Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You by Peter Cameron- Technically a YA book, this offering by Peter Cameron would be of interest to any adult reader. Sarcastic and sardonic, the protagonist struggles with nearly every aspect of his apporaching adulthood, from the expectations that he go to college to his sexuality. A loner, James Sveck, the Manhattan-bred 18-year old soon-to-be college freshman, can't seem to connect with anyone, least of all his therapist.
Throughout the book there is great commentary and insight into modern-day urban life, something many of my students will struggle to identify with, but with which I was enthralled. Cameron will make a large portion of his audience, especially those who look for relief in books, feel excitingly understood. Maybe his book will help many of them find an itch to write.
