Terry has received, at this writing, more than 21,000 emails and letters since the publication of Stuck in Neutral in June 2000. Obviously, a republication in this web page of all these is impossible, but as part of Terry’s profound appreciation for his readers, we have selected, some full emails and some excerpts from emails and letters to share.
 
In Terry’s own words, “I try to respond to emails and letters as often as I can but the sheer number I get makes it impossible to keep up. Please know that I read every email and letter I receive and I deeply appreciate all of them. I’ve asked my webmaster to add this new section which we are calling Emails and Letters to this web page. From time to time we’ll add new and/or other messages from my readers who are thoughtful and kind enough to write to me. With the help of my friend and assistant Terry John Pratt, I am in the process of saving, in an electronic database, every email I have received and every response I have sent back; hopefully, some day, these will be available when I decide where and with whom my collected papers will be placed.”
~Terry Trueman

Note: We have left these emails, letters and excerpts in their original form as much as possible, ignoring grammer, spelling and formatting problems except where doing so too deeply impacts the clarity of the correspondence

From Terry Trueman’s Readers

Hello Mr.Trueman my name is D and I live in Tenneesse I loved your book called Stuck in Nutral. At first I did not really like people like shawn. But this book changed my out look on mentally chalenged people. Im also 14 years old i wish I could know what shawn's dad did. My mother died when I was 4 from breast cancer I can remeber her makeing sounds like she was in pain but at the last stages she could not talk so I did not know what was wrong. I was so young but its like why does my mother have to die why not anybody elses parents. I really want to see the next book by you. I have a sister that loves me but does not show it. Its ok could you tell me when you are coming Nashville,Tenneesse you have made me see that the people across the hall way are very smart and hoping to be discovered you are the best man,author,and father I have ever heard of.  Please E-mail me back 

Dear Mr. Trueman,
I am a high school reading teacher at Centaurus High School in Lafayette, Colorado.  In preparing for my second semester reading material, I read excerpts from various books to my students. I asked them to choose 3 books out of seven.  They choose; Johnny Got His Gun, Stuck in Neutral and Cruise Control.  Being that my students benefit from highlighting and “notes in the margins” strategies, I have been buying your books at used book stores in my area.  My students get to keep the books they have “devoured”. These students, meanwhile, can’t wait for the next semester to start!  (Can you believe that they were called “reluctant readers” in the past?) They know that your books are somewhat disturbing and yet they also know that there are valuable life-lessons to be learned by pushing the envelope into that area of humanity that borders on truly accepting others. Adults often talk about celebrating diversity but your books bring a different dimension to how diversity is defined and what acceptance looks and feels like . . .
 Sincerely,
Lol Smith
c/o  Lol Smith’s reading class – for students who receive special education services
Centaurus High School

Dear Mr Trueman,
My name is Erin F, I am 12 years old. I attend TASIS, the American School in England. I am American but living abroad in the UK. I moved here this summer (July) and started school in September. When i got into school we were immediately assigned with a English project. We had to read a book in first person and write a review on it. I was looking through the library one day and came across your book Stuck in Neutral I was drawn to your book in the first paragraph. I earned an A on the paper I wrote about your book and I liked it so much that I went out and bought your second one Inside Out. I just recently finished reading that book and now we are writing another paper . . . I'm very interested in your writing and can't wait to start another one of your books!
Thanks so much,
  ~Erin F.-12 years old

Dear Mr. Trueman,
I am a 9th grader teacher at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School in Bayside, New York.  My students recently completed Stuck in Neutral.  Needless to say, they thoroughly enjoyed the book.   One of the assignments the students needed to complete in conjunction with their reading was to write an ending for the book.  These endings were then presented to the rest of the class.  Many of the students were swept away into Shawn and Sidney's world and did a marvelous job of imagining what transpired between them at the end.   During our discussion the idea was raised that you might be interested in seeing how the students felt Sidney would ultimately react.  They've asked me to contact you and inquire as to whether it would be acceptable for us to forward on some of the endings the students really enjoyed hearing.  If you would be at all interested, I would be happy to put together a packet and send it to you.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Ellen D.

Dear Mr. Trueman:
Hi, my name is Sara K.and I am a 9th grade solo Cadette Girl Scout through the Brooklyn Center Service Unit in Minnesota, and am working on  my Silver Award Project (the highest award for Cadette Girl Scouts). My project for the Silver Award is to collect new and books for Mary's Place, a homeless shelter located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Mary's Place is transitional housing where poor and underprivileged families can stay while they try to get back on their feet.  The families (mothers and their children) are in a state of crisis as they are currently experiencing homelessness.  The experiences many of the children at Mary's Place have been through are often difficult to imagine.  Many come from backgrounds of abuse, violence, inadequate living arrangements, crime-ridden neighborhoods, etc.

Mary's Place is part of Sharing & Caring Hands in Minneapolis.  They receive no government or United Way funding.  They rely solely on donations.  Mary's Place is run almost entirely through volunteer efforts.

I am writing to many different authors and publishers to ask for donations for this project.  Any amount of books that you could donate would be greatly appreciated by Mary's Place and me.  I have received books, (many autographed) from different authors, (i.e. Maya Angelou, Rachel Cohen, Mo Willems, Jacqueline Woodson, Kelly Dupre, David Ross, Terri Thompson, Georgiann Baldino, Nancy Carlson, Elaine Corvidae, Gary Harbo, Kathryn Sullivan, Peter Abresch, Beth David, Marsha Qualey, Selena Robins and Rowena Cherry.)

I know you probably get a lot of requests for book donations, but I think the young adult books that you  write would be a great addition to the bookshelves at Mary's Place. 

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,
Sara K

Dear Mr. Trueman,
My name is Stephanie L and I am 13 years old.  I really enjoyed your book Inside Out. The book was very interesting. It was one of the best books I read so far. I like how you started each chapter. It helped me learn more about Zach and his condition. I also like the suspense of the book. It was suspenseful because Zach had Schizophrenia. I like how the robbers were stopping Zach from taking his medicine. That made the book full of suspense. You never know if Dirtbag and Rat will come back to Zach's head. Not knowing when they would return made this book even more suspenseful.
There weren’t many parts of this book I didn’t like. One part I didn’t like was when Zach died. The book said,” In a tragic twist, Zachary Wahhsted, a teen hostage and apparent hero of the coffee shop saga, committed suicide at his mother’s home just a week ago.” That was sad. The other part I didn’t like was when the robbers, Alan and Joey, were sent to jail. I was glad they only had to go to a juvenile detention center. I also didn’t like when Rat and Dirtbag came back. In the book you wrote,” Everything begins to swirl – a terrible pain shoots across my forehead.” I knew that Dirtbag and Rat were coming after that.
I have one question about this book. My question is why was Alan so nice to everyone? Alan said very nice things to Zach and even saved him. Once, for example, Joey said,” Don’t get any smart ideas- uh- oh, I forgot you never get those.” Alan told his brother to shut up because he was being mean to Zach. That was nice of him. He was robbing a coffee shop though. Robbers aren’t usually nice to their hostages. That was the only question I had.
I think you wrote a very good book. This book was interesting and I think I am going to read another one of your books. Thank you for taking time to read my letter. I would appreciate it if you wrote back to answer my question. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Stephanie L

Dear Terry Trueman,
It is 7:30 and I just finished reading Inside Out it was a very good book, but probably one of the more depressing books I have read. I'm surprised it isnt number one for the most banned books list in our school. Of course, I've never seen it there so it might already be banned. I thought the book was really good but I'm just wondering how you come up with this stuff. You seemed like a pretty happy guy when I met you. Your topics are cold and harsh but they're also very realistic and good. It made my laugh and cry
just like you hoped it would.
Sincerely,
C

Dear Mr.Terry Trueman:
I'm a university student in Japan. And I read your great book, Stuck in Neutral, in one of English class.Almost every week, my classmates and I discussed the contents of it through Literature Circles activity. I felt uneasy at first because I hadn't read books written by English except textbooks until then. But once I started reading, I was completely absorbed in your book. This activity had me think about various things. First, Shawn's background gave me a great shock. But, at later time, I was impressed by the attitude of Shawn who thought that living was joyful.Very difficult subject, euthanasia, is included in this book. We discussed this subject many time, but couldn't find the answer. Ending of this novel (whether Shawn will be killed or not) remain an unsolved mystery. And yet I hope that Dad will abandon the plan of killing Shawn.

My favorite scene of all in this book locates Page No.113 Line No.from 13 to 20. I think this scene is that Shawn and Dad try to understand each other on equal footing for the first time. And I think that a tragedy may not be going to happen if Dad noticed the inside of Shawn in this scene.

Thank you for your reading. And I hope for your activity in the future.

Sincerely yours,
Erika Y

Dear Mr Terry Trueman
Whether a person is happy is dependent on how a person feels, not on others. And I think there's  no standerd for happiness. It' only the person who knows from what he picks out pleasure or what dissapoints him. Needless to say, nobody can decide on how long a person can live.  Many people think that nothing is more precious than human life. but recently such thought is shaked little by little. Thought euthanasia is not permitted in Japan ,some countries permit it. I can't agree with a thought that we have right to live and die. I think our lives are ours and also gifts and we borrow them from god. No one has right to rob others of their lives. But when we think about death penalty, such thought is shaked. sometimes I feel "such a criminal should die."

In your book,stuck in neutral,you don't tell us the ending.I think Sydney didn't kill Shawn. Thought Shawn is handicapped,he growsup everday. I think Sydney saw it in his loving son. That's why he didn't kill shawn.

take care
Tomoko I

Terry,
I'm not sure if I wrote back to you after I read this copy of Invisible* (a few weeks ago), so I apologize if I already sent something to you.  I already apologize that it took me so long to read it.  I always mean to do it, but it always got pushed back (life and all).  But I did finally read it, up at my parents house.

I'm not sure if you still want/need my comments on this, but I thought it was a great story.  I thought it was a very real perspective from a teenage girl.  I was surprised that you got those feelings so well (as you never were a teenage girl).  It was also a good contrast between Cindy's feelings about her parents and Paul's.  It wasn't a story as close to Shawn as I thought it might be.  All in all not bad.

Thanks for letting me sneak a peek, and I apologize again for the lateness of my comments :)
Leah Bland

* Invisible is an unpublished ms that tells Cindy McDaniel’s version of her life with her brother Shawn (Stuck in Neutral) and Paul (the protagonist from Cruise Control) Leah Bland is the older sister of Alex Bland, see Alex’s letter to Terry Trueman on page 19 of this email/letter collection.

Dear MR. Trueman,
I LOVE Stuck in Neutral!!  I taught special education in Middle School for 20 years before becoming a librarian at the same level. Always, always, when I worked with the children I knew there were thoughts that could not be articulated.  Through your novel you make thousands of children aware that there is more depth to each and every individual than meets the eye.  Since the publication of Stuck in Neutral, I have been pitching it to each and every 8th grader.  I pitch it individually AND in my POINT OF VIEW booktalk to each 8th grade class. I've also developed a booklist for "Those Who Really Liked Stuck in Neutral. We are in the throes of discussions on choice of a common read for 8th grade.  Guess which title has my vote??!!

I'd love to hear from you!
Julie Weis

Dear Mr. Terry Trueman,
I am a student of Keio university in Japan.
In this spring semester, my English teacher used your book, Stuck in Neutral, in her class. We read it and discussed many subjects of it in the class.  I've got deep impression from your book. "Stuck in Neutral" is one of the best books which made me think deeply. At first, when I began to read it, I was very shocked because of Sydney's perverse love for his son ,Shawn. He planned to kill Shawn. I thought " It's nonsense! " many times. But after reading it, I was confused whether killing Shawn is right or not. (Of course we don't know whether sydney did or not.)When our class discussed this story, one classmate said " If you were Sydney and saw Shawn suffered from seizure, what would you do or think ? " It was very difficult question for me.

It's still difficult question even now. . .  Well, I've learned a lot of things from your book. I have great respect for you !

Your sincerely,
Ayako Koshiro

Dear Mr Trueman,
I wanted to write to let you know how much I enjoyed Stuck In Neutral. I read it in one sitting and my only criticism is that it is too short! I wanted to see through Shawn's eyes for longer. I thought it was a brave and ambitious book to write. I think they should make it a set text for schools. Profound disability is still so misunderstood it seems to me but I think your book goes a long way in attempting to redress the balance.

I was wondering if you could tell me what you are working on now as well as any other books you might have in the pipeline. I have ordered Inside Out from the US as it seems not to be available here (in the UK). Why is that? I read somewhere (on the net) that it was deemed too depressing for a UK audience - is this true? And if so, what was the argument about the differences between US and UK audiences?

I am a 29 year old primary school teacher, currently retraining as an educational psychologist. . . Many thanks for reading, and all the best with whatever you are currently working on.

Tabitha S

Deasr Terry Trueman,
"Stuck in Neutral" does read as you said - and will be a forever book. And, yes, teachers and ed-techs for students with special needs are important.  This is relatively new for me.  I'm in my 7th year as an ed-tech with no education background (BA in anthropology/psych), but have found a new love.

My plate is very full, but connected in very strange ways.  My husband (53 yrs old) suffered 2 major strokes this spring and summer, and was left with not only some residual paralysis, but significant receptive/generative aphasia; the second stroke also added apraxia to the list, which is subsiding somewhat. 
No, you didn't ask for a bio here, however I appreciate [your work]  . . . the novel that I read (Stuck in Neutral)  So much more needs to be written and understood about people with cerebal palsy.  I have an interesting opportunity coming up to tutor a student with cerebral palsy.  He is bright and communicative, participates in "regular ed. classrooms", but is Hispanic, and his articulation of "American" english is poor.  I have been recommended to work with him on articulation which again wraps around to not only my graduate work, but my interest in language processing, my husband's speech issues, and my son's
field of expertise.

Thank you again,
Kathleen

Hello Mr. Trueman,
I'm a 15 year old teen who has just read your book Inside Out. Which was a great book by the way but the story that happend three months later with Zachary Wahhsted commiting suicide was tragic. I was wondering if you would happen to have any or know where to find any pictures of Zachary and the Mender Brothers. I'm just interested in looking a little bit deeper..

Thank you,
Taylor

Dear Taylor,
There aren't any pictures of Zach and the Mender brothers because the story is fiction, a novel, and I made it all up. Please don't be too mad at me--I never intended for you or any other readers to think that everything in the story really happened. The reason I write fiction, that is make up stories, is that in a way I can be more honest in my efforts to show the way the world really is, by inventing a story than by being trapped in the simple 'facts' of a real event: I hope that makes sense to you. I have two other books out too, well one STUCK IN NEUTRAL that's been out for several years and a new one called CRUISE CONTROL that's just coming out this month. FYI, I'm trying to write another story that centers in the life of the Mender brothers, but I've just barely started that one. You can keep track of what I'm doing by visiting www.terrytrueman.com

Take care
TT

Mr. Trueman,
Thank you for the response, and yes i had an instinct feeling that it was a fiction. Stuck in  Neutral was a great book and i'll be sure to read "Cruise Control."  You said that your trying to write a story that centers on the Mender Brothers. Does that mean your going to be writing about their life? Or what happens to them after they get out prison..

Thanks again,
Taylor

P.S. looking forward into doing many more presentation on your books

TERRY TRUEMAN <TTRUEMAN1215@MSN.COM> wrote back:
Well Lakeisha, I can assure you I never got very many 100%'s on anything I ever did when I was in school. Really, I pretty much sucked as a student LOL I'm really happy for you that you did so well and I want to thank you for promoting the ideas and the feelings from my book to your peers-- keep up the good work and god bless!
TT

Mr.Trueman,
My name is Andrea O. I am 16 years old and from Annapolis, Maryland. I just checked out your book, Stuck in Neutral at my school library. I have not finished it yet, but I will very soon. Your book, so far, has made an impact on me. I have a handi-cap sister, Jackie. She is 19 years old and has the opposite of Cerebral Palsy. She can not speak nor communicate with us. The way Shawn talks in this book, makes me think if my sister feels the same. Though she can not communicate with us and let us know that she understands us, I know she does when she will laugh at me or get mad and throw a fit if I say something mean. Stuck in Neutral is very touching. I just wanted to thank you for this book. I know a lot people with disabilities, but I know that this book will help others understand that even if people are different, they still know what's going on and are not really that different. Thank you again Mr. Trueman for your wonderful book.

Sincerely,
Andrea O

Hello Mr. Trueman,
My name is Kate, and my class just finished reading your book Stuck In Neutral. I really enjoyed this book, and found they way you developed Shawn's character amazing. I liked your description as well. the part with the crows was hilarious! that left our class laughing a long time!
I just want to know, how you would end it? You left the whole class upset with the ending...and we are all dying to know if he would have killed him or not!
So please email me back and I will let my class know!

Thanks so much!
-Kate-

Dear Mr. Trueman~
My english teacher read your book "Stuck in Neutral." to my class. We all loved it. I was wondering- what is the deal with the bird obsession? Is it related to some un-inffered characteristic of the storyline? Or does it have something to do with you? We would like to get an answer to that as soon as possible for a class discussion.

Also: We had to do essay questions and one of them was "Who do you think loved Shawn the most?" I chose Paul for many reasons. Would you agree? Who was supposed to be portrayed as loving Shawn the most?

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

 Melanie

Daniel L.

Dear Terry Trueman,
i just read your book and i thought it was great. i can really relate because my sister has cerebral palsy. . . 
Mindy

Dear Mr. Trueman,
On Wednesday, November 10, you will be addressing our students at South Middle School in Eau Claire, WI.  I will meet you at Annis W’s home early on Wednesday, and escort you to our school.  Our plans are for you to speak to all 8th graders period 1 (7:45-8:29) and then all 7th graders period 2 (8:33-9:17).  I will have a wireless microphone, microphone on a stand, glass of water, and podium for you in the auditorium.  What else do you need?

I look forward to meeting you.  Please let me know if there is anything you would like me to do in preparation for your visit.

Sincerely,
Arlene Radtke
Reading Specialist and Language Arts Chair

Mr. Trueman:
My name is Keith Lambert, I'm the Principal at Lynden Christian H.S.  We are a school, which encourages its students to engage in the world we live in.  Our teachers challenge students to think about how they can be a transforming influence wherever they go.  Part of our mission statement reads "we want our students to mature into perceptive and caring Christians."  I believe this book, and this issue moves us closer to such a goal.

We have been in dialogue with Lynden Public H.S., and are looking into the possibility of joining with them in reading Stuck in Neutral, and joining them for an assembly.  

Prior to finalizing details, could you give me an idea of what you discuss and do at your assemblies (i.e. Process, content, etc).  This will enable me to help prepare my board and parent constituency. 

Your response is much appreciated.
Sincerely,

Keith A. Lambert
Lynden Christian H.S.
Principal

Mr. Trueman*

*Although the vast majority of emails and letters Terry Trueman receives are supportive and appreciative of his work as you can see by reading this email this is not always the case.

I am curious as to why you chose to positively portray a person with CP in such a negative situation?  Having three children with various degrees of challenges I am able to relate to the parenting you endure, however I have not considered killing my child.  Unfortunately I had the experience of reading your book (at the request of a 12 year old whose 18 year old sister has a developmental delay) days before coming home to learn my sister's husband has murdered their 11 year old son (a friend of the afore said 12 year old).  We have suffered terribly in mind and heart over this because we know more than what is published in the papers.  There are actually a few cases before the court of a parent killing their child.  I am able to consider other methods of portraying a person with CP and the impact on the family - we live with it, like you we face the reality of life every day - but we know killing these people or locking them away is not the answer.  So I am confused as to how and why you would even suggest this in a novel - especially one geared for the youth of today.

Kathy

hello!
I´m Michaela (15) from Austria and I´m writing a report about your book "stuck in neutral". I was wondering wheater you´d answer a few questions for me...

1. You have a son like Shawn. Did the book help you to express your feelings?

2. What does the poem in the book stand for?

thank you! i really enjoyed reading the book. allthough it´s a horrible
thought... being locked inside your body...

:)
yours,
Michaela

ps: can you tell me something about "cruise control" as well? just a short
thought about it...

Dear Mr. Terry Trueman,
My name is Mio H. I am Japanese and a student of Keio University and Mrs. Nii who sent you an E-mail is my teacher.
We read your book Stuck in Neutral in English class and discussed about Shawn, his family, his life, death. . . .
It so impressed me that the hero is the boy who is regarded as being C.P. and he has a great ability in reality.
I read many stories about people who have handicap but it was always people around the handicapped person that show us what is happening or what is problem.
This book is not like them.        
Only Shawn knows truth. But he can do nothing.
Reading story, I share his feeling . . This book showed me unlimited possibility and I learned that no one has right to take another’s life.
Formally I have thought that euthanasia was sometimes needed, but now I can say so easily. And I think maybe no one can affirm the answer.

Thank you for reading my mail.
Mio H.

From: Rene Saldana (rene.saldana@sbcglobal.net)
Sent: Thu 2/01/07 11:04 AM
To: TERRY TRUEMAN (TTRUEMAN1215@MSN.COM)

Terry:  how much of a punk am I?  I've gotten one phone message from you, and at least three emails, and how many have I returned?  Zip, zilch, ninguno.  Sorry sorry sorry.
 
Hey, our students are so on edge about meeting you/hearing you talk, etc. (I hope you get a chance to read to them, even a short piece, as part of your presentation).  I'm always excited to hear authors talk about whatever's on their mind, but to hear them read their own work is always a treat, which is one thing I liked about the Nat'l Book Festival, that we had to talk about something, but then got the opportunity to read.  . . . I just finished NO RIGHT TURN, and I think, for one of your longer works (compared to SIN and CRUISE in length), it's simpler.  I don't mean the subject matter is, although it is harsher to tell the story of a "veg" and his brother than a kid dealing with his dad's death (although the kid does have to find the dad dead and is at home when it happens).  But it wasn't as jam-packed with intensity, I guess.  You had more time and space to let the story unfold.  so it was slower, which is funny b/c it's about, in part, about a boy wanting to go fast, but ultimately about him having to slow down (man, crying with his mom for three hours; talk about slowing down, and bringing tears to my own eyes), and so I guess form was dictated to by content yet again with you.  Cool.
 
Abrazos,
Rene.
And, Teri Lesesne has only great things to say about you.

Sent:   Thu 2/01/07 7:05 PM
To:       TTRUEMAN1215@MSN.COM

MY name is Timothy B. i am a seventh grader at Medical Lake Middle School in washington and i am currently reading a book of your's called "Inside out" and it's great! i have only had it for 3 day's and im already on page 87 i think i might be more but i dont know... i started reading it more and more. Now i do not take it home and read because,i would have fineshed it by now and i dont want to pass through it so fast. So yeah im going to let you go now i have some home work to do.

Sinceraly,
Timothy B.

“The Center for the Book” is run out of the Library of Congress in Washington D.C.. They have a competition every year called Letters About Literature, for kids in grades 5th through 10th, divided up into three levels. 5-6, 7-8, and 9-10. The contest is simple, kids write ‘a letter’ to any author, living or dead about any book you’ve ever read and how that book changed your life. One of these letters was written to me by a 12 year old boy named Alex Bland. I got to meet Alex and his family (except for his sister Leah, see her letter to me on page xx of emails and letters) because Alex’s letter beat out 6,000 other letters to win the level two contest in the state of California”  Terry Trueman

Dear Mr. Terry Trueman,
All my life, people have been telling me to do my very best. Often, when I do my very best, people say it’s not good enough. Teachers have told me that I’m stupid, and my parents have said that I’m lazy.
Reading your book, Stuck in Neutral, was an amazing experience for me. I have Cerebral Palsy as well. I can still talk and walk and things like that, but I can’t write with my hand and have to use a computer for everything. I also have really bad balance, and I’m not exactly the first choice when it comes to being picked for sports teams. Doing math problems is my personal hell. Can you imagine doing math problems without being able to hold a pencil? People call me hurtful names, and my teachers lose their patience with me. Upon reading this book though, I started to think. I compared my own life with that of Shawn McDaniel and I realized that overall, his problems are much worse. I can’t even imagine what it would be like to have thoughts that regular people have but not be able to express them.
I wish there was some way that all people could understand the world of us disabled people. There would be a lot less stereotyping that way. Also something about your book really put a great feeling into my heart. Shawn and I have a lot in common. He was able to endure his own thoughts and feelings and get on with life. I have to endure other people’s thoughts and feelings about me. I told myself a comforting and reassuring thought: Shawn and I are normal people just like everybody else. In fact, our flaws make us much stronger in character than most people. We will be able to accomplish many things. Even though we have bodies that betray us, someone out there will see us like we see ourselves.
I saw that Shawn has a spark that most people don’t have. I intend to use that spark as inspiration to find my calling in life. Maybe that calling will be to help other people understand kids like us much better.
I’d like to thank you, Mr. Trueman, for writing a book that made me look beyond my disabilities and focus on my abilities.
Sincerely,
Alex Bland

In 2005, a boy named Gabe Goodman from Greeley, Colorado wrote me a letter about Stuck in Neutral for that state’s “Letters about Literature” contest.
Greeley, Colorado

Dear Terry Trueman,
A book is a book, and that was the way I always thought it would stay. To me, books just stated a story, and they couldn’t change a life or create a miracle. It was only about a month ago when those thoughts disappeared. A book had proven me wrong, and that book was yours.
I have a brother who has autism. I have always loved him “mentally,” but I had a hard time dealing with him “physically.” If my brother ever happened to die, I would be devastated. I want him to live a full, happy life. It’s just that he is a HUGE annoyance. Even right at this moment while I’m typing this letter, he is bugging me. Even the presence of him agitates me. I do know it is not his fault.
It has always been easy for me to learn. My mother was told I was gifted when I was in preschool. She was told my brother was retarded when he was three. I feel like I’m the opposite of him. I’m sharp; he’s blunt. I toe the line; he uses foul language and gets away with it. I’m left out; he is “in” every second. I saw him as a lucky, ignorant boy.
Yet for some reason, my brother looked different to me after I read your book Stuck in Neutral. Questions nuked my brain as I read it: “Could my bro be like Shawn?” “Can my brother in actuality be smarter than I am?”
After finishing your book, my brother did not look blunt from the way I saw him at that moment, he could beat Ken Jennings 500 times in a row. If Shawn in Stuck in Neutral could think up brilliant ideas and understand everything he heard, isn’t it possible for my autistic brother to do the same?
You have brought me closer to my brother. I love my brother dearly, and you have enabled me to understand him a bit more. You have even made me feel less irritated with his actions. In the process of making me love him a bit more, however, you’ve also made me feel resentment. I resent the fact that he could possibly be trapped inside his mind and does not have the verbal skills to get out. If I could give up part of my intellectual ability to set him free, I would do it without hesitation. And yet, I would be giving him something priceless to me that he would never understand. I don’t know if I should care or not.
You book has created a miracle. It has brought two brothers closer together. You have made me love him more than anything, but—sadly—my brother will probably never know or comprehend this gift. Still, I thank you.
One last thing—my amazing brother’s name is Benjamin Goodman.
Sincerely,
Gabe Goodman

“Gabe’s letter won level two in Colorado and then went on to win the National contest as well, selected as the best letter from over forty-seven thousand letters.
It is humbling, touching and moving to receive such heartfelt messages about the ways my work is changing lives. Thank you Alex and Gabe and ALL my readers who take the time to send me emails and letters. These messages are deeply appreciated.” 
Terry Trueman