Eleanor and Park

Eleanor & Park

• Genre: Fiction; young adult romance
• Originally Published: 2012
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile HL580L; grades 9-12
• Structure/Length: 58 chapters; approximately 325 pages; approximately 8 hours, 56 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The novel follows Eleanor, a new student with a difficult home life, and Park, boy with his own struggles, as they navigate high school in the 1980s. Despite their differences, they form a deep and unlikely connection through shared interests, including comic books and music. The central conflict revolves around Eleanor and Park’s budding romance, their challenges in facing social norms and personal insecurities, and their determination to find solace and understanding in each other.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Abuse; violence; family dysfunction; bullying; mature content; body image issues; profanity; racial slurs; inappropriate and lewd language, including derogatory terms offensive to women; alcohol addiction; sexual content

Rainbow Rowell, Author

• Bio: Born 1973; American author known for her contemporary young adult and adult fiction; frequently explores themes of love, relationships, and personal identity; often praised for her relatable characters and authentic storytelling; gained acclaim for Eleanor & Park’s portrayal of young love and the complexities of teenage life; has written novels, short stories, and graphic novels; engages with readers through social media and book events
• Other Works: Fangirl (2013); Landline (2014); Carry On (2015); Attachments (2011); Wayward Son (2019); Pumpkinheads (2019); Any Way the Wind Blows (2021)
• Awards: Michael L. Printz Honor (2014); Boston Globe Horn Book Award (2013); Odyssey Honor (audiobook; 2014)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• The Wonder of First Love
• Bullying
• Being Abandoned

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Develop their understanding of allusions as a literary device; recognize and understand allusions in the novel.
• Study paired texts and other resources to make connections to the text’s themes of The Wonder of First Love, Bullying, and Being Abandoned.
• Develop a playlist of modern songs that accurately reflect the characterization of Eleanor or Park.
• Analyze and evaluate the author’s craft to draw conclusions in structured essay responses regarding symbolism, first love, and other topics.