YA Instructional Resources #3: Eleanor & Park

This series of five posts is to present the instructional resources I have assembled for LIBS 678 Project 2. I invite response to these suggestions. There are so many wonderful ideas for these books!

(Header designed in Piktochart by Wendy Nelson)

Eleanor & Park
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.


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.—Wendy Nelson, 2015

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

Like many popular YA books, a movie of Eleanor & Park is in the works. Discuss with students what they think the movie should be like. Who should write it? Who should play the main characters? Look at author Rainbow Rowell's collection of fan art on Pinterest. Which piece of art encapsulates the book for each student? Challenge students to take a scene and rewrite it as a screenplay, then act it out for the class or film the scene. They might also film a trailer for the movie or draw a storyboard or graphic novel adaptation. (VA English SOL 8.3, 9.2, 10.2)

Rainbow Rowell's collection of fan art: https://www.pinterest.com/rainbowrowell/eleanor-park-fan-art-other-awesomeness/

The Meaning of Music Writing Prompt
Eleanor and Park bond over a joint interest in music. Most students can remember a moment in their lives when music helped them make a friend, make meaning, or make a memory. These memories, where music is paired with emotion, are imprinted more strongly on the brain than other memories. Ask students to write a journal entry or other quick-write about a musical memory such as falling in "like" (or love!) with somebody who likes the same songs. Sharing these sometimes very personal memories is optional! 

Further Explorations

Rainbow Rowell's website
http://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

http://www.slj.com/2013/11/censorship/rainbow-rowells-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.

Partner Titles

Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass
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

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.

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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