Stuck in Neutral is a narrative from the perspective of a paralyzed teenager suffering from cerebral palsy who is perfectly cognizant of the world around him, but has absolutely no way to show it. This creates a tension in which people think he is a brain-dead vegetable despite the opposite being true. As a result, the narrator, Shawn, believes his father is struggling with the decision of whether or not to euthanize his son.
Interestingly, in spite of the exceptionality of cerebral palsy, Trueman portrays Shawn as a normal teenager in terms of his thoughts. Because of this, Shawns relationship with his father – though complicated with his fathers plans to kill him – is accessible to other teenagers at a time when their beliefs of what is best for them differ from their parents. Describing his father, Shawn illustrates t relationship of conflict with loving father “My dad is a complete jerk and a great guy: He is ugly and handsome, charming and cruel, funny and angry” (23).
In a sense, though Shawn's father does not understand him far beyond the way any teenager claims their parents do not understand them, a reader can still connect with the universal notion of being misunderstood. Shawn states, “My father's version of me is a paper-thin, imaginary Shawn, a two-dimensional version of Dad's worst fears” (29).
One interesting aspect of this relationship is Shawn's understanding of his parents' divorce. Many children and teenagers feel as though they are at fault for a divorce. In Shawn's case, he actually is; his father was unable to cope with his child's condition while maintaining a healthy, normal relationship with the rest of his family
And, beyond these turmoil-filled aspects, Shawn is portrayed as a normal, pervy, boob-obsessed 14-year old.
In regards to these fairly universal themes, Shawn's experiences are relatable, despite being rather exceptional in terms of the conditions surrounding his life. The exceptional nature of the relationship between Shawn and his father resulted in Shawn's father becoming famous for writing a poem about the ordeal. As Shawn puts it, “Dad's fame has made him a professional victim of our relationship.”
This book effectively brings the reader into the mind of Shawn (though Trueman does at times employ an awkward form of writing in which Shawn speaks directly to the reader). In this sense, it is successful as an example of “multicultural literature.” The classification of this text in that category challenged my notion of what constitutes “culture,” which I have generally viewed in terms categories such as race and ethnicity, sexuality and gender, and religion and nationality. However, the text forces the reader to consider the plight and role of those who are essentially a different class of people, as well as the social, cultural, and moral issues surrounding them.
Beyond confronting the specific issues face by those with disabilities, I believe the text challenges the reader recognize the hazards of perspective; that they can't truly know what someone else is experiencing. Just like one cannot understand the experiences of being of a race other than their own, they cannot truly understand what it means to be handicapped. In a way, the book makes an argument for euthanasia. Everything the dad says makes sense, but only from an outsiders perspective. The reader's response, in a way is the same as the audience on the talkshow the dad speaks to, and the reader finds themselves “agreeing with something that they don't quite understand, but that makes too much sense to ignore” (75). But the book's argument against euthanasia is much greater – no one can understand what a specific person experiences or what they might want.
In terms of writing quality and story, the book leaves something to be desired. The book ends with rising tension, leaving the climax and the conclusion to be constructed by the reader. This model conflicts so heavily with the structure of plot that most readers have been raised on that it becomes disconcerting. However, the questions the ending leaves in the reader makes it a valuable text to spark critical thought about serious issues.
I imagine writing from the perspective of a teenager with cerebral palsy is quite challenging. As someone who did not read this book, I am wondering if you found Shawn's narration to be believable/authentic. Does the author, for instance, employ a particular writing style that speaks to the content of the text (i.e., that Shawn has cerebral palsy)? In other words, is there anything unique about the way in which Shawn's narration is presented?
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