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Shawn McDaniel #2
Cruise Control
How sick is I'm the major jock-stud in high school, but my brother has the brain of a badminton birdie and a body to match. I've got everything and he's got nothing. I'm a three-year, three-sport letterman and Shawn can't even stand up! Like I said, sick, huh? It's hard to be a brother to someone who doesn't even know you're there. How can you talk to him when he can't understand a thing you say? How can you listen to him when he can't speak a word? How can you love him when he's so messed up, he can't love you back? And how can you have a life of your own when your father bailed on the family, leaving you to be the "man of the house"? Fueled by rage at what has happened to his family, Paul is ready to explode. And he is haunted by something even worse—something he can never tell anyone. It is something he will have to face if he is to have any hope of a future at all. While Cruise Control is a companion to Terry Trueman's Printz Honor book, Stuck in Neutral, it is the completely independent story of a family's "other" son—the one who is healthy, gifted, normal. It is a courageously hopeful story told with power, compassion, and humor.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
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670 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
April 26, 2019
Personal Response
>Cruise Control was very interesting because I could relate to the main character in many ways. There were a wide variety of characters making the book interesting. This helped pull me into the book, and it made me feel like I was right there with the characters. The author, Terry Trueman, did a great job of putting imagery in my head. I thought this was a great book and the author did a great job.
Plot Summary
Paul was a young boy with anger issues. His family was dysfunctional and he felt like they were dragging him down. Paul's brother, Shawn, was mentally disabled. While paul was dealing with school and basketball, he also had to help out his mother with Shawn. Paul was a talented basketball player. He had many colleges watching him everytime he played. Paul's friend and team member, Tom, was always nice to Shawn and the rest of Paul's family. Most kids would have picked on Shawn making Paul angry. When Tom was removed from the basketball team, Paul had to carry the weight on his shoulders. With the team heading to the state championship, there was a lot of pressure on Paul. Paul and his team won the championship, and Shawn and his mother watched them do it.
Characterization
In the beginning of the story Paul didn't seem to think much about his brother: Shawn. He was embarrassed by him, and he didn't want any of his friends to see Shawn. Paul thought that if they knew about Shawn, they wouldn't want to be friends. Once Paul realized this wasn't true, he started to respect his brother for who he was. He even mentioned Shawn to his whole team.
Paul's father left the family. He didn't want to be associated with them. He was hated by the family because he left them. Later in the book, he realized he needed to be with his family. He asked if he could try again. Right away Paul pushed him away but soon realized he wanted his father back. Paul's father opened up to Shawn and realized he loved his son very much.
Impact of Setting
Most of the book took place at Paul's home or on the basketball court. There is no year mentioned, but the book took place throughout a month. This was important to show the progress of the basketball team. Paul was an excellent basketball player. This was why the setting took place on the basketball court. The book showed what the life of a dysfunctional family looked like.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to both male and females because there were struggles of both genders that people could relate to. I recommend this book to older high schoolers because younger teens might not get the impact that the book tried teaching. Anyone who likes a serious book with lots of emotions would love this book.
>Cruise Control was very interesting because I could relate to the main character in many ways. There were a wide variety of characters making the book interesting. This helped pull me into the book, and it made me feel like I was right there with the characters. The author, Terry Trueman, did a great job of putting imagery in my head. I thought this was a great book and the author did a great job.
Plot Summary
Paul was a young boy with anger issues. His family was dysfunctional and he felt like they were dragging him down. Paul's brother, Shawn, was mentally disabled. While paul was dealing with school and basketball, he also had to help out his mother with Shawn. Paul was a talented basketball player. He had many colleges watching him everytime he played. Paul's friend and team member, Tom, was always nice to Shawn and the rest of Paul's family. Most kids would have picked on Shawn making Paul angry. When Tom was removed from the basketball team, Paul had to carry the weight on his shoulders. With the team heading to the state championship, there was a lot of pressure on Paul. Paul and his team won the championship, and Shawn and his mother watched them do it.
Characterization
In the beginning of the story Paul didn't seem to think much about his brother: Shawn. He was embarrassed by him, and he didn't want any of his friends to see Shawn. Paul thought that if they knew about Shawn, they wouldn't want to be friends. Once Paul realized this wasn't true, he started to respect his brother for who he was. He even mentioned Shawn to his whole team.
Paul's father left the family. He didn't want to be associated with them. He was hated by the family because he left them. Later in the book, he realized he needed to be with his family. He asked if he could try again. Right away Paul pushed him away but soon realized he wanted his father back. Paul's father opened up to Shawn and realized he loved his son very much.
Impact of Setting
Most of the book took place at Paul's home or on the basketball court. There is no year mentioned, but the book took place throughout a month. This was important to show the progress of the basketball team. Paul was an excellent basketball player. This was why the setting took place on the basketball court. The book showed what the life of a dysfunctional family looked like.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to both male and females because there were struggles of both genders that people could relate to. I recommend this book to older high schoolers because younger teens might not get the impact that the book tried teaching. Anyone who likes a serious book with lots of emotions would love this book.
October 28, 2011
The title of my book is called Cruise Control. The author of my book is Terry Trueman. The date of publication was on November 1, 2005 , but it was first published in 2004. I think that the genre of my book is mystery and non-fiction. The reason that i think it is mystery is because almost in the end of the book Paul's mom confesses to Paul that his father didnt run out on them. She finally confessed that she told him to leave. During the whole book it was just saying how he had ran out on them, whichwasnt true. The reason that i think it is non-fiction is because he had hopes on getting an athletic scholarship and going to Geogetown college. He also was a very good basketball player. Anyone can be. The book "Cruise Control" has not won any awards or critical acclaim. This book has 160 pages in it. It took me about three to four weeks to finish it. The character in this book are Paul, which is the main character, Cindy which is Paul's sister, Shawn which is Cindy's and Paul's brother that has a dissability. Also tim who is Paul's best friend. The setting of my book is at Anne Hill in Seattle.
The setting of my book is in Anne Hill in Seattle. The good guy in my book is Paul and his mom. The reason that i think this is because ever since paul's dad had left them, he has become the man of the house and does everything to support and make everyone happy in their home. The reason that i think the mom also known as Lindy, takes good care of her son Shawn who has a dissability. She would do anything to make him feel special and happy. Same as Paul. If anyone makes fun of Shawn he will protect him. Some of the choice that my main character Paul has made was that he had stood up to his father and told him everything that he has done wrong. He also denied every college offering that he got just so that he can stay with his family and protect them. The major conflict in my book was that Paul was mad because of how his Father had ran out on them and didnt do anything to help or support him. Also, the other problem was that Paul's brother had a disability and needed special help and he would be the one there. The bad guy in this book was Pual's dad Sydney McDaniel. He was the bad guy because he had ran out on his whole family. He didnt try to communicate with them or spent anytime with them either. He was to worry about being famous and not ruin his reputation. The other characters in this story are Lindy which is Pual's mother and cindy and shawn who are Paul's siblings.
The themes that are presented in this book is that you should never judge while not knowing the whole story and ven though your parents have made a big mistake in the past yopu should judge or make them feel less. They are still your parents and raised you. They did everything to make you feel special and for you to have everything possible in ife. They gave you a good childhood and a great education. The message that the writer is trying to communicate is that you never judge while you dont know the whole story that had happened. Remember to keep your comments to youself and dont say things that you know it wont be nice and can cause problems. The characters helped because they showed what happens when you dont ask about the past. For instance, Pual always thought that his father had walked out on them but the real story was that his mom had told him to leave. That was one of the biggest way that they showed the message. I think that one of the characters had made some bad discisions in the book. One was that Pual and his friend Tim were drinking and started driving. I wouldnt of even tried to touch the wheel. They could of got into and accident, they could of reallyed hurt themselves. The actors help us better understand because they know what they didi was wrong and told what would of happened if they would of gotten hurt. Another was that Tim had ended up in jail because of fighting with his stepfather. Now they know what concequences they could have if they ever tried any of those things.
There a lot of thigs that i liked about the book. One thing was that in some parts it gave you a couple mysteries for you to solve. Instead of them telling you everything they would leave you in suspense and would make you wanna read more and not stop. Secondly, i liked how it gave examples on personal problemas that anyone could have in the future or are now going through it. Most of the event were in order and well organized. One thing that i didnt like about the book was that it had some complicated vocabulary and made it more complicated for me to understand some parts of it. My last opinion is that it didnt have as much real facts as i though it would. Over all it was a great book for me to read.
I highly persuade you to read this book because it gives you a couple real facts into family issues. Not everyone goes through these problems but would help you understand more if it, if sometime in life you do have a problem like them. I honestly loved reading it. I didnt get bored in any part of it because it gave good examples and made the text more interesting.I truely recommend you this book. It has some funny parts but also serious comments. Why not try reading this, maybe after reading it , it might change your mind and actually surprise you. Like everyone says never judge a book by its cover.
The setting of my book is in Anne Hill in Seattle. The good guy in my book is Paul and his mom. The reason that i think this is because ever since paul's dad had left them, he has become the man of the house and does everything to support and make everyone happy in their home. The reason that i think the mom also known as Lindy, takes good care of her son Shawn who has a dissability. She would do anything to make him feel special and happy. Same as Paul. If anyone makes fun of Shawn he will protect him. Some of the choice that my main character Paul has made was that he had stood up to his father and told him everything that he has done wrong. He also denied every college offering that he got just so that he can stay with his family and protect them. The major conflict in my book was that Paul was mad because of how his Father had ran out on them and didnt do anything to help or support him. Also, the other problem was that Paul's brother had a disability and needed special help and he would be the one there. The bad guy in this book was Pual's dad Sydney McDaniel. He was the bad guy because he had ran out on his whole family. He didnt try to communicate with them or spent anytime with them either. He was to worry about being famous and not ruin his reputation. The other characters in this story are Lindy which is Pual's mother and cindy and shawn who are Paul's siblings.
The themes that are presented in this book is that you should never judge while not knowing the whole story and ven though your parents have made a big mistake in the past yopu should judge or make them feel less. They are still your parents and raised you. They did everything to make you feel special and for you to have everything possible in ife. They gave you a good childhood and a great education. The message that the writer is trying to communicate is that you never judge while you dont know the whole story that had happened. Remember to keep your comments to youself and dont say things that you know it wont be nice and can cause problems. The characters helped because they showed what happens when you dont ask about the past. For instance, Pual always thought that his father had walked out on them but the real story was that his mom had told him to leave. That was one of the biggest way that they showed the message. I think that one of the characters had made some bad discisions in the book. One was that Pual and his friend Tim were drinking and started driving. I wouldnt of even tried to touch the wheel. They could of got into and accident, they could of reallyed hurt themselves. The actors help us better understand because they know what they didi was wrong and told what would of happened if they would of gotten hurt. Another was that Tim had ended up in jail because of fighting with his stepfather. Now they know what concequences they could have if they ever tried any of those things.
There a lot of thigs that i liked about the book. One thing was that in some parts it gave you a couple mysteries for you to solve. Instead of them telling you everything they would leave you in suspense and would make you wanna read more and not stop. Secondly, i liked how it gave examples on personal problemas that anyone could have in the future or are now going through it. Most of the event were in order and well organized. One thing that i didnt like about the book was that it had some complicated vocabulary and made it more complicated for me to understand some parts of it. My last opinion is that it didnt have as much real facts as i though it would. Over all it was a great book for me to read.
I highly persuade you to read this book because it gives you a couple real facts into family issues. Not everyone goes through these problems but would help you understand more if it, if sometime in life you do have a problem like them. I honestly loved reading it. I didnt get bored in any part of it because it gave good examples and made the text more interesting.I truely recommend you this book. It has some funny parts but also serious comments. Why not try reading this, maybe after reading it , it might change your mind and actually surprise you. Like everyone says never judge a book by its cover.
April 8, 2016
***Spoiler Aleta***
Have you ever read a book about a brother expressing how he feels about his sick brother If not on this story you will learned how he treats his brother and how he acts around him. The genre of this book is realistic fiction because this story could happen to any family out there . This book is about a boy who is like kindly rerated and his brother is ashamed of him because they are always making fun of him because of his brother , so he tries to do stuff to his sick brother but at the end he is so hurt about what he was doing and regret it all and went running to ask his brother for an apology .
This book is about 2 brothers one is sick and the other one is old the older one is embarrassed of his younger brother because they make fun of him and he gets so mad he even sometimes even tells his brother some bad stuff because of how ashamed of his brother he is but then one day he finally chance how he acted and finally realized how bad he was being with his little brother and went for an apology because he knew that even if the kid was sick he still felt like he understand him . The setting of this book is precent because according to all that's on the book it sounds like today's world now on days.
A major event that change Paul was when he was being a brat to his brother then all of the sudden he goes up to him beating some kids up that are making fun of him telling him he sorry for everything and telling him how much he loves him that he is his favorite brother and all that . A major symbol in this story is to love all of our family like we want to be love because then we regret doing stuff with those people and love every time above anything no matter what .
I was surprised when Paul when up to Shawn and apologize for all the trouble he had cause him like all the names he had call him and all that mistakes he had made saying he was not his family it was really emotional because he knew what he did wrong and he regretted and wanted to apologize to his brother. I was angry when Paul was arguing with his dad because of the way that his dad treated Shawn I was so angry because he treated Shawn so bad and the way he was talking to Paul and how they argued that made me so angry .
From a scale to 1-5 I'll give this book a 5 because it was really intense the way Paul was at the begging and how he saw he was acting and realized he wanted to change and him apologize to Shawn was the best because they technically became best brothers for ever because Paul said he was going to tell Shawn everything and how he said he love him so much and Paul crying when he was saying all that made it even cutter because it's prove that he is really sorry and that he really does love his little brother and regrets talking bad about him . I will recommend this book to people that like sad books , thrill books, and mystery books.
Hope you guys liked it Thnxs
Have you ever read a book about a brother expressing how he feels about his sick brother If not on this story you will learned how he treats his brother and how he acts around him. The genre of this book is realistic fiction because this story could happen to any family out there . This book is about a boy who is like kindly rerated and his brother is ashamed of him because they are always making fun of him because of his brother , so he tries to do stuff to his sick brother but at the end he is so hurt about what he was doing and regret it all and went running to ask his brother for an apology .
This book is about 2 brothers one is sick and the other one is old the older one is embarrassed of his younger brother because they make fun of him and he gets so mad he even sometimes even tells his brother some bad stuff because of how ashamed of his brother he is but then one day he finally chance how he acted and finally realized how bad he was being with his little brother and went for an apology because he knew that even if the kid was sick he still felt like he understand him . The setting of this book is precent because according to all that's on the book it sounds like today's world now on days.
A major event that change Paul was when he was being a brat to his brother then all of the sudden he goes up to him beating some kids up that are making fun of him telling him he sorry for everything and telling him how much he loves him that he is his favorite brother and all that . A major symbol in this story is to love all of our family like we want to be love because then we regret doing stuff with those people and love every time above anything no matter what .
I was surprised when Paul when up to Shawn and apologize for all the trouble he had cause him like all the names he had call him and all that mistakes he had made saying he was not his family it was really emotional because he knew what he did wrong and he regretted and wanted to apologize to his brother. I was angry when Paul was arguing with his dad because of the way that his dad treated Shawn I was so angry because he treated Shawn so bad and the way he was talking to Paul and how they argued that made me so angry .
From a scale to 1-5 I'll give this book a 5 because it was really intense the way Paul was at the begging and how he saw he was acting and realized he wanted to change and him apologize to Shawn was the best because they technically became best brothers for ever because Paul said he was going to tell Shawn everything and how he said he love him so much and Paul crying when he was saying all that made it even cutter because it's prove that he is really sorry and that he really does love his little brother and regrets talking bad about him . I will recommend this book to people that like sad books , thrill books, and mystery books.
Hope you guys liked it Thnxs
March 21, 2013
I can say that I was expecting more. This is about a straight A, super-athlete senior in high school who has anger issues because he is fighting many conflicting emotions concerning his "veg" of a brother. As the library catalogue puts it: "A talented basketball player struggles to deal with the helplessness and anger that come with having a brother rendered completely dysfunctional by severe cerebral palsy and a father who deserted the family." Why just use the generic description? Because that's all there is. This book is surprisingly short, and it is essentially a longer version of the sentence. The narrative is also riddled with "I am angry. I may snap. Why? Because I love my brother! I hate my brother! I am confused about my emotions which is why I love sports! Dad’s terrible!” The only thing worth mentioning outside of the description is that the guy feels like can’t go off to college because he has to stay home and take care of his brother because his dad (who is actually a Pulitzer prize-winning something or other who pays the bills). The end was just an ending. It didn’t really come to a conclusion, and I didn’t think this book really was worth the time I put into it. I never really felt for any of the characters, and the character arc of the main is just a tiny hop over a puddle. It’s sort of interesting, but it can get repetitive and banal very fast. Again, I think the book had to be longer and develop more character and plot. Maybe it was written for younger readers. I don’t really know. It wasn't terrible though.
February 8, 2014
Since Paul was my second favorite character from Stuck in Neutral I was very excited for this book. It did not disappoint.
Paul is the pretty much perfect brother of Shawn, the boy from Stuck in Neutral that is incapable of controlling his body muscles. Unlike Shawn, Paul can do anything: he's antithetical, he gets good grades and he's pretty handsome, but he's also full of rage and despair for his family's condition. Their father walked out on them a few years back and now he's the only one left to protect them. He's trapped between wanting to live a life of his own and go to college and remaining at home to take care of his family.
Paul is pretty much the tortured bad boy you read about in romance novels for women, but the difference is that he's way better developed as a character and his personality shows more than a pretty face with a bad attitude.Paul does not know what it means to protect: he's strong, but so far he knows only how to hurt with his strength. He's smart [academically speaking], but not mature enough to see the reality of his situation. He's also a kid that needs protection. I really enjoyed his story despite the cheesy ending.
In this book we also get more inside on his and Shawn's dad. Why he did what he did and what is the path he's trying to take in order to redeem himself. The writing style is similar to the one in "Stuck in Neutral": a tragic story told through the funny parts that life can give you. It has that optimism added to it that you just have to stop and enjoy. :)
Paul is the pretty much perfect brother of Shawn, the boy from Stuck in Neutral that is incapable of controlling his body muscles. Unlike Shawn, Paul can do anything: he's antithetical, he gets good grades and he's pretty handsome, but he's also full of rage and despair for his family's condition. Their father walked out on them a few years back and now he's the only one left to protect them. He's trapped between wanting to live a life of his own and go to college and remaining at home to take care of his family.
Paul is pretty much the tortured bad boy you read about in romance novels for women, but the difference is that he's way better developed as a character and his personality shows more than a pretty face with a bad attitude.Paul does not know what it means to protect: he's strong, but so far he knows only how to hurt with his strength. He's smart [academically speaking], but not mature enough to see the reality of his situation. He's also a kid that needs protection. I really enjoyed his story despite the cheesy ending.
In this book we also get more inside on his and Shawn's dad. Why he did what he did and what is the path he's trying to take in order to redeem himself. The writing style is similar to the one in "Stuck in Neutral": a tragic story told through the funny parts that life can give you. It has that optimism added to it that you just have to stop and enjoy. :)
March 25, 2014
Paul is 16 he plays basketball and has dad issues. He has a brother named Shawn He's mentally retarded and Paul does not want people to know Shawn is his brother. Paul leads his team to the state championship and wins, but at the end of the game, he clears things up with his dad.
I think it was ok because I can kind of relate to some things that go on in the book. It's kind of not really what I expected. I thought maybe it would have been more about cars and stuff.
I would recommend this book to people who like sports like basketball ages 10-18 because there's swearing in it. I would probally reccomend this book to guys more than girls.
I think it was ok because I can kind of relate to some things that go on in the book. It's kind of not really what I expected. I thought maybe it would have been more about cars and stuff.
I would recommend this book to people who like sports like basketball ages 10-18 because there's swearing in it. I would probally reccomend this book to guys more than girls.
June 2, 2008
This is going off stuck in neutral. I really have to give my kudos to the author. This was a much better view of Shawn, i really enjoyed seeing Stuck In Neutral, with a different veiwpoint. Also the end did leave all of my questions unanswered, answered. The thing I most loved about this book was how far you got into it. Like when Mrs. Lawton thought I was spacing out and I was actually really into the book and I could picture everything as it was going on in the book.
It was a wonderful book that I would recommend to High School students.
It was a wonderful book that I would recommend to High School students.
September 27, 2013
I thought this book was a great companion to Stuck in Neutral. It does a wonderful job of showing perspective. I also love how you walk away feeling like you have more of an understanding of what it's like to have a sibling like Shawn. I'm sure the frustrations felt by Paul are very real, and I appreciated the honesty portrayed. Can't wait to read the third one!
July 21, 2016
Wow a must read for anyone that read Stuck in Neutral.
February 4, 2016
Spotify Playlist Link:
https://open.spotify.com/user/marie01...
Throughout the book, Paul, our main character, accepts several things that is happening amongst his family. On page 107, Paul admits that he doesn’t hate his brother (Shawn) but just hate how he is. Shwan is a veg who was born ill. Paul is embarrassed by this and is ashamed of his brother. He is scared to introduce his brother to others and some people do not even know the fact that he has a brother. By the end of the book, Paul admits the fact that he loves his brother. Even though Paul knows that his brother can’t understand, he just accepts the fact that his brother is just ‘different’ from others and decides to express his love. Another time when Paul accepts and moves on is found on page 119. On this page, Paul finally forgives his father for abandoning the family. He had always hated his father for leaving but he didn’t even try to find the reason. However, after he realizes the ‘reason’ to why he left, he decides to let go of this piece of thought and moves on with his life. In fact, Paul also accepts the fact that his brother, Shawn, is his parent’s responsibilities and not his. Paul gave up his dreams, life and future for his brother. He always thought that he ‘needed’ to stay home in order to protect his family. He didn’t even plan to go to college when he was able to get a scholarship to his dream collage. He believed that without him, it was impossible for his family members to survive. However, on page 110, he realizes that he has to trust his parents and move on with his life. Believe in them to take good care of his ill, disordered brother. Paul accepts this and works hard to get into his dream collage. All of these settings, lead back to one thematic statement which is ‘you accept to move on’. In my playlist, I will be introducing a few songs that share the same theme.
The first song that I will introduce is “Best Thing I Never Had” sang by Beyoncé. This song is about a man who broke a girl’s heart. The man now he wants her back but this girl is doing fine without him and had moved on with the man behind. Even though this is a love story (unlike a story dealing with family issues), it still ties into the theme because this girl in the song had accepted the fact that she was hurt and decided to move on from the man. From the lyrics, it is clearly shown that this girl is over the boy “I thank God I dodged the bullet, I’m so over you, so baby good lookin’ out, I wanted you bad, I’m so through with that”.
The second song that ties into my theme is “Break Free”. This song is sang by Ariana Grande and Zedd. The story of this song is based on a girl who says ‘no’ to the man she loves. She is making a decision to be free without depending on her man’s life. From the lyrics, I am able to see that she wanted him in the past, but have moved on from depending on other’s life, “This is the part when I say I don’t want it, I’m stronger than I’ve been before, this is the part when I break free, ‘cause I can’t resist it no more”. This ties into the story because just like the song, Paul decides to move on with his life and plans to go to college.
The third song is sang by G.R.L. and this song is called “Ugly Heart”. This song is based on a girl who falls in love with a boy that is completely perfect. She loves him but gives up on him because of his ugly heart. Even though this song ‘accepts’ things that are different from the book, it still shares the same theme. In the lyrics, it states that the boy is not her sunshine anymore meaning that this is what she felt in the past. This part of the song matches my theme, “This little heart and brain of mine say, we’re through with you, and I wonder does it blow your mind, that I’m leaving you far behind, I wonder does it stop your heart to know, you’re not my sunshine anymore”.
The name of the forth song is “Move On” sang by Kurtis John. This song is about a man who gave up everything for his girl. By listening to the song, it is clear that this man had loved her but had to move on. From the lyrics, I am able to see the connection between my book and the song, “We all move on, sometimes we let go, we all move on, and not everything is meant to hold --- it’s already gone so lets move on”. Paul had given up his dream, his future, and his life for his brother. He thought that he had to protect his family but decided to move on just like the man in the song.
The fifth song is called “Gotta Go My Own Way” from the movie High School Musical 2. This song is about a girl who decides to leave her boyfriend to follow her own path. From the lyrics, the girl clearly states the fact that she has to do the thing thats best for her and this ties into my story because Paul has decided to leave his family and move on to college to have his own future. The lyrics that match my theme is, “It’s so hard to say, but I’ve gotta do whats best for me, You’ll be okay I’ve got to move on and be who I am, I just don’t belong here, I hope you understand, we might find our place in this world someday, but at least for now, I gotta go my own way,--- I’m leaving today, cause I gotta do whats best for me”.
The sixth song is sang by Destiny’s Child and the song is called “Survivor”. This song is about a girl who survives from leaving her man. From the lyrics, it shows that she explains how she is feeling better about leaving him and moving on. A part of the song says “After all of the darkness still comes happiness”. This relates to Paul because he had dark times in his life when he couldn’t understand why it was his brother that had the mental disease. However, after accepting and deciding to moving on, he learns how to love and show love to his brother.
The seventh song that ties into my theme is “Move On” sang by ABBA. This song is very interesting because it compares with things that move on. From the lyrics, I am able to get the message that you can’t hold onto things for ever, “Like a roller in the ocean, life is motion, move on, like a wind that’s always blowing, life is flowing, move on, like the sunrise in the morning, life is dawning, move on, how I treasure every minute, being part of it, being in it, with the urge to move on.” This song can tie into the book really easily because I believe that ‘moving on’ can be defined as not being able to hold on things forever, which is the answer Paul tries to find throughout the whole story.
The eight song is “Tonight I’m Getting Over You” sang by Carely Rae Jepsen. This song is about a girl who falls in love with a guy, but she decides to accept the fact that he is not the man for her because he always lies. This relates to the theme because she realizes that the boy lies about everything, so she moves on by getting over him. From the lyrics, she states that he lies and also states that she is over him, “Make you plead and cry as you give up all the lies--- tonight I’m getting over you”.
The ninth song that I will introduce is “Goodbye To You” sang by Michelle Branch. This song is about a girl saying goodbye to her love. From the lyrics, the words are all written in past tense, meaning that she loved him before but does not love him anymore, “Goodbye to you, goodbye to everything I thought I knew, you were the one I loved”. This ties into the theme because this girl is also accepting the fact that she can not hold onto him, so she decides to move on and says bye to her man. Even though it is not related to the scenes in the book, it still relates to the theme.
The tenth song that is related to my theme is “Move On” sang by Saad Ayub and Jennifer Rene. This song is different from the other songs mentioned. Most of the songs above were about accepting and moving on from others, however, this song is more focused on herself. From the lyrics, it shows that the girl is forgiving herself and setting her free to move on. The lyrics says, “It is time it is time it is time to forgive me, I’ll be moving on, --- it is time to be set free, from me”.
The last song that I will be introducing is “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)” sang by
P!nk. This song is about a woman who had held onto a man too tightly. The lyrics says, “White knuckles, and sweaty palms from hangin’ on too tight --- I’ve been dying over you”. This seems as if Paul is holding on to the fact that his father abandoned the family. He had hated his father and did not even try to consider anything else other than that fact. As the music goes on, the lyrics “But there’s nothing to grasp, so I let go, I think I finally had enough” shows the part when she lets go of everything. Just like this girl, Paul eventually decides to let go of the fact and considers ‘why’ his father left the family.
The eleven songs that I have chosen are all related to the thematic statement “you accept to move on” They might not entirely express my story, but the message from the author and singers are the same. Along with the story in the songs, Paul accepts everything and decides to move on to the next stage of his life. He gets hurt, accepts, forgives, then moves on to look for his dream.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2018
In the book “Cruise Control,” by Terry Trueman, the main character Paul is struggling dealing with his intellectually disabled brother, Shawn. The genre of the story is realistic fiction because the author was able to generate realistic events that could happen in 2018. Paul is used to teasing his little brother, and feels ashamed of him. Paul eventually realized that Shawn shouldn’t have to live like that, and gets his act together.
The characters in Cruise control include Paul and Shawn. Paul struggles in the beginning to live with his brother without being embarrassed. Paul called him horrible names, told him he was ashamed, and even said that he wasn’t real family. When he saw some kids beating Shawn up, Paul finally realized how cruel it was for him to do what he was doing to Shawn. He apologized for everything and wanted Shawn to know that he loved him despite what he said before. Paul also realized throughout the story that his brother isn’t all his responsibility. He doesn’t have to be there all the time, but Paul felt like he really “needed” to. He had denied so many colleges, and basically turned his life upside down just to suit Shawn’s needs.
I think the main conflict in this story is internal, and how Paul has to deal with his brother and deal with the fact that his father left so long ago without warning. I think Paul and his brother having to live the way they do is character vs. society. If Shawn wasn’t disabled, people around him wouldn’t be so mean to him. Our society is so messed up, and people have trouble accepting people for who they are. Paul being so angry with his dad is character vs character. The dad left the family because he apparently thought that Shawn would ruin his reputation so he left without saying goodbye. Paul gets so upset that he was left as the “parent” in place of his father.
The theme of this “Cruise Control” is to not make assumptions or judgements based on someone’s appearance or what you’ve been told. Shawn may be intellectually disabled, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel things or the pain of bullying. Paul’s dad turned out to be a lot more than what Paul thought. He should have listened to himself rather than what he kept being told. The mood in the book is very emotional and heartwarming. When Paul was able to truly be some brothers with Shawn makes you feel so great inside, and happy that Shawn can be happy. Also when Paul reunites with his father, that moment is very touching.
I thought this was the perfect book for me. I really loved the way the author was able to set such an emotional mood, which can be very hard. I think Truman used the family aspect in such a great way. The way everything was able to come together in the end with the family felt amazing. The author makes the perfect image in your head on how people feel and act. Great book, but I would suggest a little more character change in Shawn. Maybe something to add to his feelings. We just get how Paul sees the situation, but if we could see more from Shawn’s perspective, I would be even more touched. I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys romance because it has those same types of moments, and also more emotional books that can make you even tear up. 4.5/5 great book!
The characters in Cruise control include Paul and Shawn. Paul struggles in the beginning to live with his brother without being embarrassed. Paul called him horrible names, told him he was ashamed, and even said that he wasn’t real family. When he saw some kids beating Shawn up, Paul finally realized how cruel it was for him to do what he was doing to Shawn. He apologized for everything and wanted Shawn to know that he loved him despite what he said before. Paul also realized throughout the story that his brother isn’t all his responsibility. He doesn’t have to be there all the time, but Paul felt like he really “needed” to. He had denied so many colleges, and basically turned his life upside down just to suit Shawn’s needs.
I think the main conflict in this story is internal, and how Paul has to deal with his brother and deal with the fact that his father left so long ago without warning. I think Paul and his brother having to live the way they do is character vs. society. If Shawn wasn’t disabled, people around him wouldn’t be so mean to him. Our society is so messed up, and people have trouble accepting people for who they are. Paul being so angry with his dad is character vs character. The dad left the family because he apparently thought that Shawn would ruin his reputation so he left without saying goodbye. Paul gets so upset that he was left as the “parent” in place of his father.
The theme of this “Cruise Control” is to not make assumptions or judgements based on someone’s appearance or what you’ve been told. Shawn may be intellectually disabled, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel things or the pain of bullying. Paul’s dad turned out to be a lot more than what Paul thought. He should have listened to himself rather than what he kept being told. The mood in the book is very emotional and heartwarming. When Paul was able to truly be some brothers with Shawn makes you feel so great inside, and happy that Shawn can be happy. Also when Paul reunites with his father, that moment is very touching.
I thought this was the perfect book for me. I really loved the way the author was able to set such an emotional mood, which can be very hard. I think Truman used the family aspect in such a great way. The way everything was able to come together in the end with the family felt amazing. The author makes the perfect image in your head on how people feel and act. Great book, but I would suggest a little more character change in Shawn. Maybe something to add to his feelings. We just get how Paul sees the situation, but if we could see more from Shawn’s perspective, I would be even more touched. I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys romance because it has those same types of moments, and also more emotional books that can make you even tear up. 4.5/5 great book!
March 1, 2022
This was a really good book and was fun to read, although I didn't relate to it as much there is a lot of people in society that will probably relate to this book. This book is about a kid named Paul and he has a disabled brother Shawn. His dad left his family early because he could not stand to look at his disabled son. When His dad comes back to Paul’s family a lot of problems occur. I rate this book a four out of four stars because I liked the plot of the book and how protective Paul was of his family, it reminded me of him. What I didn’t like was how the book ended, I would recommend this book to people who like a good book and an intense book.
The theme that is in this book is that you should never judge while not knowing the whole story and even though your parents have made a big mistake in the past you should judge or make them feel less. They are still your parents and raised you. They did everything to make you feel special and for you to have everything possible in life. They gave you a good childhood and a great education. The message that the writer is trying to communicate is that you never judge while you don't know the whole story that had happened. Remember to keep your comments to yourself and don't say things that you know won't be nice and can cause problems. The characters helped because they showed what happens when you don't ask about the past. For instance, Pual always thought that his father had walked out on them but the real story was that his mom had told him to leave. That was one of the biggest ways that they showed the message. I think that one of the characters had made some bad decisions in the book. One was that Pual and his friend Tim were drinking and started driving. I wouldn't have even tried to touch the wheel. They could have got into an accident, they could have really hurt themselves. The actors help us better understand because they know what they did was wrong and told what would have happened if they would have gotten hurt. Another was that Tim had ended up in jail because of fighting with his stepfather. Now they know what consequences they could have if they ever tried any of those things.
The theme that is in this book is that you should never judge while not knowing the whole story and even though your parents have made a big mistake in the past you should judge or make them feel less. They are still your parents and raised you. They did everything to make you feel special and for you to have everything possible in life. They gave you a good childhood and a great education. The message that the writer is trying to communicate is that you never judge while you don't know the whole story that had happened. Remember to keep your comments to yourself and don't say things that you know won't be nice and can cause problems. The characters helped because they showed what happens when you don't ask about the past. For instance, Pual always thought that his father had walked out on them but the real story was that his mom had told him to leave. That was one of the biggest ways that they showed the message. I think that one of the characters had made some bad decisions in the book. One was that Pual and his friend Tim were drinking and started driving. I wouldn't have even tried to touch the wheel. They could have got into an accident, they could have really hurt themselves. The actors help us better understand because they know what they did was wrong and told what would have happened if they would have gotten hurt. Another was that Tim had ended up in jail because of fighting with his stepfather. Now they know what consequences they could have if they ever tried any of those things.
Read
February 3, 2016Cruise Control by Terry Trueman
Theme Playlist
By Alina Lee D2
Playlist Link: https://open.spotify.com/user/alinzaz...
While reading the book “Cruise Control” I have found that the theme is “Accepting things is moving on because you can’t hold on to things forever.” I believe this is the thematic sentence because in the story their are multiple times that Paul has held on to the fact that his father left them. The resentment drives his every decision. Also, Paul has had the dream of going to Georgia College using a basketball scholarship. He believes that he can’t go because he “needs” to stay home and take care of his family (since his father left). Paul also holds on the the fact that he once watched two bullies almost kill his disabled brother. Later on in the book Paul tells his brother that this happened. Even though, he knows his brother can’t comprehend it. Paul’s father and mother tell him the truth about his father’s absences and Paul finally forgives him. After, his father tells him that his disabled brother is not his responsibility. Allowing Paul to get a basketball scholarship and go to Georgia college. Paul accepts these things in his life so he can move on and pursue his dreams. All of these events were holding Paul down, making him think that he can’t pursue his dreams.
Turning tables- Adele
My first song is “Turning Tables” by Adele. I chose this song because it shows the emotions that Paul was feeling as everything happened. When his father left, when his brother gets seizures and when bullies come. The lyric “As hard as you try, no, I will never be knocked down” This represents Paul accepting his past and saying that no more of it can hurt him. Paul is moving forward and isn’t looking back.
Survivor - Destiny’s child
My Second song is “Survivor” by Destiny’s child. I chose this song because it represents how strong Paul is to accept and move on with his life after his father left them. He persisted and continued to thrive and take care of his family. The lyrics say “After all of the darkness still comes happiness” This represents Paul accepting that his family is not perfect but moving on. Meaning that nothing can ever bring him down because he is a survivor. After all the things he has gone through he still persists.
One Step at a time- Jordin Sparks
My third choice is “One Step at a Time” by Jordin Sparks. I chose this song because it is as if the song is helping him. This songs talks about slowing down and going step by step but still moving forward. In the beginning of the song the lyric “In you face the door keeps slamming, Now you’re feeling frustrated more and more frustrated” Comes up. I believe that this lyric shows how Paul continued to work hard and move on even when the “door keeps getting slammed in his face”. Paul is taking one step at a time to recover from the past events that have impacted him so much.
Beautiful- Christina Aguilera
My fourth song is “Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera. I chose this song because it represents how Paul feels about himself. Paul wont let the major events bring him down. He is stronger than ever. The lyric “Yes words can bring me down.” shows how Paul is strong and that he can still live out his dream even when so many things are hurting him. Paul is persisting when so many things are hurting him.
The Climb- Miley Cyrus
My fifth song is “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus. I chose this song because is shows how Paul gets through every challenge handed to him. He will still work through them. The lyric “The chances I’m taking, might nock me down, but, no, I’m not breaking.” shows that whatever his handed to Paul might hurt him in so way but will never fully break him down. Paul will continue to fight through whatever is given to him.
Fight Song- Rachel Platten
My sixth song is “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten. I chose this song because is represents the perseverance Paul has to fight the roughest battles and still be strong. The lyric “My powers turned on, starting right now I’ll be strong.” and “And I don’t really care, if nobody else believes, cause I’ve still got, a lot of fight left in me.” Shows how strong and persevered Paul is to fight all of these battles.
Blow Me (One Last Kiss)- Pink
The seventh song I chose is “Blow Me(One Last Kiss)” by Pink. I chose this song because is the beginning the lyrics talk about holding on too tight. “I’ve been dying over you, tie a know in the rope” Represents Paul holding on to the past and not letting go. “But there’s nothing to grasp, So I let go, I think I finally had enough” Represents Paul accepting his past instead of trying to fix it. He lets go and moves on, leaving the past behind.
Ridin’ Solo- Jason Derulo
My eighth song is “Ridin’ Solo” by Jason Derulo. I chose this song because is talks about leaving everything behind and thriving on your own. Something that Paul does in the story. The lyric “I’m so sorry that it didn’t work out, I’m movin’ on” Shows how Paul didn’t try to work out the past, he decided to build the future and move on. Paul didn’t focus on the past to look towards the future.
Titanium- David Guetta, Sia
My ninth song is Titanium by David Guetta and Sia. I chose this song because it talks about being hit by bullets but never falling. The lyric “Shoot me down but I get up” Shows that no matter what the harm Paul will always recover and continue living his dream. Titanium is a song for those who have had to overcome something that made a big impact on their life. Paul had many events that impacted his life and he still overcame them and continued thriving.
This is Me- Demi Lavato
The tenth song I chose is “This is Me” by Demi Lavato. I chose this song because it talks about accepting yourself and asking others to accept you too. It gives the message of acceptance and not hiding. Paul at first did not accept his family and what made him himself, he let it pull him down. Except, eventually he let go and was able to live out his dream. The lyric “This is real, This is me, I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be now” Represents Paul allowing others to have a relationship with him. At first, Paul would always hide and reject others. After, Paul accepted himself and let others see him as well.
All of these songs support my theme in Cruise Control by Terry Trueman. They all give the message of moving on and acceptance. Even after all of the bullets Paul was hit by he accepts everything and continues to thrive. Paul accepts his father’s absence after finding out the truth. Paul accepts that and moves on, letting his father build a relationship with him. Paul accepts that not everybody can love anybody 24/7. Paul accepts himself for who he is and moves on to thrive for his dream.
Theme Playlist
By Alina Lee D2
Playlist Link: https://open.spotify.com/user/alinzaz...
While reading the book “Cruise Control” I have found that the theme is “Accepting things is moving on because you can’t hold on to things forever.” I believe this is the thematic sentence because in the story their are multiple times that Paul has held on to the fact that his father left them. The resentment drives his every decision. Also, Paul has had the dream of going to Georgia College using a basketball scholarship. He believes that he can’t go because he “needs” to stay home and take care of his family (since his father left). Paul also holds on the the fact that he once watched two bullies almost kill his disabled brother. Later on in the book Paul tells his brother that this happened. Even though, he knows his brother can’t comprehend it. Paul’s father and mother tell him the truth about his father’s absences and Paul finally forgives him. After, his father tells him that his disabled brother is not his responsibility. Allowing Paul to get a basketball scholarship and go to Georgia college. Paul accepts these things in his life so he can move on and pursue his dreams. All of these events were holding Paul down, making him think that he can’t pursue his dreams.
Turning tables- Adele
My first song is “Turning Tables” by Adele. I chose this song because it shows the emotions that Paul was feeling as everything happened. When his father left, when his brother gets seizures and when bullies come. The lyric “As hard as you try, no, I will never be knocked down” This represents Paul accepting his past and saying that no more of it can hurt him. Paul is moving forward and isn’t looking back.
Survivor - Destiny’s child
My Second song is “Survivor” by Destiny’s child. I chose this song because it represents how strong Paul is to accept and move on with his life after his father left them. He persisted and continued to thrive and take care of his family. The lyrics say “After all of the darkness still comes happiness” This represents Paul accepting that his family is not perfect but moving on. Meaning that nothing can ever bring him down because he is a survivor. After all the things he has gone through he still persists.
One Step at a time- Jordin Sparks
My third choice is “One Step at a Time” by Jordin Sparks. I chose this song because it is as if the song is helping him. This songs talks about slowing down and going step by step but still moving forward. In the beginning of the song the lyric “In you face the door keeps slamming, Now you’re feeling frustrated more and more frustrated” Comes up. I believe that this lyric shows how Paul continued to work hard and move on even when the “door keeps getting slammed in his face”. Paul is taking one step at a time to recover from the past events that have impacted him so much.
Beautiful- Christina Aguilera
My fourth song is “Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera. I chose this song because it represents how Paul feels about himself. Paul wont let the major events bring him down. He is stronger than ever. The lyric “Yes words can bring me down.” shows how Paul is strong and that he can still live out his dream even when so many things are hurting him. Paul is persisting when so many things are hurting him.
The Climb- Miley Cyrus
My fifth song is “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus. I chose this song because is shows how Paul gets through every challenge handed to him. He will still work through them. The lyric “The chances I’m taking, might nock me down, but, no, I’m not breaking.” shows that whatever his handed to Paul might hurt him in so way but will never fully break him down. Paul will continue to fight through whatever is given to him.
Fight Song- Rachel Platten
My sixth song is “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten. I chose this song because is represents the perseverance Paul has to fight the roughest battles and still be strong. The lyric “My powers turned on, starting right now I’ll be strong.” and “And I don’t really care, if nobody else believes, cause I’ve still got, a lot of fight left in me.” Shows how strong and persevered Paul is to fight all of these battles.
Blow Me (One Last Kiss)- Pink
The seventh song I chose is “Blow Me(One Last Kiss)” by Pink. I chose this song because is the beginning the lyrics talk about holding on too tight. “I’ve been dying over you, tie a know in the rope” Represents Paul holding on to the past and not letting go. “But there’s nothing to grasp, So I let go, I think I finally had enough” Represents Paul accepting his past instead of trying to fix it. He lets go and moves on, leaving the past behind.
Ridin’ Solo- Jason Derulo
My eighth song is “Ridin’ Solo” by Jason Derulo. I chose this song because is talks about leaving everything behind and thriving on your own. Something that Paul does in the story. The lyric “I’m so sorry that it didn’t work out, I’m movin’ on” Shows how Paul didn’t try to work out the past, he decided to build the future and move on. Paul didn’t focus on the past to look towards the future.
Titanium- David Guetta, Sia
My ninth song is Titanium by David Guetta and Sia. I chose this song because it talks about being hit by bullets but never falling. The lyric “Shoot me down but I get up” Shows that no matter what the harm Paul will always recover and continue living his dream. Titanium is a song for those who have had to overcome something that made a big impact on their life. Paul had many events that impacted his life and he still overcame them and continued thriving.
This is Me- Demi Lavato
The tenth song I chose is “This is Me” by Demi Lavato. I chose this song because it talks about accepting yourself and asking others to accept you too. It gives the message of acceptance and not hiding. Paul at first did not accept his family and what made him himself, he let it pull him down. Except, eventually he let go and was able to live out his dream. The lyric “This is real, This is me, I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be now” Represents Paul allowing others to have a relationship with him. At first, Paul would always hide and reject others. After, Paul accepted himself and let others see him as well.
All of these songs support my theme in Cruise Control by Terry Trueman. They all give the message of moving on and acceptance. Even after all of the bullets Paul was hit by he accepts everything and continues to thrive. Paul accepts his father’s absence after finding out the truth. Paul accepts that and moves on, letting his father build a relationship with him. Paul accepts that not everybody can love anybody 24/7. Paul accepts himself for who he is and moves on to thrive for his dream.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2019
*SPOILERS*
I am not a book person at all and believe me when I tell you this book was more than toloratable. I loved Terry Trueman’s writing style and just the overall story. Cruise Control was very well thought out and intriguing. Usually I have a really hard time staying engaged and interested in books and I would definitely look into reading another book by this author again.
This books plotline is just real especially in the everyday life of a teenager. The sad part about this book is how Paul wants to go away to Georgia College but is afraid to leave his family because he needs to help them take care of Shawn. This really makes me upset because I know a lot of people who have this mindset and it holds them back in life!
I really believe that this book is worth a try for any teenager, especially if you have trouble finding books to read, whether it be for pleasure or for a school project. Personally I feel like the more I think about this story and the more into it I got the more I felt me and Paul had in common, which was a
Trueman did an amazing job truly developing paul. Keeping his anger issues and love for basketball consistent throughout the book. It was truly shown when he fought the cocky camaro guy for almost running over a girl and her dog. Paul is a very caring young man who wants to make things right.
In conclusion, I would definitely recommend this book for teenagers to at least give it a try. Although this book is fiction it honestly could also be nonfiction. It feels as though this could be a true story. I look forward to reading more from Trueman for future school projects.
I am not a book person at all and believe me when I tell you this book was more than toloratable. I loved Terry Trueman’s writing style and just the overall story. Cruise Control was very well thought out and intriguing. Usually I have a really hard time staying engaged and interested in books and I would definitely look into reading another book by this author again.
This books plotline is just real especially in the everyday life of a teenager. The sad part about this book is how Paul wants to go away to Georgia College but is afraid to leave his family because he needs to help them take care of Shawn. This really makes me upset because I know a lot of people who have this mindset and it holds them back in life!
I really believe that this book is worth a try for any teenager, especially if you have trouble finding books to read, whether it be for pleasure or for a school project. Personally I feel like the more I think about this story and the more into it I got the more I felt me and Paul had in common, which was a
Trueman did an amazing job truly developing paul. Keeping his anger issues and love for basketball consistent throughout the book. It was truly shown when he fought the cocky camaro guy for almost running over a girl and her dog. Paul is a very caring young man who wants to make things right.
In conclusion, I would definitely recommend this book for teenagers to at least give it a try. Although this book is fiction it honestly could also be nonfiction. It feels as though this could be a true story. I look forward to reading more from Trueman for future school projects.
December 12, 2017
***Spoiler Alert***
This book is amazing! I am no book lover but I got introduced to Terry Trueman´s book and i love his books, well the three that I have read so far. Cruise Control by Terry Trueman is the one of my favorite books now that I have read. Terry Trueman is a very good author and gives good plot twists and makes stories that can be very relatable to some people. This book not quite sure if it is nonfiction or not because it seems so realistic but at the same time I think otherwise. This as an easy too read book and very interesting also. This book mostly attracts the teens, those book lover teens. So basically In the book Cruise Control there is this teen named Paul he has short temper, loves basketball, and has a veg brother whom his dad bailed on him or so that is what Paul thinks he did. Paul has so much anger for his dad because one day he had just left his family behind when things got worse with Shawn, his brother. His dad presumably went on and had been in many TV shows talking about how his life was with his veg son and Paul really gets pissed off because he isn´t even there to see how it really is. The top character, the most important character is Paul. I personally feel like he is understandable because who would not be mad at their dad for bailing on them when times get rough, I know I would be mad. My favorite character is Paul because of his attitude towards the end of the book. I do recommend people read this book it is a very interesting book to read, and this is coming from a person who does not really read for fun!
This book is amazing! I am no book lover but I got introduced to Terry Trueman´s book and i love his books, well the three that I have read so far. Cruise Control by Terry Trueman is the one of my favorite books now that I have read. Terry Trueman is a very good author and gives good plot twists and makes stories that can be very relatable to some people. This book not quite sure if it is nonfiction or not because it seems so realistic but at the same time I think otherwise. This as an easy too read book and very interesting also. This book mostly attracts the teens, those book lover teens. So basically In the book Cruise Control there is this teen named Paul he has short temper, loves basketball, and has a veg brother whom his dad bailed on him or so that is what Paul thinks he did. Paul has so much anger for his dad because one day he had just left his family behind when things got worse with Shawn, his brother. His dad presumably went on and had been in many TV shows talking about how his life was with his veg son and Paul really gets pissed off because he isn´t even there to see how it really is. The top character, the most important character is Paul. I personally feel like he is understandable because who would not be mad at their dad for bailing on them when times get rough, I know I would be mad. My favorite character is Paul because of his attitude towards the end of the book. I do recommend people read this book it is a very interesting book to read, and this is coming from a person who does not really read for fun!
May 11, 2022
Cruise Control by Terry Trueman was an interesting read. The beginning starts off kind of slow as we’re learning about each character. The main character, Paul, has a brother with cerebral palsy and shares the struggles of taking care of him. There is a huge contrast between Paul and his brother Shawn because they live completely different lives. I like what the author did to structure this; Paul is a popular jock committed to Georgetown to play basketball and Shawn sits in a wheelchair and doesn’t speak. We learn about what it’s like to have a brother with cerebral palsy. At some points we see that Paul struggles with loving his brother at times because he says there's nobody inside of his body. I also like how the author structures the novel and how it gets more interesting as it goes on. At the beginning we were solely learning about Shawn and his everyday life and then we focused more on Paul's future and his basketball career. The entire end of the book is about the state championship basketball game and I thought it was so intriguing. I also like that Paul fixed things with his dad at the end of the book because that was also a problem in his life for a while. All in all this book was better than I thought it was going to be because it got better as you continued to read.
November 9, 2021
I thought this book was overall very entertaining and a hopeful message to people for people struggling to love people with unconditional love and to show that you care about the people. Another thing i learned from this story is to not make assumptions about people because you do not know what is going on in there life and what they deal with. Paul was a basketball player who was a very good one, he used all of his anger out on the game to reveale all the stress. His family was split up but he doesn't know why and he always has a grudge against his dad for leaving. Overall this book reveals Paul's struggles with having a brother with cerebral palsy and him having to take care of his family and be there for them.
April 29, 2021
The thing I liked most about this book is that it gets the first person male narration of a senior in high school pretty spot on. Paul is a highly successful athlete and scholar in his last year in high school, but is constantly brimming with a pressure-cooker full of rage. He's angry at his father, at people who try to get too close to him, and at the unfairness of life. Most of all, though, he's angry at himself and his confused feelings he feels towards his fourteen-year-old brother who is a "veg", as Paul describes him.
November 26, 2018
This is the second book of Trueman's that I've read, and it's very similar to the first because of the raw, emotional intensity. Although this wasn't an easy read, it was an interesting read.
This book would be a great read for males or females, but definitely males - it's about the anger that a high school athlete feels towards his father. However, it's also a story about Paul learnign to cope with his feelings towards his special-needs brother.
This book would be a great read for males or females, but definitely males - it's about the anger that a high school athlete feels towards his father. However, it's also a story about Paul learnign to cope with his feelings towards his special-needs brother.
January 7, 2019
This was the first time, I have ever Read a continuation of a story that wasnt just more put in.(im very sorry if that makes no sense) The author made another book, but was in the prospective of the older Brother. Focusing not just on hia thoughts of his Brother. However, it does do that. It mostly talks about hia struggles of hia life. That is what I really enjoyed about this book.
10/10 should read!!
10/10 should read!!
February 5, 2018
This was good, a companion book to Stuck in Neutral.
Paul, wants to… play basketball, go away to college… maybe to stop being so angry. But he feels like he has to stay at home to help take care of his severely handicapped brother, Shawn. Paul loves and hates Shawn, and himself, but just plain hates his father, who has moved out.
Paul, wants to… play basketball, go away to college… maybe to stop being so angry. But he feels like he has to stay at home to help take care of his severely handicapped brother, Shawn. Paul loves and hates Shawn, and himself, but just plain hates his father, who has moved out.
October 8, 2025
I liked Paul’s perspective on the same events as stuck in neutral because everyone in the family lived them but each family member handles things differently. Paul’s joinery means finding true love for Shawn and to stop hating his dad and those plot points are well illustrated and accomplished throughout the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2018
A very good book. A lot of detail and good characters. A very interesting book, also kind of made me bite my nails being curios whats going to happen next. The book has a great setting, characters, and background.
January 2, 2018
It was a very good book even though parts of it was confusing at times; the book was still very interesting and fun to read.
January 2, 2018
Read this to teach to my class. great for younger readers.
April 20, 2018
I like that this is a companion to Stuck in Neutral and wish that I had reread that before this! I didn't really believe Paul's dramatic character change, but I did enjoy the story overall.
August 1, 2018
I never read Stuck In Neutral, but I was still able to read this book and understand. I like how this book portrays the difficulties of having a handicapped sibling.
September 30, 2018
Wow, what a good book. I’m a huge fan already of Stuck In Neutral. Of course I was going to enjoy this book a perspective from Shaun’s brother.
March 16, 2017
Cruise Control by Terry Trueman is one of my favorite books I've read before. This book is about a guy Paul and he has a disabled brother Shawn. His dad left his family early because he could not stand to look at his disabled son. When His dad comes back to Paul’s family a lot of problems occur. I rate this book a four out of five stars because I liked the plot of the book and how protective Paul was of his family, it reminded me of him. What I didn’t like was how the book ended, I would recommend this book to people who like a good book and a intense book.
March 14, 2022
I thought Cruise Control was an "okay" book. I liked the fact that the book was told from Shawn's brother's point of view. I also liked the book because it was easy to read and understand. I’m not going to condemn the book, but there were some things that I just did not like. The reasons I did not like this book are because it talked a lot about Terry Trueman's first book, and I had already read that one. I would exonerate the author from doing that, because he is a good writer, and has a lot to say in this story. The plight of the story is that Paul, who is Shawn’s brother, is upset because he doesn’t know how Shawn feels about it, due to being non-verbal. I gave this book 3 stars because I didn’t enjoy reading part of the story I had read in my previous book. However, it was good to see from Paul’s point of view.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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