
Sweet Pain
Richard Posner(Author)
M. Evans& Co Inc (Publisher)
Published on 3. March 2014
Book
Paperback/Softback
276 pages
978-1-59077-318-5 (ISBN)
Description
Casey Gordon is lean and limber, a 17-year-old senior at Westfield High School. Casey is a bright, energetic, caring girl but she seems to need to be hurt. She injures herself a little too much in track competitions and she always falls in love with real losers. She doesn't really understand the conflicts inside of her and the feelings of unworthiness that set her up to get involved with Paul VanHorn.
Paul is nineteen, and he graduated-under a cloud of scandal-from her high school the year before. Instead of going to college, he does construction work. A mysterious, attractive boy just over six feet and powerfully built, he is well-read, intelligent, and even romantic. He charms Casey and he pays attention to her deepest needs. But he comes from a terrible home-his father is an abusive alcoholic and his mother a submissive, suffering victim.
Before long, Casey falls in love with Paul, even though he doesn't fit in with her friends, and he slowly draws her away from the world she has known. The first time Paul hits Casey, their romance becomes a bad dream. By that time, Casey is involved and she becomes torn between her fear of being hurt and her intense feeling that, for the first time ever, she matters to somebody.
As Casey falls deeper and deeper into her dark romance, she gets hurt more and more seriously. Ultimately she finds herself in a hospital bed recovering from injuries inflicted by Paul, and her friends and coach start to get through to her and help her recognize that she matters to them. She realizes that she needs help and that help is there. She begins to see herself for what she really is-an intelligent, beautiful girl deserving of love-and she comes out of the darkness and into the light.
Paul is nineteen, and he graduated-under a cloud of scandal-from her high school the year before. Instead of going to college, he does construction work. A mysterious, attractive boy just over six feet and powerfully built, he is well-read, intelligent, and even romantic. He charms Casey and he pays attention to her deepest needs. But he comes from a terrible home-his father is an abusive alcoholic and his mother a submissive, suffering victim.
Before long, Casey falls in love with Paul, even though he doesn't fit in with her friends, and he slowly draws her away from the world she has known. The first time Paul hits Casey, their romance becomes a bad dream. By that time, Casey is involved and she becomes torn between her fear of being hurt and her intense feeling that, for the first time ever, she matters to somebody.
As Casey falls deeper and deeper into her dark romance, she gets hurt more and more seriously. Ultimately she finds herself in a hospital bed recovering from injuries inflicted by Paul, and her friends and coach start to get through to her and help her recognize that she matters to them. She realizes that she needs help and that help is there. She begins to see herself for what she really is-an intelligent, beautiful girl deserving of love-and she comes out of the darkness and into the light.
Reviews / Votes
Posner, a high school teacher, movingly and thoughtfully tries to explain the inexplicable: why a woman stays with a man who beats her...Posner's book proceeds at an inexorable pace and with mounting suspense that will keep readers turning the pages. * Publishers Weekly *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
Rowman & Littlefield
Target group
Children/juvenile
US School Grade: From Fifth Grade to Twelfth Grade, Interest Age: From 10 to 17 years
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 208 mm
Width: 139 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
345 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-59077-318-5 (9781590773185)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Person
Richard Posner is the author of Sweet Pain and four other novels for young adults. He is a teacher in the long Island, New York public school system.