Usually, parents think that they know how a teenager’s brain works. They believe that they know their way around teenage love and sacrifice. When in reality, more than half of moms and dads in the world make it impossible to ask a girl to the prom or to go out on a “grown-up date.”
Author Rainbow Rowell of the teen romance novel “Eleanor & Park” has a complete understanding of love. In her story, she portrays through 16-year-old kids that love does not have an age restriction.
The story is set in 1986 Nebraska. Eleanor Douglas meets her potential love interest on the bus on the first day of her new school. Douglas has insanely red hair that curls in all directions and constantly gets made fun of because of her weight. She is forced to sit by a biracial boy, Park Sheridan, who has a Korean mother and a white father. At first, Park hates Eleanor. He dreads taking the bus because he must share a seat with “Big Red.” But when Park notices Eleanor giving him extra attention, they soon break their awkward boundary. Eleanor and Park fall in love.
They both face trials and tribulations for their decisions throughout the book. Park realizes that Eleanor is not safe in her own home, but he cannot help her in the way he wants. Eleanor has to decide between Park and her family. This book is full of suspense and ultimatum, and every page has a new twist that readers will not expect.
As a reader, I gravitated towards “Eleanor & Park” because I am a sucker for a great romance story. But, Rowland truly reveals the truth behind love in her writing, so loving this book was extremely easy. I have a deep connection with both of the characters because I am in a relationship. The book made me realize that true love comes in weird and strange shapes and forms. Even though I am not legally able to be married, I have hope that true love waits.
I highly recommended “Eleanor & Park” to anyone who is a teen romance reader, but also for anyone that needs inspiration for their own love life.