I admit, I pulled a Percy Jackson with Eleanor & Park, the story of first love in the mid-1980’s. The librarian at the Jr. High told me last year it was the best book she read all year. She told me I should read it. I went as far as to download it and let it sit on my eReader for six months. Then, this past week, I started reading it. When I finished, I read it again. I ordered a paper copy just so the day it arrived, I could drive over to my neighbor’s and say, “You have to read this.” This is the first book in a long time I’ve stayed up past my bedtime to read. And the lost sleep was totally worth it.
What I liked about it:
- This is the story of young love. Not like teenage movie “Enless Love” type love. More like real high school, first nerd love.
- Sixteen year old Park comes from a middle class family. His dad and Korean mom are still madly in love, and they love their kids. Park’s dad pushes Park, but you get the impression there’s a good reason. Park’s mom stands up for herself and her kids and isn’t afraid to voice her opinions. It is quite the contrast to Eleanor’s dirt poor family, abusive stepfather, co-dependent mom and siblings.
- From the beginning, Park is a good guy, but he’s not perfect, and Eleanor never lets you feel sorry for her.
- They fall in love over comic books. Then music. But mostly comic books.
- Park is a boy. Based on the oodles of women’s magazine articles I’ve read, boys love girls because quite simply, they’re girls. Eleanor is concerned about her stomach, her freckles, her hair. None of that enters Park’s mind. He sees the freckles at “sprinkles on a donut” and Eleanor as “a mermaid.” He falls for Eleanor way before he sees her in a way that opens his eyes to the fact she’s got so much “negative space.” And by the time he realizes she’s a girl and decides shyness will get him nowhere, you want them to be together.
- The dialogue is real and smart. It sounds like kids and adults. There’s a fantastic exchange between Park and Eleanor when Park tells her he loves her and she says, “I know.”
- Having been a 16 year old in 1986, I have to admit I enjoyed the pop culture references.
What I found Distracting:
- I got nothing. That’s how much I liked this book.
Things I would consider before handing it to my kid:
- Strong swearing at the beginning, sexual language throughout. The stepfather is abusive mentally and physically to Eleanor’s mom. Eleanor fears her stepfather will abuse her next. There are a couple of make out sessions between Park and Eleanor but they’re more suggested than graphic. I’d say 8/9th grade on up.
This book is a trip back to high school and will leave you with a happy ache in your middle. Enjoy it!