Eleanor & Park

Rowell, R. (2013). Eleanor & Park. New York: St. Martin’s Griffin. This love story will resonate to readers as they remember their first love. Eleanor & Park takes place within a span of a school year and follows 16-year-olds Eleanor Douglas and Park Sheridan. Complete opposites, Park is half Korean and always tries to lay low in school by being quiet and reading comic books, while Eleanor has fire engine red hair and dresses differently in order to standout and fight reform and stereotypes. New to the school, Eleanor is an instant target especially on the school bus, so Park grudgingly lets her sit by him on the bus. A slow friendship quietly blooms as Park notices Eleanor reading his comic books over his shoulder. Through their secret friendship they find they have a lot in common and before they even realize they have fallen in love. They share a love so strong that they fight to defend it against the kids in school, Park’s parents, and Eleanor’s abusive stepfather. Even though they are immensely in love, Eleanor and Park realize that a first love never lasts. This modern realistic fiction novel is recommended for students ages 14-17 because it features young emerging love and sexual awakening, which is suitable for young adult readers.