Summer Reading Response: Eleanor & Park

          Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell is a young adult novel about two teenagers in the 1980's that manage to fall in love with each other despite their differences. There are two different points of views in this book.

         In Eleanor's point of view, it is described how she managed to fall in love with Park, her difficulties at home, and her struggle with her appearence. Eleanor's appearence makes her an easy target of bullying. Eleanor's family deals with poverty and they are always at risk with their step-father because he has been abusive.

      In Park's point of view, it is also described how he managed to fall in love with Eleanor, his struggle with keeping his father proud and off his back, and being bi-racial. Being bi-racial means Park has to deal with some teasing and the stereotypes; he is also the only asian at his school. Park's father can be pushy towards Park because he wants Park to be strong and make him proud like Park's brother, Josh.

     Through small talks and small exchanges, they managed to fall in love. By the end of the book Eleanor has to flee to Minnesota in order to be safe. This is important because Eleanor realizes that the nasty notes being left in her school book isn't a classmate or student's action - It is her step-father's. Eleanor and Park's communication begins to distance. 

    While reading Eleanor & Park, I realized that the audience can see that there will be times where you fall in love or have fallen in love and you think your life is spendid. Eleanor & Park shows you that sometimes that isn't always the case - There willl be times where you experience pain or even heartbreak because life isn't perfect. You will struggle with other problems in life and it won't be easy but you will get through it. The mentions and scenes of domestic abuse, profainty, child abuse, bullying, and body image help the audience see that these things do exist and life won't always be easy going; There will be lessons to be learned.