Stuck In Neutral

In Chapter Three, Shawn sees a dog die. How does Shawn’s encounter with death inform his opinions about death? How does it shape his thoughts on his father planning on killing him?

There are many sides of a person’s identity, both internal—how you see yourself—and external—how others see you. How do Shawn’s internal and external identities differ? How are they the same? How does the interplay between the two shape the narrative?

Compare the relationship Shawn has with his mother to the relationship he has with his father. Which do you believe is stronger? Who do you believe Shawn feels closer to? Does one parent love him more than the other? Justify your answers with evidence from the text.

How do you feel about Earl Detraux? How do you feel about Shawn’s father? Discuss their similarities and their differences.

Euthanasia is intentionally ending another’s life to relieve pain and suffering and is illegal in the U.S. It is different from physician-assisted suicide, in which a patient takes lethal medication provided by a physician to end his/her own life, a practice which is legal in a few states. Both of these are also considered different from practices such as taking someone off of life support. Discuss the moral implications of these three practices. Is there a situation in which euthanasia is morally permissible? Why or why not?

What role do the excerpts of Sydney McDaniel’s poem serve at the beginning of some of the chapters, starting in Chapter Five? Why are they there?

What role does knowledge play within the narrative? What role does a lack of knowledge—or the unknown—play within the novel?

This narrative is loosely based on the life of the author, who is the parent of a kid like Shawn. The author describes this book as a blend of both invention and reality. Do you believe in this assertion, or do you find it to be more fictional than realistic? Justify your answer.