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Eleanor & Park
by Rainbow Rowell
Grade 9 and up
by Rainbow Rowell
Grade 9 and up
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Rowell, R. (2013). Eleanor & Park.
New York: St. Martin's Griffin.
Review: This book is immensely moving. It chronicles the first love of two misfits, Park, a half-Korean kid (the only Asian in school) who likes music and comics, and Eleanor, a tall, large girl with bright red curls who is the target of teasing in school and lives in an abusive home. That makes it sound somewhat precious and unappealing, but teenagers will love these characters and their romance. The story is set in 1986, when teens had to send letters or pick up the telephone to communicate. The ending is bittersweet and tearjerking, but Rowell throws the reader a bone and ends on a slightly hopeful note.
Review: This book is immensely moving. It chronicles the first love of two misfits, Park, a half-Korean kid (the only Asian in school) who likes music and comics, and Eleanor, a tall, large girl with bright red curls who is the target of teasing in school and lives in an abusive home. That makes it sound somewhat precious and unappealing, but teenagers will love these characters and their romance. The story is set in 1986, when teens had to send letters or pick up the telephone to communicate. The ending is bittersweet and tearjerking, but Rowell throws the reader a bone and ends on a slightly hopeful note.
What makes Eleanor & Park so exquisite is
the descriptive writing. The reader not only learns that Park grabs Eleanor's
hand on the bus, but is made to feel exactly what an amazing revelation it is
to touch someone you are beginning to fall for. The claustrophobia of Eleanor's
life, sleeping in a tiny room with all her siblings and a prisoner of the
tension and abuse in her home is also achingly rendered. Park's home life, by
contrast, is full of more typical suburban angst, but his family is just as
real to the reader.
Themes of bullying, abuse, young love, and the
pain of growing up as a misfit are all part of the story, and they almost never
feel artificial or contrived. The Tina and Steve subplot does occasionally
hearken to the villains of a John Hughes movie, but even these two-dimensional
characters redeem themselves toward the end. Some characters are unredeemable,
however, and Eleanor's stepdad is one of the more odious creeps you'll find in
YA fiction.
School Library Journal Starred Review
School Library Journal Starred Review
Gr 9 Up–In this novel set in the 1980s,
teenagers Eleanor and Park are outsiders; Eleanor, because she’s new to the
neighborhood, and Park, because he’s half Asian. Although initially wary of
each other, they quickly bond over their love of comics and 1980s alternative
music. Eleanor’s home life is difficult; her stepfather physically abuses her
mother and emotionally abuses Eleanor and her siblings. At school, she is the
victim of bullying, which escalates into defacement of her textbooks, her
clothes, and crude displays on her locker. Although Park’s mother, a Korean
immigrant, is initially resistant to the strange girl due to her odd fashion
choices, his father invites Eleanor to seek temporary refuge with them from her
unstable home life. When Eleanor’s stepfather’s behavior grows even more
menacing, Park assists in her escape, even though it means that they might not
see each other again. The friendship between the teens is movingly believable,
but the love relationship seems a bit rushed and underdeveloped. The revelation
about the person behind the defacement of Eleanor’s textbooks is stunning.
Although the narrative points of view alternate between Eleanor and Park, the
transitions are smooth. Crude language is realistic. Purchase for readers who
are drawn to quirky love stories or 1980s pop culture.—Jennifer Schultz,
Fauquier County Public Library, Warrenton, VA
Teaching Ideas
Now and Then Writing Prompt
This novel takes place in the mid-80s, before digital technology, cell phones, the Internet, and so many other technologies teenagers take for granted today. Discuss the implications of this on the book. Have students choose a page, chapter, or event from Eleanor & Park and write about how modern technology might have altered the situation if it took place today. Would it have changed the course of events significantly? (VA English SOLs 8.7, 9.5, 10.4, 10.6, 10.7)
The Cycle of Abuse
Young readers may struggle to understand Eleanor's mother, Sabrina. Why doesn't she leave her abusive husband Richie? Why does she allow Richie to kick Eleanor out of the house before the book begins? Why doesn't she do more to protect her children? It can be difficult not to blame the victim. Discuss how students initially feel about Eleanor's mother after reading the book. Then, in pairs or groups, have students research the effects of domestic violence on women and children and find examples in the text of the ways that Sabrina tries to cope and protect her children, as well as evidence of the effects the violence has on her children. Discuss these findings. How does Eleanor seem to feel about her mother? Who could have stepped in to help the family? In the end, what finally makes Sabrina act? (VA English SOLs 8.9, 9.8, 10.8, 11.8 and 9.4, 10.3, 11.5, 12.3)
New Yorker article on domestic violence:
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/07/22/a-raised-hand
Romeo and Juliet
Early on in the book, Eleanor and Park's English class is reading Romeo and Juliet. The teacher calls on both of them to give responses. Eleanor says, “Romeo and Juliet are just two rich kids who've always gotten every little thing they want. And now, they think they want each other…They don't even know each other…It was ‘Oh my God, he's so cute’ at first sight… it's Shakespeare making fun of love.” Park, on the other hand, says the play is important “Because people want to remember what it's like to be young? And in love?” Discuss why each of the characters has these opinions. Are they saying what they really think? Does it fit their character? Why or why not? Does the author intend for the reader to compare Eleanor and Park themselves to Romeo and Juliet, and are they like or unlike Shakespeare's characters? (VA English SOLs 9.4, 10.3, 11.5, 12.3)
Make the Movie
Further Explorations
Rainbow Rowell's websitehttp://www.rainbowrowell.com
Learn about the author and her other books, some of which are for adults. She has a Q&A and links to some of her favorite writings and resources to do with Eleanor & Park.
Publisher's Weekly interview with Rainbow Rowell
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/interviews/article/55711-q-a-with-rainbow-rowell.html
An excellent interview in which Rowell offers a great deal of insight into her choices in writing Eleanor & Park.
Rumpus Interview with Rainbow Rowell
http://therumpus.net/2014/10/the-rumpus-interview-with-rainbow-rowell/
This site is primarily for writers and those who have a passion for writing, and in this interview Rainbow Rowell talks in detail about her own writing process.
How Finding a Fat YA Heroine Changed my Life
http://www.buzzfeed.com/kayetoal/that-knife-of-recognition#.mbyQQzBR4
Writer Kaye Toal explores why the character of Eleanor has meant so much to her. As a "big girl" like Eleanor, she too was bullied and had a rough home life. It was hard to find fat book characters who were anything but caricatures and often villains. This book changed that. (This article has some foul language.)
A Masterpost: Eleanor and Park, Racism, and Other Problematic Aspects of the Book
http://ubeempress.com/2015/04/19/a-masterpost-eleanor-and-park-racism-and-other-problematic-aspects-of-the-book/
Many people have struggled with the author's stereotypical portrayal of the Asian characters in Eleanor & Park. This blog post is a thorough literary analysis of some of these criticisms.
The Eleanor & Park Soundtrack
https://www.pinterest.com/elmontteens/the-eleanor-and-park-soundtrack/
All the music mentioned in the book is linked here.
Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor & Park Retained in Minnesota High School
This article chronicles the 2013 attempt to ban Eleanor & Park for profanity and vulgarity in a Minnesota school. It links to the relevant news stories and other information sources.
Medina, M. (2013). Yaqui Delgado wants to kick your ass. Somerville, Mass: Candlewick Press.
In this well-reviewed YA novel, Piddy Sanchez, a high school student, is victimized by a bully she doesn't even know. With similar themes as Eleanor & Park, Yaqui Delgado is a good comparison title for the young adult audience.
Romeo and Juliet
Shakespeare, W., & Durband, A. (1985). Romeo and Juliet. Woodbury, N.Y: Barron’s.
Shakespeare's classic is important in the story of Eleanor and Park, and their attitudes toward it differ greatly. It makes a great partner read with Rowell's novel. Available in many editions or to read online at http://shakespeare.mit.edu/romeo_juliet/full.html
Partner Titles
Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your AssMedina, M. (2013). Yaqui Delgado wants to kick your ass. Somerville, Mass: Candlewick Press.
In this well-reviewed YA novel, Piddy Sanchez, a high school student, is victimized by a bully she doesn't even know. With similar themes as Eleanor & Park, Yaqui Delgado is a good comparison title for the young adult audience.
Romeo and Juliet
Shakespeare, W., & Durband, A. (1985). Romeo and Juliet. Woodbury, N.Y: Barron’s.
Shakespeare's classic is important in the story of Eleanor and Park, and their attitudes toward it differ greatly. It makes a great partner read with Rowell's novel. Available in many editions or to read online at http://shakespeare.mit.edu/romeo_juliet/full.html
Mad World
Majewski, L. and Bernstein, J. (2014). Mad world: an oral
history of new wave artists and songs that defined the 1980s. New York:
Harry N. Abrams.
A highly entertaining and readable oral history of the world
of music that Eleanor and Park inhabit. Mad World discusses most of the
bands the two teenagers enjoy listening to and will certainly deepen the
background knowledge of students who were born well past the 1980s.
Fangirl
Rowell, R. (2013). Fangirl. New York: St. Martin's
Griffin.
Those who love Eleanor & Park will be excited
to devour Rainbow Rowell's novel Fangirl, another well-reviewed novel.
This book is about sisters, obsessing about celebrities, and surviving the
freshman year of college.
What She Left Behind
Bilen, T. (2012). What she left behind. New York:
Simon Pulse.
What happens when an abused mom tries to escape her cruel, vindictive husband? In this book, she mysteriously disappears. Her teenage daughter Sara has to figure out what has happened to her mother before it's too late. This suspenseful book will support a discussion of the domestic violence themes in Eleanor & Park and provide another perspective on this difficult topic.
What happens when an abused mom tries to escape her cruel, vindictive husband? In this book, she mysteriously disappears. Her teenage daughter Sara has to figure out what has happened to her mother before it's too late. This suspenseful book will support a discussion of the domestic violence themes in Eleanor & Park and provide another perspective on this difficult topic.
All Resources
Listed
Bilen, T. (2012).
What she left behind. New York: Simon Pulse.
Elmont Teen
Corner. (n.d.) The Eleanor & Park soundtrack. [Pinterest board.]
Available at
https://www.pinterest.com/elmontteens/the-eleanor-and-park-soundtrack/
Empress, U.
(April 19, 2015). A masterpost: Eleanor and Park, racism, and other problematic
aspects of the book. Retrieved from
http://ubeempress.com/2015/04/19/a-masterpost-eleanor-and-park-racism-and-other-problematic-aspects-of-the-book/
Green, A. (Oct.
17, 2014). The rumpus interview with Rainbow Rowell. Available at
http://therumpus.net/2014/10/the-rumpus-interview-with-rainbow-rowell/
Majewski, L. and
Bernstein, J. (2014). Mad world: an oral history of new wave artists and songs
that defined the 1980s. New York: Harry N. Abrams.
Medina, M.
(2013). Yaqui Delgado wants to kick your ass. Somerville, Mass: Candlewick
Press.
Peterson, K.M.
(Nov. 21, 2013). Rainbow Rowell’s ‘Eleanor & Park’ retained in
Minnesota high school. Retrieved from
http://www.slj.com/2013/11/censorship/rainbow-rowells-eleanor-park-retained-in-minnesota-high-school/#_
Rowell, R.
(2013). Fangirl. New York: St. Martin's Griffin.
Rowell, R.
(2015). Rainbow: A writer. [Personal website.] Available at
http://www.rainbowrowell.com
Rowell, R. (n.d.)
Eleanor & Park fan art and other awesomeness. [Pinterest board.]
Available at
https://www.pinterest.com/rainbowrowell/eleanor-park-fan-art-other-awesomeness/
Schulman, M.
(Jan. 29, 2013). Q & A with Rainbow Rowell. Retrieved from
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/interviews/article/55711-q-a-with-rainbow-rowell.html
Schultz, J.
(March 11, 2013). Pick of the day: Eleanor & Park. Retrieved from
http://www.slj.com/2013/03/books-media/pick-of-the-day-eleanor-park/#_
Shakespeare, W.,
& Durband, A. (1985). Romeo and Juliet. Woodbury, N.Y: Barron’s.
Snyder, R. L.
(July 22, 2013). A raised hand. Retrieved from
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/07/22/a-raised-hand
Toal, K. (March
11, 2015). How finding A fat YA heroine changed my life. Retrieved from http://www.buzzfeed.com/kayetoal/that-knife-of-recognition#.keBRR3AkL
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