71 pages • 2 hours read
Rainbow RowellEleanor and Park
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2012A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Eleanor and Park, two misfit teenagers, Park and Eleanor, bond over shared bus rides, comic books, and mix-tapes, forming a deep friendship that evolves into love despite coming from vastly different backgrounds; Park's stable, loving middle-class family contrasts with Eleanor's abusive household. Sensitive topics include bullying and familial abuse.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell has been praised for its authentic portrayal of first love and complex characters. The novel's sensitive treatment of difficult topics like bullying and family issues has resonated with readers. However, some critics found the story's pace slow and the ending polarizing. Overall, it is celebrated for its emotional depth and relatability.
Who Should Read Eleanor and Park?
A reader who would enjoy Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell is typically a young adult, ages 14-18, who appreciates emotionally resonant, character-driven stories. Fans of The Fault in Our Stars by John Green or Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky will find its 1980s setting and themes of first love, outsider status, and complex family dynamics particularly engaging.