother. I'm so glad Trueman chose to continue Shawn's story, and I can't wait to share it with others.
Shawn is alive and well. Well, as alive and well as can be expected for an about to be fifteen year old with severe cerebral palsy. Shawn has never walked, talked, or been able to care for himself. Only his dreams and his grand mal seizures offer him a chance to feel free of the body that holds him prisoner.
Glad to be alive, Shawn is still looking for a reason that would explain why someone with such a disability would even be born. He gets some pleasure from watching his brother and sister enjoying life. They include him as much as they can. Shawn thinks he might have found a reason to live as he watches his sister's friend Ally. She is amazing, and he just might be in love with her.
It doesn't take long for Shawn to realize that Ally has eyes for his brother, and the feelings seem to go both ways. Frustrating as it is, Shawn tries to take comfort in knowing his brother is a good choice for Ally and they seem happy.
When a forty-one year old woman with Down syndrome moves in, Shawn is fascinated with the idea of sharing his home with another "retarded" person. What is most interesting is that Shawn discovers Debi may not seem connected to the world around her, but she actually sees more deeply than anyone. She may be the only person to understand what life is like for Shawn.
Author Terry Trueman wowed me when I first read STUCK IN NEUTRAL in 2000. Through the years it has inspired many of my students. I never thought about the possibility of a sequel other than CRUISE CONTROL told from the point of view of Shawn's brother. I'm so glad Trueman chose to continue Shawn's story, and I can't wait to share it with others.
June 10, 2013
Originally posted here: http://nothingbetterthanabook.blogspo...
This was a very moving book. Shawn has cerebral palsy, and cannot speak or move any of his body parts on command. Due to this, everyone thinks he is a "vegetable" as Shawn put it. However, he is actually very smart. No one knows that though, because he is not able to communicate.
This book was written from Shawn's perspective. It was really cool to see his thoughts about life and about his situation. It made you think twice about lots of things, and learn not to take your life for granted. That really struck something in me.
There were a few other characters in this book, and we got to see them all through Shawn's eyes. Sometimes he really loved them, and other times he was annoyed with him. It was cool to see everything from Shawn's view. He still has emotions and thoughts like everyone else. There was one character named Debi who has down syndrome. Shawn is very annoyed by her at first, but comes to form a unique friendship with her. She has an awesome ability to understand Shawn by observing him closely. She is the first person who truly understands that he is smart, and that he actually has thoughts.
Shawn ends up seeing a person in his dreams, and doesn't know why. Even after we find out who the person is, I didn't quite understand it. I felt like there was no point in the book. While it was beautifully written, I felt like there could have been so much more. I would have liked to see the author elaborate on the story, and develop a more in depth plot. I think great things could be down with this topic.
4 stars
I received this book for free from arcycling in return for an honest review.
This was a very moving book. Shawn has cerebral palsy, and cannot speak or move any of his body parts on command. Due to this, everyone thinks he is a "vegetable" as Shawn put it. However, he is actually very smart. No one knows that though, because he is not able to communicate.
This book was written from Shawn's perspective. It was really cool to see his thoughts about life and about his situation. It made you think twice about lots of things, and learn not to take your life for granted. That really struck something in me.
There were a few other characters in this book, and we got to see them all through Shawn's eyes. Sometimes he really loved them, and other times he was annoyed with him. It was cool to see everything from Shawn's view. He still has emotions and thoughts like everyone else. There was one character named Debi who has down syndrome. Shawn is very annoyed by her at first, but comes to form a unique friendship with her. She has an awesome ability to understand Shawn by observing him closely. She is the first person who truly understands that he is smart, and that he actually has thoughts.
Shawn ends up seeing a person in his dreams, and doesn't know why. Even after we find out who the person is, I didn't quite understand it. I felt like there was no point in the book. While it was beautifully written, I felt like there could have been so much more. I would have liked to see the author elaborate on the story, and develop a more in depth plot. I think great things could be down with this topic.
4 stars
I received this book for free from arcycling in return for an honest review.
November 6, 2013
I just recently finished the book Life Happens Next by Terry Trueman. This is the first book I've read by him, and I would really like to read some more of his work. What really caught my eye was the cover of this book. It shows such a powerful cover that I couldn't resist. When I first started reading the book I wasn't sure what to think. It started off kind of strange, but ended up being such a powerful story. I'm glad that I had the chance to read this book. Terry Trueman did a very good job, and I would definitely recommend this book.
*spoiler alert* This book focuses around a kid named Shawn McDaniel with cerebral palsy. His perspective on life is much different compared to others. On the outside he is just a kid in a wheelchair, but what people don't see his brilliance and love. He has perfect auditory memory which allows him to remember everything he hears. Throughout the book Shawn's struggles are based on him looking like a “vegetable” because he isn't able to communicate to others. Shawn reveals that he is madly in love with one of his sister's best friends, Ally. When his other brother, Paul, starts dating Ally, Shawn begins to believe that he will spend the rest of his life alone. Later on his cousin Debi, who has down-syndrome, moves in. Shawn starts out being annoyed by her, but she ends up changing his life for the better.
Overall I really enjoyed this book because it brought a whole new perspective. The best part is how it allows readers to see the world of someone who isn't able to physically communicate to back to those he loves. It definitely was something different from what I've read before.
*spoiler alert* This book focuses around a kid named Shawn McDaniel with cerebral palsy. His perspective on life is much different compared to others. On the outside he is just a kid in a wheelchair, but what people don't see his brilliance and love. He has perfect auditory memory which allows him to remember everything he hears. Throughout the book Shawn's struggles are based on him looking like a “vegetable” because he isn't able to communicate to others. Shawn reveals that he is madly in love with one of his sister's best friends, Ally. When his other brother, Paul, starts dating Ally, Shawn begins to believe that he will spend the rest of his life alone. Later on his cousin Debi, who has down-syndrome, moves in. Shawn starts out being annoyed by her, but she ends up changing his life for the better.
Overall I really enjoyed this book because it brought a whole new perspective. The best part is how it allows readers to see the world of someone who isn't able to physically communicate to back to those he loves. It definitely was something different from what I've read before.
October 11, 2012
Shawn’s father almost killed him. His mother does everything for him and never leaves him alone. His brother has gotten into fights because of him. His sister dotes on him. He has a crush on a girl but he can’t force himself to look at her. A frightening dog and its owner enter the household to further complicate Shawn’s world as a wheelchair-bound teenager.
Shawn cannot control a single muscle in his body. Shawn has no way to communicate his wants, thoughts, or needs. No one knows what he thinks or feels - except for maybe one person. Oh, and Shawn remembers everything he has ever heard.
While this can be enjoyed as a standalone book, Stuck in Neutral should be read first to fully get the meanings. In this sequel to Stuck in Neutral, the author answers the fan’s question: what happens to Shawn. Although the sequel does not have the impact of Stuck in Neutral, it is a satisfying read that ties up some loose ends while adding more to the tapestry that is Shawn’s life as a wheelchair-bound teenage guy. For those who loves this series, there is also a companion novel, Cruise Control, which is written from the perspective of Shawn’s older brother.
There is much to think about and discuss concerning Shawn, his family, and the community. Would it be a curse or a gift to remember everything you had ever heard? What will it take to give Shawn the ability to communicate? What are Shawn’s abilities? What are the disabilities of the family?
(Review also shared through The Indianapolis Southsider Voice)
Shawn cannot control a single muscle in his body. Shawn has no way to communicate his wants, thoughts, or needs. No one knows what he thinks or feels - except for maybe one person. Oh, and Shawn remembers everything he has ever heard.
While this can be enjoyed as a standalone book, Stuck in Neutral should be read first to fully get the meanings. In this sequel to Stuck in Neutral, the author answers the fan’s question: what happens to Shawn. Although the sequel does not have the impact of Stuck in Neutral, it is a satisfying read that ties up some loose ends while adding more to the tapestry that is Shawn’s life as a wheelchair-bound teenage guy. For those who loves this series, there is also a companion novel, Cruise Control, which is written from the perspective of Shawn’s older brother.
There is much to think about and discuss concerning Shawn, his family, and the community. Would it be a curse or a gift to remember everything you had ever heard? What will it take to give Shawn the ability to communicate? What are Shawn’s abilities? What are the disabilities of the family?
(Review also shared through The Indianapolis Southsider Voice)
January 27, 2013
Picking up where Stuck in Neutral and Cruise Control left off, this book provides additional insight into the life of Shawn McDaniel, who turns fifteen over the course of the story. Although Shawn is unable to speak or control his body, he is quite brilliant and fully aware that his father tried to kill him to relieve what he regards as Shawn's suffering. While Shawn is very much glad to be alive, after all, he also experiences heartbreak as he watches a romance blossom between his older brother Paul and Ally, the girl he secretly adores. When his cousin Debi, who has Down syndrome, comes to live with Shawn's family, she and her dog Rusty are mostly an annoyance to Shawn until he realizes that both of them are able to sense his feelings and his intelligence in a way that no one else has been able to do. It's a cutting reminder of how others treat him since he has regarded Debi in the same way. While there are passages that are heart-breaking, there are also many that celebrate the small joys in life as Shawn realizes that life is happening right now, that what we are experiencing right now is what matters and what we can learn from, not just being something we can anticipate in the future. The book ends on a hopeful note that no matter how tough life can be, there are still moments of joy and the possibility of something to look forward to both today and tomorrow. Although the book is short, it packs an emotional wallop and prompts quite a bit of reflection about the assumptions we make about ourselves and others.
December 5, 2012
Terry Trueman is writing this with the full weight of experience. His son has CP and is similarly trapped in a body that just doesn't work, exactly like Shawn. And his wife has a sister with Down Syndrome, just like Debi, a new character added from the first book.
At the end of STUCK IN NEUTRAL, we and Shawn wonder if his father is about to kill him...out of love and despair, but kill his own son. We obviously learn the answer with this book.
Shawn's voice is so smart and smarty. He is so ironically aware of the huge difference between what he KNOWS is happening in his brain, and what the world, including his family THINKS is happening. He remembers everything he hears; he can read; he understands complex relationships. But he's trapped in a body that doesn't work.
Into the family comes Debi and Rusty. Debi's a relative of Shawn's mother -- mentally retarded and very childlike for her adult body. Rusty is a dog that truly scares Shawn, who is powerless against the teeth and intent of this suspicious canine.
But Shawn learns that Rusty can anticipate his seizures and can comfort him. He learns that Debi understands how smart he is. She's the first person to reach out and take his hand.
Trueman forces his readers to acknowledge how very little we know about each other. Give someone a disability and the fences go up and we know even less.
I'm so impressed by Trueman's honesty and courage...he tells us about his own family as he invents Shawn. Important book.
At the end of STUCK IN NEUTRAL, we and Shawn wonder if his father is about to kill him...out of love and despair, but kill his own son. We obviously learn the answer with this book.
Shawn's voice is so smart and smarty. He is so ironically aware of the huge difference between what he KNOWS is happening in his brain, and what the world, including his family THINKS is happening. He remembers everything he hears; he can read; he understands complex relationships. But he's trapped in a body that doesn't work.
Into the family comes Debi and Rusty. Debi's a relative of Shawn's mother -- mentally retarded and very childlike for her adult body. Rusty is a dog that truly scares Shawn, who is powerless against the teeth and intent of this suspicious canine.
But Shawn learns that Rusty can anticipate his seizures and can comfort him. He learns that Debi understands how smart he is. She's the first person to reach out and take his hand.
Trueman forces his readers to acknowledge how very little we know about each other. Give someone a disability and the fences go up and we know even less.
I'm so impressed by Trueman's honesty and courage...he tells us about his own family as he invents Shawn. Important book.
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