First published 2001
Shawn McDaniel lies in his wheelchair, trapped in a body that will not obey his mind. Cerebral palsy has stolen his ability to move, speak, or control his muscles, but his thoughts race with the clarity of any fourteen-year-old boy. He listens to his family's conversations, feels their love and frustration, and knows they cannot see the person inside his unresponsive shell. His father writes poetry about him, his mother cares for him with devotion, and his siblings navigate life around his needs. When Shawn overhears his father discussing mercy killing, a chill runs through him. His father believes Shawn suffers constantly, trapped in darkness. Shawn desperately wants to tell him the truth: he experiences joy, humor, and love. He treasures music, finds beauty in small moments, and feels grateful for his life. As his father's thoughts grow darker, Shawn faces the terrifying possibility that someone might decide his fate without knowing who he really is inside.
Genres: literary-fiction, young-adult, family-drama, disability
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: unreliable-narrator
Paperback · Hodder Children's Books
Content warnings: mental-illness