"Eleanor and Park:" Too good to put down

"Eleanor and Park" is a young adult novel by Rainbow Rowell. In this book, Eleanor Douglas is starting 10th grade after just relocating to Omaha. She lives with her mom, stepdad, and four other siblings. Richie, her stepdad, is physically and emotionally abusive to her mother. She wears old clothes which are patched up with different patterns.  All the kids at her new school start making fun of her and calling her names. On her first day of school, she gets on the bus and no one will let her sit with them, until she meets a boy named Park Sheridan.

Park Sherdian has lived in Omaha his entire life. He  starts to notice Eleanor in his classes, and realizes she is one of the smartest students in his grade. After several bus trips together, they gradually began to talk to each other . They connect over their love for music and comic books. She does not have money to buy these items, so Park brings her a stack of comic books to read and a tape of music to listen to everyday.

After awhile, this friendship turns into a romance. Eleanor is nervous to be with Park because if Richie finds out he will kick her out of the house. Park wants to be with Eleanor but knows something is going on in her house that he does not know about. What will Eleanor do when she has had enough of Richie and his abusive ways?

This novel takes the readers on a roller coaster of emotions. The book allows the reader to be able to feel the emotions of both protagonists, displaying how they feel about life and each other.


Written by: Makayla M.