This book is a sweet and tender love story, surrounded by family abuse, poverty, and bullying. I think that this type of book is incredibly important. In most cases, teens are not likely to pick up a book about abuse or poverty. If they do, if anyone does, we often view the topic from a distance, in an almost academic way. It doesn't relate to us; we are just learning about the topic. However, in books like Eleanor and Park, readers fall in love with the story, in this case a story about 16-year-olds beginning a relationship, and then they are given a chance to see the truth regarding issues like neglect and bullying.
Without books like this, readers who wouldn't ordinarily understand the daily struggles of individuals facing these hardships are able to experience it in a heartfelt and authentic way. For instance, Eleanor lives in a crowded house with her four younger siblings, her mom, and her abusive stepdad. She doesn't have a toothbrush, wears her stepdad's hand-me-down clothes, and can't afford batteries to listen to her Walkman (the book takes place in 1986--if you don't know what a Walkman is, look it up :-). Her house only has one bathroom, it only has a bathtub without a curtain, and there is no door. Any time she wants to go to the bathroom or take a bath, she has to do so when her stepdad isn't home, and one of her siblings has to "stand guard" for her. It is obvious that she does not feel safe in her house, and she certainly doesn't feel safe at school, where she is constantly bullied.
When Eleanor gets on the bus on the first day of school, she gives other students the impression that she doesn't care what they think. However, that couldn't be further from the truth. Unfortunately for Eleanor, it is impossible for her to blend in. She is tall with bright red, curly hair, and she wears clothes that can only be described as unusual. Park is the only one to offer her a seat on the bus, and he only offers it to her out of pity. However, they slowly begin a silent friendship when he realizes she is reading his comics over his shoulder each day. He begins to bring comics on the bus for her to read, and finally, they begin to have actual conversations. From there, their friendship grows. In the end, Park is Eleanor's only safe place.
Without books like this, readers who wouldn't ordinarily understand the daily struggles of individuals facing these hardships are able to experience it in a heartfelt and authentic way. For instance, Eleanor lives in a crowded house with her four younger siblings, her mom, and her abusive stepdad. She doesn't have a toothbrush, wears her stepdad's hand-me-down clothes, and can't afford batteries to listen to her Walkman (the book takes place in 1986--if you don't know what a Walkman is, look it up :-). Her house only has one bathroom, it only has a bathtub without a curtain, and there is no door. Any time she wants to go to the bathroom or take a bath, she has to do so when her stepdad isn't home, and one of her siblings has to "stand guard" for her. It is obvious that she does not feel safe in her house, and she certainly doesn't feel safe at school, where she is constantly bullied.
When Eleanor gets on the bus on the first day of school, she gives other students the impression that she doesn't care what they think. However, that couldn't be further from the truth. Unfortunately for Eleanor, it is impossible for her to blend in. She is tall with bright red, curly hair, and she wears clothes that can only be described as unusual. Park is the only one to offer her a seat on the bus, and he only offers it to her out of pity. However, they slowly begin a silent friendship when he realizes she is reading his comics over his shoulder each day. He begins to bring comics on the bus for her to read, and finally, they begin to have actual conversations. From there, their friendship grows. In the end, Park is Eleanor's only safe place.