Eleanor & Park

This book was so sweet but also sad. My heart broke for Eleanor and her family. There was more language than I usually like in books, but most of the characters using “ugly words” were clearly the “ugly” people. The foulness of their character was not hidden, and it definitely affected me.

SpoilerIt was sweet. Eleanor and Park spent most of the book just reading comic books together, exchanging mix tapes, and excited just to hold hands. It was sad. Eleanor's home life was genuinely heartbreaking. She slept in a room with all four of her younger siblings, most of them sleeping on the floor. She didn't have a toothbrush. The bathroom has no door. Her mother is broken and terrified of her step-father, Richie. Eleanor gets picked on at school too.

I liked that, even though she didn't like Eleanor at first, Park's mom came around to understanding and caring about Eleanor. I really liked the emphasis on how much Park's parents loved each other, that even when he was a kid it was knowing his parents loved each other that made him feel safe at night. I think that's very important, and definitely underemphasized these days.

I was appalled to discover that Richie was the one that had been writing dirty messages on Eleanor's book covers.

I liked that the “mean kids” from the bus really came around when things were serious. They put their differences aside and helped Eleanor without hesitation.

I liked that Park's dad helped him help Eleanor.

I was relieved when it seemed clear that Eleanor's uncle was going to take her in, and it was implied that Eleanor's mother had taken the rest of the children out of Richie's house. I was sad when Eleanor wouldn't write back to Park or open his letters and packages. But I was also a little glad he wasn't actually “moving on”. I liked that it ended with hope and a postcard from Eleanor.

I assumed the three words on the postcard were “I love you.”