Cruise Control by Terry Trueman

Paul McDaniel is a straight-A, high school senior who stars on the football, basketball, and baseball teams. While Paul stands out in so many ways, his brother Shawn suffers from cerebral palsy, and is (as Paul says) "a veg, a full-fledged, drooling, fourteen-year-old idiot." Paul feels guilty not only because he excels at so much while Shawn does not, but also because he is embarrased by Shawn, even though he truly loves him. Paul is deeply angry with his father, who left the family years ago and makes his career out talking about Shawn. Paul's anger and guilt is frequently taken out in fights with others, leaving them beaten to a pulp.

While this is a companion novel (NOT a sequel) to Stuck in Neutral, it is a title that clearly stands on its own. For those who have read Shawn's narration, this story adds another dimension and further depth. The stories work best when read together though because they work together to paint a complex portrait of a family dealing with severe disability. Cruise Control is powerfully moving, and touching. Dark and intense, the book is a page turner that draws you in.