Someday this pain will be useful to you

I had a hard time getting into the book, Someday this Pain Will be Useful to You because he started off so pretentious. Eventually, though, he did seem like a real person, and it was clearer that he was just using his tone and grammar to shield himself from the pain he was feeling.

His first therapy session had me wondering “who’s on first.” I couldn’t figure out how that was going to help him, but once he decided he might as well try, he did get somewhere. Go figure!

Again, at first I couldn’t figure out why he went so far in tricking his co-worker? Well, let’s just say that he’s not always honest with his father.

I would put this in my library, even though I didn’t like it that much, because I’m sure some young adults are going through similar issues. Again, this is set in NYC, but the setting is only important in his independence. Suburban and rural teens could still relate to the story; the setting is not overwhelming.

While this does not fit neatly into one single category of the Developmental Assets, it fits in to so many categories, either that it shows James achieving these assets, or clearly lacking in them. It’s alright if he lacks developmental assets; I think it’s a strength to see him overcome them.

Developmental Assets that James exhibits:

Positive family communication, other adult relationships, parent involvement in schooling, safety, positive peer influence (even though John is not a teen), high expectations, time at home, reading for pleasure, and integrity.

Developmental Assets that James lacks:

Family support, family boundaries, adult role models (Dad’s romances, Mom drinking – not the end of the world, but maybe not good models for those issues), achievement motivation, school engagement, homework, bonding to school, honesty, responsibility (keeps disappearing), planning and decision making, interpersonal competence, personal power, self-esteem, sense of purpose, and positive view of personal future.