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Eleanor and Park, by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor and Park, by Rainbow Rowell,  is the story of two young teenagers and the epic story of their first love. Park is a typical teenager, surrounded by stupid friends and well-liked. Eleanor is the new girl in town, and the fact that she wears crazy clothes and has huge red hair does not make it easy for her to fit in. Slowly, through their bus rides next to each other, Eleanor and Park begin talking and sharing music and comic books, and soon, they can't imagine their lives without each other.

Overall, the book was a good read and really cute. I liked the characters and how different they are from each other. I guess it's true, opposites do attract. I heard a lot about this book, so I was expecting an amazing book that I would never forget; my expectations were a little too high. The book is well-written and interesting, and it reminded me of the author John Green. I would recommend this book to teenagers who enjoy the romance genre.

Reviewed by Rebecca S., Grade 10
Glendale Central Library 
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Anonymous said…
The two main characters in this book are Eleanor and Park, as the title suggests. Both of them are quirky teenagers. Eleanor is red haired, and Park is part Korean, part white. They both like comic books, and both of them are bullied, have self esteem issues, and their families are not very nice or loving either. This book is about their friendship and their experiences as they struggle through school together.

Eleanor & Park, by Rainbow Rowell, really is a gem. Most young adult books are criticized for being generic, exploring the same themes, following the exact same structure, having the same setting, but this one is not about a depressed teen, or a non conformist student. It is about a couple that despite having many issues, struggle through it together and have fun by depending on each other. If you are looking for a young adult book to read, choose this one, as it is a really pleasant read.

Reviewed by Anonymous, Grade 9
Grandview Library
February 18, 2015 at 10:53 AM
Teen Speak said…
In the story, Eleanor and Park, the theme of love and family is portrayed very well. The main characters, Eleanor Douglas and Park Sheridan, build their romantic relationship throughout the story. The author of the book, Rainbow Rowell, gives up a third person point of view of both Eleanor and Park, allowing the reader to know both their thoughts and actions during every scene. These two high school kids meet on a bus, when Park, a half-Korean high school kid, offered a seat to Eleanor, a chubby, redheaded, smart high school girl. Both of them deal with a lot of family issues as they try to build their relationship. Park's dad doesn't see to accept Park because he does not share the same interests as him. Eleanor suffers through abuse from her stepfather, Richie. This doesn't stop them from being together, and as the end of the story approaches, the reader can see how much they really rely on each other.

I would definitely recommend this book. This book has a lot of aspects that would appeal to a teenager. The characters are very relatable and use mature humor to make you not wanna put the book down. I really liked how the characters interacted and acted like real teenagers. They had conversations that sounded familiar to an average teenager. Also, with a third person point of view for both Eleanor and Park, it made every scene interesting, because it showed both their thoughts. So, if you would enjoy a romantic novel, involving entertaining, unique, and relatable characters, this is the right book for you.

Reviewed by E.B., Grade 8
Grandview Library
November 28, 2017 at 2:53 PM
Teen Speak said…
Eleanor Douglas is new in town and she takes the bus every morning to her new school. Her home life isn't the best but no one can tell by the way she dresses. Because of the bright colored ribbons in her hair, vibrant patches all over her clothing, and other obscure clothing choices, and not to mention how her body looks, are all reasons as to why the "cool" kids on her bus bully her.

Except for one.

Park Sheridan.

The two begin to form a friendship, and maybe a possible romance. However, will the challenges they face be the reason for their downfall?

Bittersweet, heartwarming, and everything in between, Eleanor & Park is a triumph. It is a novel that follows two misfits that are everything the other needed. Simply put, I loved this book. The way Rowell described the events taking place was perfectly done, and so is the pacing. Everything is so raw and beautiful.

Though the novel would mainly appeal to fans of the romance and young adult genres of the literary world, it deals with themes that can be resonated in anyone, young and old.

Reading this transports you back to when the novel is set, 1986, and suddenly, you feel like Eleanor. You feel like Park. Two halves of one whole.

Reviewed by Melody S., Grade 9
Montrose Library
June 16, 2018 at 12:45 PM
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