Eleanor & Park, by Rainbow Rowell

I had a good feeling about Eleanor & Park when I opened up to the first page to find that it was set in August, 1986. Not only the year, but the month I was born. The two main characters, however, are teenagers and are dealing with much more difficult life events than I was as a newborn.

Eleanor doesn't blend in, with her red hair, curvaceous body, and eclectic style. Not surprisingly, she's an instant and easy target for the the kids at her new high school. As if this isn't enough to deal with, she has a mother who is doing all she can to keep her and her four younger siblings fed, clothed, and safe from her abusive alcoholic stepfather.

Park, on the other hand, is a pro at blending in. He compliments his Caucasian/Asian traits with all black attire. Unlike Eleanor, Park's parents provide nothing but love and understanding, though, the latter is sometimes difficult for his military minded father.

Their two worlds meet when Park, begrudgingly, allows Eleanor to sit beside him on the bus. In time the two silently bond over comics, as Park first notices Eleanor reading over his shoulder; leading to him lending her comics to read. A relationship develops with uncertainty as the two test the waters of conversation, holding hands, and first kisses.

However, what sets this book apart from other gushy love stories is Rowell's exquisite grasp of what it is to be a teenager, from the dialogue to the thought-process. There is something so sincere about both characters and the seriousness of Eleanor's situation, though difficult to read at times, is believable and makes their relationship so much more than a high school fling. The story comes to a roaring climax when Eleanor's stepfather's wickedness overflows and the two are forced to make some difficult decisions that will inevitably affect their future.