Parents' Guide to

The Miseducation of Cameron Post

By Mary Eisenhart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Story of young Montana lesbian is best for mature teens.

Book Emily M. Danforth Coming of Age 2012
The Miseducation of Cameron Post Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 13+

Based on 3 parent reviews

Kara J.
Kara J. Adult
July 2, 2017
age 13+

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Rose H.
Rose H. Adult
February 20, 2017
age 13+

Not as bad as the review says

Honestly, it's sort of ridiculous that Common Sense Media has rated this book as 5/5 for sex, because even though the main character has a sex a few times, it is never explicitly described, usually just skipped over. The Miseducation of Cameron Post is an important lesbian coming of age novel, and I have seen movies with real explicit sex scenes and/or nudity amongst straight people, that were only given 3/5 for sex. Titanic, which has a naked woman and a sex scene is rated 3/5 and 13+, and if the love interest was a girl then maybe it would be 18+ and rated for too much sexual content. Bridesmaids has a noisy, explicit, awkward sex scene with innapropriate statements bouncing mostly naked people. If those people were both men or women, I bet it would be rated much differently then a. 3/5. There is some swearing, self harm, and disturbing themes ( eg conversion therapy), but overall a great read. Maybe more 14+, but I wanted to lower the ridiculously high age limit.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

It's 1989 in Fort Miles, MT, and 12-year-old Cameron Post has just kissed her best friend, Irene. She wants to do it again, too, which is just the beginning of a lot of emotional turmoil, particularly since her parents -- away for the weekend on a camping trip -- are killed in an auto accident and never return, and her first thought is that they'll never learn her shameful secret. Ever after, the secret and her parents' death seem inextricably connected. Over the next four years, Cameron pursues a passionate, guilt-ridden quest for identity (sexual and otherwise) that's both hindered and abetted by girls with whom she falls in love, the boys on the track team, her super-conservative Aunt Ruth -- who sends her to Christian re-education camp to \"cure\" her -- and the true friends she finds there.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (20):

Cameron's friendship with Jane and Adam is one of the book's best features. Gender issues aside -- and they are, of course, prominent here -- this book will resonate a good deal with readers who appreciate the rewards of finding friends with whom you truly have something in common, especially if you've felt out of place for a long time.

Danforth also allows characters who could be simply villains to be far more nuanced -- as Cameron experiences the ill effects of their behavior, she also understands the motivations, some sincerely good, that are driving it. Telling her tale along the way, she gets a good deal more explicit with regard to sex, drugs, and drinking (from age 12) than parents may be comfortable with younger kids reading, and there's also a lot of foul language. But for mature readers, the book is brilliant.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how things have changed since 1993, when this book ends. For example, a few years later, the Internet came along, making it much easier for kids who feel disconnected to find each other. (Another biggie: cell phones.)

  • Do you think a 12-year-old gay kid would have as a hard a time in school today as Cameron had in 1989? Why or why not?

  • How do you think Cameron can tell the difference between the adults who truly have her best interests at heart and those who have their own agendas?

Book Details

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