Wheels

by Delwyne Stephens

This story is a real eye-opener about the life of an adolescent paraplegic. Shane is an average teenager, who enjoys motorbike racing and having a girlfriend but has to deal with a pushy dad. One brief moment of inattention lands him in hospital with a broken back and confined to a wheelchair. Once he returns to school, he is amicably known as Wheels, but this is the start of a new journey for Shane as he learns to deal with the fact that he can no longer use his legs and that his life has changed forever.

Written in first person, the style is fast-paced with the casual, conversational language of teenagers - including slang and swear words - very suited to a teenage reader who will at once feel at ease with the main character as he deals with adolescent issues of sex and girlfriends, loyalty and friendship, and parents and their ambitions for their kids.

Other issues of death and illness, family life, school and sports, are all part of this appealing story. Readers will immediately connect with Shane, Jessica, Lily and others. The emails to and from Emily are very poignant as we grieve with her and her situation as a quadriplegic.

Paperback

Published April 1, 2006

Reviews

[Letisha Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to read it for a class novel and actually ended up finishing the whole book before the class got to chapter eight.
Not really my cup of tea and i won't be re-reading but i kinda liked it.