Stuck in Neutral
by Terry Trueman
Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman is assigned in US schools at grades 7–10. It appears across 1 curriculum reference and 1 state, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.
This page shows where Stuck in Neutral is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.
- Grade range
- Grades 7–10
- Age range
- Ages 12–15
- First published
- 2014
- Genre
- Realistic Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9781632452993
Where to find this book
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About this book
Shawn McDaniel's life is not what it may seem to anyone looking at him. He is glued to his wheelchair, unable to voluntarily move a muscle--he can't even move his eyes. For all Shawn's father knows, his son may be suffering. Shawn may want a release. And a
Why widely assigned
This Realistic Fiction title, typically at grades 7–10. Written in the 2010s; pairs with curriculum units on disability and perspective; cited across 1 curriculum framework.
Themes
disability · perspective · family
Where this book is assigned
Kentucky Bluegrass Award
- recommended·7th grade · Kentuckysource: Kentucky Association of School Librarians — Kentucky Bluegrass Award Winner's Circle (grades 3-5 + 6-8; annual since 1983)
- recommended·8th grade · Kentuckysource: Kentucky Association of School Librarians — Kentucky Bluegrass Award Winner's Circle (grades 3-5 + 6-8; annual since 1983)
Similar grade-level books
The Great GatsbyF. Scott Fitzgerald · 1070L
1984George Orwell · 1090L
The GiverLois Lowry · 760L
The Diary of a Young GirlAnne Frank · 1080L
See all books like Stuck in Neutral→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Common questions
- What grade level is Stuck in Neutral?
- Stuck in Neutral is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 7–10. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What curricula assign Stuck in Neutral?
- Stuck in Neutral appears on reading lists for Kentucky Bluegrass Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is Stuck in Neutral banned in schools?
- Stuck in Neutral does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.
- What themes does Stuck in Neutral explore?
- Central themes in Stuck in Neutral include disability, perspective, family. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.
Why this book is on this list
Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.
- Lexile measure
- Not classified — this book has no published Lexile measure.
- Grade band
- Grades 7–10 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
- Curriculum alignment
- Cited in 1 curriculum on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
- State-level evidence
- Cited in 1 state ELA framework or DOE list (see citations above).
- Removal / banning records
- No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
- Seasonal / contextual tags
- Tagged for: book-club.