The Miseducation of Cameron Post

Cameron completes her first individual counseling session with Rick and the school psychologist, Lydia March, a severe older British woman. Rick and Lydia introduce Cameron to her “iceberg,” a photocopy of an iceberg immersed in water that symbolizes the root of one’s personal challenges versus how others perceive one on the surface. Rick writes “Cameron’s same-sex attraction” at the tip of the iceberg and “Family,” “Friends,” and “Society” (287) on the submerged part. Rick tells Cameron that she will write on her iceberg after each individual session.

Cameron has trouble excavating her past. Lydia grows frustrated and urges Cameron to use her “big-person words” (288). Cameron decides she hates Lydia. Rick acknowledges that the new concepts may be overwhelming at first. Lydia warns that the process will be challenging. Cameron learns from Jane and Adam that Lydia is Rick’s aunt and funds the school.

After learning about the exercise, Cameron studies the icebergs of her fellow students, which they tape to their bedroom walls. There’s Erin, who partook in “too much masculine bonding” (293) with her father around Minnesota Vikings football. Then, Jane Fonda, who grew up in a “Godless, pagan belief system” (293). Cameron meets Adam Red Eagle, whose iceberg cites his modesty and lack of affection as his reasons for seeking out the attentions of other men. Adam’s black shiny hair and glossy eyelashes strike Cameron as beautiful. While going on trail runs together, Adam tells Cameron that his newly religious father sent him to Promise, even though his mother disapproved. Cameron finds herself interested in Adam in ways she had not expected. Cameron also meets Adam’s roommate Mark Turner, whose iceberg lists an infatuation with a male counselor at a Christian camp. Mark’s father is a renowned Nebraska minister. There are 19 total “disciples” at the school.

Students receive classroom instruction from a pretty, 20-something teacher named Bethany Kimbles-Erickson, though as Cameron notes, the education at God’s Promise is more “work at your own pace” (298). When not in class, students cooked, cleaned, or completed “evangelical duty”—administrative and communications duties to promote God’s Promise. 

Adam, Cameron, and Jane hike up a trail to harvest Jane’s marijuana plants. Adam tells Cameron and Jane that he is not gay but “winkte,” or a “Two-Spirit” (312): a Lakota healer that bridges two genders. His mother believes he is a spiritual guide, while his father dubs him a sinner. Jane asks Cameron if she has started to forget herself yet. At first, Cameron does not understand what Jane means, but soon she begins to feel her sense of self fading.  

While conducting church phone fundraising with Mark, Mark’s passion for Gates of Praise’s mission impresses Cameron. Cameron contemplates the meaning of “belief.” She decides that she cannot accept anything at face value. 

Adam confesses his attraction to Cameron and kisses her. Cameron kisses him back, reflecting on the kiss as somewhere between kissing Jamie and Coley: “Like kissing Lindsey” (320). 

While at a Christian concert, Erin catches Cameron about to shoplift markers. Although Cameron concedes to putting the markers back, Erin demands that Cameron tell Rick. Cameron does, and Rick informs Ruth. Rick and Lydia revoke Cameron’s mail privileges. 

Cameron misses working on her dollhouse. She steals two dairy tubs from the kitchen and hides them under her bed, planning to build a miniature dollhouse once she collects enough supplies.

Adam prompts Cameron to tell him about Coley. Cameron realizes that Coley broke her heart. On Thanksgiving, Rick gives Cameron back her mail privileges after she spontaneously sings “Oh Happy Day!” in the kitchen during meal prep. Rick hands Cameron four letters from Ruth, two from her grandmother, and one from Coley. Cameron reads the letters from Ruth and Grandma Post before taking a breath and opening Coley’s.

In Coley’s letter, Coley claims Cameron corrupted her and took advantage of their friendship. Cameron allows Adam and Jane to read the letter. Upon reading, Jane immediately throws the letter down the garbage disposal and dispenses her take: “Now there was no letter. That girl exists only as you want to remember her. I’d recommend not remembering her at all” (335).

Cameron returns to Miles City for two weeks of Christmas vacation. While Grandma Post looks healthy and happy, Ruth seems pale and tired. When they get home, Ruth tells Cameron that she and Ray plan to marry the day before Christmas. Cameron asks if she will still be a bridesmaid, to which Ruth sheepishly answers no. Cameron refuses Ruth’s compromise to make Cameron the Maid of Honor.

Ruth and Ray’s wedding takes place immediately after the Gates of Praise Christmas Eve service, for which the majority of Miles City is in attendance. Cameron receives disapproving looks from the congregation. Brett catches Cameron’s eye, and Coley’s mother purses her lips at Cameron in disgust. Coley, holding both Brett and her mother’s hands, does not look Cameron’s way.

Grandma Post sneaks Cameron a letter from Margo Keenan without Ruth knowing. Along with a Campfire Girls Manual—a memento from Cameron’s mother’s girlhood—Margo sends three $300 in cash and a note apologizing for her lack of communication. Cameron’s grandmother urges Cameron to write Margo a thank-you note but not to mention her God’s Promise treatment.  

On New Year’s Eve, Grandma Post asks Cameron if being at God’s Promise is difficult. Cameron replies that the school is “basically pretty much fine, actually” (355). In a coded manner, Grandma Post asks Cameron if she feels “different” (355). Cameron understands that what she is really asking is if Cameron is “cured” of homosexuality. She chooses to answer her grandmother literally and replies that yes, she does feel different. Ruth announces that Cameron will spend the summer at God’s Promise.