Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Reviewed by: Nell German, Adult Services
Note: This book is set for discussion in the YA For All reading group in August.
Genre: YA Romance
Suggested Age: 15 – 18 but has universal themes that are interesting to an adult audience. Especially parents of teens.
What is the book about?: Park is a high school sophomore, just trying to make it through without too much hassle. His mother is Korean, and his father is American-Irish. All of the sudden there is this new girl, Eleanor, who is just out to ruin everything.
Eleanor is also a high school sophomore who has just moved back home and is starting all over at a new school. She has four siblings and a step-father that she does not get along with.
As they grow closer over the course of a school year, you get to know a lot about these two, and their families. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
My review: This book is a touching book about self-acceptance, first love, cultural identity issues, and family. I particularly liked that I knew these kids, and their families. They were authentic characters dealing with real issues that high-school students (and their parents) face every day.
It does contain issues surrounding family violence. There is also a brief scene with alcohol and marijuana (not a prevailing theme, or glorified).
Rating: 5/5
About FDL Reads
Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library. Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available. If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently. We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!