Review: The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth
February, 7th, 2012 · Balzer + Bray
Source: Won
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 470

When Cameron Post's parents die suddenly in a car crash, her shocking first thought is relief. Relief they'll never know that, hours earlier, she had been kissing a girl.

But that relief doesn't last, and Cam is soon forced to move in with her conservative aunt Ruth and her well-intentioned but hopelessly old-fashioned grandmother. She knows that from this point on, her life will forever be different. Survival in Miles City, Montana, means blending in and leaving well enough alone (as her grandmother might say), and Cam becomes an expert at both.

Then Coley Taylor moves to town. Beautiful, pickup-driving Coley is a perfect cowgirl with the perfect boyfriend to match. She and Cam forge an unexpected and intense friendship--one that seems to leave room for something more to emerge. But just as that starts to seem like a real possibility, ultrareligious Aunt Ruth takes drastic action to "fix" her niece, bringing Cam face-to-face with the cost of denying her true self--even if she's not exactly sure who that is.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post is a stunning and unforgettable literary debut about discovering who you are and finding the courage to live life according to your own rules.

I had high very hopes for The Miseducation of Cameron Post. All that matters is the story at hand but when it comes to lengthy reads I’m wary because if not handled with care and paced well, the reading experience can turn boring and interest levels start to plummet. However, I am pleased to report that apart from a few pace glitches that I experienced early on, this wasn’t the case at all with The Miseducation of Cameron Post.

Cam is 12 when we first meet her, but several years pass over the course of the book and she is 17 when the book closes. I love that we get to see her grow and thought this was a clever idea to follow Cam’s journey over the course of 5 years, especially since in that time she grows a whole lot as a charterer. She’s put through the grinder time and time again and her strength in these situations (losing her parents, being sent off to a school who “fix” children who are gay, etc.) and how she handles herself is impressive to say the least.

Emily M. Danforth is one talented writer. She transported me into a whole new world and not only allowed me to visit Miles City, Montana but let me live in the 90’s for a while, where 99 cent video’s and cassette’s still ruled the world. Danforth’s attention to vivid descriptions and dazzling detail made my time with The Miseducation of Cameron Post all the more enjoyable. She set the scene beautifully and put such a clear, detailed picture in my head which made it picture perfect to imagine, almost like I was there; from the hot, sweltering sun belting down on my skin to the cold, icy refreshing lake water.

This book has the makings of a classic and though I personally found it worth my time, this book isn’t for everyone – it handles some tough issues and isn’t afraid to tell it like it is, never once sugar-coating the situation or what’s happening. The Miseducation of Cameron Post is quietly beautiful yet it speaks volumes. You know those thoughtful, impacting, profound, powerful stories that leave a mark? This is one of them.

4/5