Get Ready to Say Goodbye

In 1985, 14-year-old Dwayne McKee was shot by his 13-year-old friend Jeff Townsend in the affluent California town of Woodland Hills. According to Dwayne, the shooting was deliberate, a view espoused by his mother in her affecting recreation coauthored with freelancer Schwarz. The shooting left Dwayne a quadriplegic immobile below his neck. Much of the book is devoted to his struggles to stay alive, and later to conquer his paralysis. After seven years of physical therapy, Dwayne took his first step. We also read of the McKee family's attempts to collect money from the Townsends for Dwayne's medical bills, resulting in a legal judgment of $8.5 million, which is being appealed. Jeff, who was found guilty of attempted murder, was placed on probation. The real villain of the tragedy, however, is Jeff's father, David, who is presented here as irresponsible, a thief and a con man. The McKee family's pain and outrage permeate the book with impact. Photos not seen by PW. (Apr.)