Stuck in Neutral

Introduction
To Kill?  Or Not to Kill?
Euthanasia:
Pronunciation: "youth-an-asia"
killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured persons or animals with as little pain as possible out of kindness or mercy -- called also mercy killing

Euthanasia. It's a big word with big consequences. For as long as I can remember, there has been a debate on the killing of humans who are hopelessly sick and too feeble to end their own lives. Is this type of killing an act of mercy? Or is it a crime? There's no doubt about it--the killing of people in the US, for ANY reason, is a criminal act, whether it is done out of mercy or not. The story we are about to read addresses euthanasia and its consequences. Before we dive into the book, I would like you to view the following video and post a comment of your first impressions.

What are your first impressions on euthanasia? Should it be illegal? Should people go to jail for mercy killing? Or should it be considered an act of mercy?

Now watch a book trailer on Stuck In Neutral, the book we will be working with in class. You're going to love it!

Vocabulary
Stuck In Neutral vocab: Use the following list of vocabulary words to create flashcards in the "trading cards" app.  Fill out the picture, meaning, part of speech, synonym, word clue, and sentence.  Be creative with the pictures!
1. Euthanasia
2. Burden
3. Conceited
4. Cerebral Palsy
5. Pulitzer Prize
6. Intolerable
7. Resentment
8. Voluntary
9. Scurry
10. Armistice



**At the end of this novel, you will be writing a persuasive essay about euthanasia.  More info on that to come!





Discussion Questions
Directions: Read the first five chapters of Stuck In Neutral.  If you'd like, you can click on the links below and listen to the audio as you read!  (Just be sure to wear your headphones.)  After you read each chapter, please CHOOSE TWO discussion questions to answer, in complete sentences (of course).  At the end of each chapter, after you have answered your questions, you will share your responses with your group.

Chapter 1
Discussion Questions: (choose 2)
1. After reading only pages 1-3, how would you say that Shawn feels about his life? 
2. He sure seems to have a lot of “good news.”  What are some things about Shawn’s life that he loves?
3. In what ways is Shawn misunderstood?
4. Why do you suppose the author chooses to use the word “retard” in this book?  How does Shawn feel about the word?

Chapter 2
Discussion Questions: (choose 2)

1. How does Shawn’s condition affect him?
2. How does Shawn communicate with the people around him?
3. In what ways does Shawn misunderstand the world around him?
4. What one last piece of bad news does Shawn reveal at the end of the chapter?  What do you think is going on here?

Chapter 3
Discussion Questions: (choose 2)

1. Most 12 year olds have had some type of experience with death.  The scene described in this chapter is Shawn’s ONLY death-related experience.  Describe the scene.
2. Why do you think he fears death so much?
3. Do most people have the negative perspective on death that Shawn has?

Chapter 4
Discussion Questions: (choose 2)

1. How many times has Shawn been alone with his dad?  How many times has he heard him say his name?  Why does Shawn choose to point these numbers out to us as the readers?
2. How do you think that Shawn’s dad feels about him?  Pull a specific line from the text.
3. What is the event that triggers his dad’s anger in this chapter?  Why does he become so angry? 
4. What does the crow represent?
5. In the second to the last paragraph, Shawn mentions a lot of “opposite” aspects of his dad’s personality.  What does he mean?  Why does he choose to portray his father in this way?
6. What is his dad famous for?

Chapter 5
Discussion Questions: (choose 2)

1. What is happening in this first stanza of Shawn’s dad’s poem?  How does Shawn’s dad feel during the moment that is being described?
2. What is a “veg?”  How does Shawn misunderstand this?
3. There were many reasons why Shawn felt self-conscious at the poetry reading.  Name 5.
4. Shawn reveals something about himself in the last paragraph of this chapter.  What is it?  What is a seizure?  Why do you think Shawn might love having seizures?

Chapter 6
Discussion Questions: (choose 2)

1. In verse 2 of the poem, what strange movement does Lindy notice in the baby’s eyes?  What was “unraveling?”
2. On page 33 Shawn says, “Imagine a world where, every time you laughed, everyone else looked sad.” What is he referring to?  How can he laugh?  Why do people look sad?
3. Describe the sensation that Shawn has when he’s having a seizure.  Specifically, what happens to his “spirit?”
4. Most people hate having seizures.  Why does Shawn love them so much?
5. If you could fly anywhere, or see anything like Shawn does during his seizures, where would you go?  What would you want to experience?

Chapter 7
Discussion Questions: (choose 2)

1. Verse 3 of Shawn says, “His arms and legs/ are overcooked spaghetti/ laced with the bones of dead birds.”  What is the author saying?
2. How is Shawn just like a “normal” teenager? What did he have in common with you? How is Shawn misunderstood in the same and different ways than other people?
3. Shawn analyzes the word “retard” in this chapter.  What does HE think of the word?  Why do you think that the author addresses using the word “retard” in this book?
4. The issue of educating the uneducable comes up in this chapter.  How do you feel about this issue?  Should we spend money working with children who can’t be taught?  Why do you think this law exists?
5. After listening to his dad with the camera crew, Shawn is more convinced than ever that his dad is thinking about killing him.  Why would a father kill his own son?  If you were Shawn, would you be worried or relieved?

Chapter 8

1. The impact that Shawn has on his family members is highlighted in this chapter.  Shawn believes that his father left the family because of him.  Do you agree?  Why couldn’t his dad handle it when everyone else managed their emotions?
2. How would you describe Shawn’s family? What are the similarities and differences among the men and the women of Shawn’s family? How did the parents’ divorce affect the family as individuals and as a group?
3. What do you think Shawn’s father believes about Shawn as a person? How would you describe Shawn’s father, Sydney McDaniel? What did you think of Shawn’s father? Do you think he is using Shawn for fame? Would you describe him as selfish or selfless?

Chapter 9
Discussion Questions (choose 2)

1. In the second paragraph on page 54, Shawn describe the way that people “see” him.  Why does he become invisible?  How would you feel if you were invisible to people?  Is this always a negative thing for Shawn?
2. Why do you suppose people talk loudly to Shawn when they first meet him? 
3. As Shawn is lying in his bed, he talks about the mobile that hangs above him.  What details does he tell us about it?  Why do you suppose the author had Shawn tell us these details?
4. How did you feel when you read about the fly on Shawn’s face?  Have you ever had an experience where something really uncomfortable was happening to you and there was nothing you could do about it?
5. Being in love with Allie makes Shawn realize something about his life.  What is it?

Chapter 10
Discussion Questions (choose 2)

1. This verse of “Shawn” describes the relationship between Sidney and Lindy.  What is happening between them? Why is it happening?
2. Describe how Shawn eats.
3. Who is Earl Detreaux?  Why does talking about him get Cindy all fired up?
4. Why do you think that Shawn’s dad is associating with Detreaux?

**These chapters only have one or two questions.  Both partners need to answer ALL of the questions and then discuss. :)

Chapter 11
Discussion Question

1. The Alice Ponds Show introduces the topic “Parents who Kill” from a very negative perspective. How does Sydney force them to consider another perspective? What the rationale for killing your child? What is the justification presented in the chapter

Chapter 12
Discussion Questions 

1.  As Shawn returns from his seizure, the family is discussing what? How do we know?
2. What horrifying event occurs in this chapter? Please relate the entire event.

Chapter 13
Discussion Questions

1. What is a “respite” worker?
2. What is the mood in this chapter? Why?

Chapter 14
Discussion Question

1. What happens in the dream? Why is this important?

Chapter 15

1. What does Sydney do for Shawn in this chapter? Why is it important for the reader to hear about this event?

Chapter 16

1. Is the timing of Shawn’s seizure in the last chapter perfect or at exactly the worst time? Justify your answer.