Cruise Control by Terry Trueman
Reviewed by JenniferRatings
Content Ratings based on a 0-5 scale where
0 = no objectionable content and
5 = an excessive or disturbing level of content
LANGUAGE
VIOLENCE
SEXUAL CONTENT
ADULT THEMES
Ratings Explanation
Language: Over 50 common swear words and 6 uses of profanity. The main character, Paul, refers to his severely handicapped brother as a “veg” and “wacked out.” A driver flips off Paul.
Violence: Paul has a very violent temper. There is a fist fight in which he hits, kicks and nearly kills a man. Paul’s friend, Tim, has a stepfather who hits his mother. When Tim discovers this abuse he beats up his stepfather and is sent to jail.
Sexual Content: Some sexual language including “dickhead” and “screw yourself”. In a conversation Paul says someone wants to “get into my sister’s pants.”
Adult Themes: 17 year-old Paul gets drunk and drives. The book is about how Paul deals with the difficulties of having a severely handicapped brother. He is sometimes ashamed of his brother and at times wishes he would die. Paul’s father has left the family because he cannot deal with the day-to-day care of his handicapped son. Paul is often angry and feels trapped because, in the absence of his father, he feels responsible to take care of his family.
Synopsis
Cruise Control is a companion to Stuck in Neutral, the story of Shawn, a severely disabled teenager who cannot communicate or control his body, but who can understand and feel and dream. In this book, Shawn’s older brother, Paul, is the narrator. Paul is a talented young athlete looking forward to winning the state basketball tournament his senior year and continuing on to college. But because his father has abandoned the family, Paul feels obligated to take care of his mother, sister and disabled brother. Paul hates his father for putting him in this situation and struggles with feeling trapped and angry. Paul is eventually able to resolve his feelings and comes to a point where he feels in control of his own life.
This book is full of raw, teenage emotion. I enjoyed it, but it might be a little intense for sensitive souls. Paul can seem unkind when speaking about his brother. If you are going to read this book, you need to read Stuck in Neutral as well.
©2009 The Literate Mother