Stuck in Neutral

by Terry Trueman

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Student Question

Why does Shawn enjoy his seizures in Stuck in Neutral?

Quick answer:

Shawn enjoys his seizures because they provide a sense of escape from his paralyzed body and the limitations of his cerebral palsy. During seizures, he experiences a sensation akin to flying, which he describes as miraculous. This is significant for Shawn, as it offers him a rare feeling of freedom and liberation from his otherwise constrained existence, despite others perceiving him as mentally impaired.

Expert Answers

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Stuck in Neutral, written by Terry Trueman, is a young adult novel about Shawn McDaniel. Shawn is fourteen years old and has cerebral palsy. He seems, to others, to be in a vegetative state, as he has no muscle control and is unable to communicate. His family believes that he is not only physically impaired but that he is also mentally impaired with the brain function of a baby. But, Shawn is actually very intelligent.

Part of his condition means that Shawn suffers from seizures which he describes as being enjoyable:

I don’t know when a seizure will strike, but when it does, it’s like a miracle.

The reason for this is that these seizures take Shawn out of his paralyzed body and away from the reality he inhabits. They are his only means of escape and they make him feel like he is flying.

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