Tolog Review: Eleanor & Park

Eleanor & Park
by Rainbow Rowell
reviewed by Olivia Roginson

Eleanor & Park, a novel by Rainbow Rowell, is filled with the ups and downs of a teenage love story that is plagued by the challenges of fitting in, standing out, and two very different lifestyles. Eleanor is a young girl that has overcome an unimaginable life at home, and has had to deal with inner demons her whole life. Park is a quiet boy who hasn’t quite found who he is yet, and survives high school by staying under the radar. The unlikely pair is put together, and they gradually start to form a relationship throughout the novel.

Eleanor’s life has been anything but normal since her abusive stepfather Richie joined the family. After being kicked out of her home for a year, Eleanor comes back to see things are as bad as ever. She decides to keep her personal life hidden from her classmates. Eleanor makes an effort to stand out from everyone else. Her eye catching fashion choices make her a constant point of ridicule and her bright red curls don’t help. When she first sees Park on the bus, she doesn’t think much of him. She sees the super quiet boy she’s forced to sit next to.
Park has quite the opposite lifestyle of Eleanor’s. He comes from a stable home and has never been known to do things out of the ordinary. Park struggles to find his way, and feels out of place, even in his family. Since he has lived in the same town his whole life, he knows how to handle the school bullies. When he catches a glimpse of Eleanor, he can’t help but worry that he’s stuck sitting next to the weird new girl every day.

Eleanor and Park’s relationship slowly takes a turn as they realize what they have in common. Their similarities begin with comics and gradually advance to more than just seatmates on the bus. Though it takes a while for them to interact, Eleanor and Park form a connection that becomes very apparent. 

They both realize their affection for each other and their relationship advances to a romance. However, their love story is filled with obstacles they must overcome. Eleanor decides to keep the entire relationship from her family, in fear of what Richie would do if he were to find out. Park is judged by his friends and peers for associating with the “weird new girl.” Park finds himself getting angry every time someone has something mean to say to Eleanor, and feels a need to protect her from the world. Being in Park’s presence is a safe haven for Eleanor; a place to escape the harsh reality of her life. The couple has to overcome impossible challenges, and is forced to fight to save their love story. 

The novel is written in the point of view of Park as well as Eleanor. We are given each view for the different situations, and the perspectives are either similar or completely opposite. Eleanor & Park takes the reader through what it is like to grow up with the environment the characters are put in. We are given a glimpse of what it is like to live in an unstable home, as well as a loving home where you feel lost. It is easy to relate to a character in the novel, whether you come from a difficult upbringing or have ever felt lost in the crowd. The unexpected turns of the novel kept the book interesting and exciting to read. Eleanor & Park was filled with emotion and exemplifies the importance of finding strength and courage where you least expect it.