Eleanor & Park is a 2013 young adult novel that has received a Michael L. Printz book honor, among many awards. Eleanor Douglass is a red-headed, overweight high school girl who recently moved to Omaha, Nebraska. She lives an impoverished life with her mother, her four siblings, and her abusive stepfather. Park Sheridan is an Asian-American high school boy who meets Eleanor on the bus. As time goes by, Eleanor and Park bond over music and comic books and eventually end up dating, despite their different backgrounds.
The story is told by a third-person omniscient narrator who alternates the points of view of Eleanor and Park. I didn't care for this style of storytelling - if you're going to alternate points of view, let the characters narrate the story themselves in the first person.
I felt the writing wasn't very special - it lacked depth and description, which would have enhanced the book. The author focused more on Eleanor than Park and by the end of the book, I felt disappointed that there was less of his story told.
Eleanor and Park's relationship developed slowly and peaked in the last third of the story. I liked the way Rowell didn't rush it (as in most YA love stories) - this made it much more meaningful.
Eleanor and Park brings out all the feelings a good love story should; sadness, hope, heartbreak, and joy. For its meaningful love
story, I give Eleanor and Park three and a half out of five stars, despite some major flaws.
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