Summer Reading Assignment - Eleanor and Park

Entry Four

The reason I decided to choose the book Eleanor and Park to read, was because my Freshman English teacher had been recommending this book all year to kids. It had never grabbed my attention, until I started scrolling through the lists of summer reading books to choose from and I noticed that it was listed on there. I read the description about the book and became very curious about the storyline. I decided to give it a go, because everyone else was reading books that had a movie based off of it, and I didn’t want to read something that could give you the information about the book without actually reading it. I could tell by the cover that the book was going to be something about a teenage romance, and I never really read genres like this, but I wanted to see if I would like it or not. As I started beginning to read, I noticed a few personal connections about Eleanor that I could relate with. Eleanor’s parents are divorced and so are mine. Her dad has remarried, and so has my dad. I have multiple siblings like Eleanor. The tension that was going on in her house was similar to when my parents would fight. Eleanor has always felt out of place, and not really made many friends. Same with me. I could go on and on about things that me and Eleanor both relate with. I became really attached to this book as I kept reading on, because of all the similar connections that I could connect with. I would specifically recommend this book to 3 of my closest friends. They would all have the same connections that I had with this book, and I think that it would really make them feel closer with the storyline. All these different connections really make you feel like you’re one of the characters. As you read more into the book you start to build up all these emotions the more that you keep on reading. Once you know you’re about to be done with the book, you don’t want it to all end. This book is now one of my favorites, and I really got a lot out of it. I’m so happy with the book choice I made because it really made me a better reader as I noticed each word the author had put in the book and why she used it. You should always feel connected with the book your reading in some type of emotion. Whether its loneliness, anger, joy, sadness, and so one. You should get a lot of important information that you can keep with yourself forever.

Summer Reading Assignment - Eleanor and Park

Entry Three

A section of the book with an intent “hooking” is when Park got into a fight with a guy named Steve Murphy who was making fun of Eleanor. One day when they were on the bus everyone started chanting “Go. Big. Red.” Then Steve said, “That’s right, Red. Show it off.” Park couldn’t take it anymore and needed to stand up for Eleanor. He was done with people getting to her and bringing her down. They don’t understand what she’s gone through, or what she still is having to deal with. When they got off the bus Park went up to Steve and shoved him up against the bus. Kids were chanting and Eleanor was getting worried for Park’s punishment. “She heard Park say, ‘I’m so sick of your mouth.’ And she heard Steve say, ‘Are you serious with this?’ He pushed Park hard, but Park didn’t fall. Park took a few steps back, then cranked his shoulder forward, spinning into the air and kicking Steve right in the mouth. The whole crowd gasped.” (pg. 131)
 This was a very intense fight, and the more I kept reading the more interesting it got. I know that it was bad for Park to start a fight, but he was just trying to protect Eleanor. I thought that was the cutest thing ever. It breaks my heart that there’s so much bullying with kids these days, and rarely does anyone ever stand up for the person being attacked. Kids don’t understand what goes on throughout someone’s day when they come home from school. Or how much words can hurt that person inside. People sometimes forget that what they say will either affect someone in a positive or negative way. What really got me “hooked” was at the end of page 131 when Park says, “Leave . . . my girlfriend . . . alone.” This is when I finally found out that Park and Eleanor were more than just naming themselves as close friends. Now the whole school knew that Eleanor and Park were a thing. Maybe this will give a reason for the kids to stop bullying Eleanor after the fight between Steve and Park.

Summer Reading Assignment - Eleanor and Park

Entry Two

Eleanor wants to be able to feel important. She wants to know that someone is there for her, and that she doesn’t need to worry. Eleanor wants her mother to divorce her husband and not have to feel scared whenever she steps into her own house. She wants the school girls to feel her pain and embarrassment that she gets in the locker room as she changes into her gym clothes. She wants her teachers to understand that she’s not the smartest and that she can’t afford descent clothing. She wants to feel like she can fit in with everyone around her, even though she might not look the best. She wants Park to know that she isn’t like any other high school girl, that she’s grown up in a terrible life and that she can’t do anything about it. She wants her father to know that she doesn’t like his new wife, or their relationship with each other. She wants the whole world to know that she will never be perfect, or be able to fit in. She’s different and not in the good way. She’s shy, and scared. She doesn’t get everything she wants, and she never will. A girl like her will never get the attention that others find normal to have. Park wants Eleanor to understand that he is here for her, and that he likes her more than just a friend. He wants his parents to know that he’s learning and making mistakes, but it won’t help if they just argue with him. He wants the school boys to know that he’s not athletic, or sporty. He wants his younger brother to know that he’s not going to ever be big and strong like. He wants his old girlfriend Tina to know that he doesn’t like her anymore, and that she means nothing to him. He wants his friend Cal to know that he’s not like everyone else, and that he will never fit in. Some themes that are beginning to appear is loneliness and isolation. Eleanor and Park are both feeling hidden into their shell, and can’t bear to open up to anyone. When someone tries to become close with them all they can ever seem to do is push them away.  Eleanor and Park only seem comfortable with each other. Not exactly opening up, but just being able to have someone to talk to. It’s hard for Eleanor and Park to have a relationship with their family members because they feel like an outsider ready to be made fun of. Their different with each other. Another theme that is starting to appear is love. This connection that Eleanor and Park have is unbreakable. I can feel the happiness they have with each other. I can feel the warm butterflies in their stomach. Or the pounding sound in their heart as they hold hands. It’s more than just any other relationship. It’s not about going to the movies, or out to eat. It’s about getting to know each other by listening to different bands, and reading their favorite comic books. To hold a conversation for hours. To not have to buy presents, or dress up to just lay on the floor and talk about life. It’s real. Rainbow Rowell structures Eleanor and Park by having Eleanor’s perspective of what’s going on, and Park’s perspective. The book goes back and forth between each other. I really like that Rowell did this because I can see both their views of what is going on in their head, and what’s happening throughout their day.

Summer Reading Assignment - Eleanor and Park

Entry One

Two teenagers named Eleanor Douglas and Park Sheridan live in Omaha, Nebraska and live in the same neighborhood. Eleanor is a fifteen year old girl who is new to the school and has had many issues with her family in the past. She use to live in a foster home, but is now back with her siblings and her mother. She doesn’t like her mother’s new husband. Richie. He’s a mean nasty alcoholic who has abused her mother and treated them horrible. Eleanor is very self-conscience about her body image, and she doesn’t have anyone there to make her feel good about herself. No one understands how she feels. Being the bigger girl, who has to wear ripped up jeans, and over size men t-shirts. Her mother can’t afford to buy anything more than from the Food 4 Less store, or Good Will. Each day as Eleanor becomes more use to the new school, she meets a boy named Park. Park is a sixteen year old boy who is very quiet, and is obsessed with listening to music, and reading comic books. He lives in a household with his parents, and his younger brother Josh. Life is very simple and easy for Park. He notices Eleanor and becomes very interested as to who she is. As Eleanor and Park become closer, they notice that there relationship might be more than just a friendship. Eleanor has to keep Park a secret from her family so that she doesn’t get in trouble. As Eleanor and Park hang out more, they start to open up a little about their life. It becomes very difficult to keep this secret from her family as she falls in love with everything about Park. He understands how she feels and comforts her when things aren’t going so great. I predict that Eleanor and Park will start dating. I believe this will happen because their attention for each other is so heartwarming. You can tell how much they care for each other. I wonder if Eleanor’s family will become more suspicious as to what she’s up to, and if she’ll get in trouble or not. I can connect the book Eleanor and Park to the movie Tuck Everlasting. The girl Winnie isn’t supposed to leave outside of her house, but she meets a boy named Tuck, who she has fallen in love with and she doesn’t care if she breaks any boundaries. Eleanor is exactly like Winnie, because she wants to live her life without someone controlling it. She feels alive when she’s with Park, and knows she’s worth more than what she thinks. I can’t wait to find out what goes on with their relationship and if anything comes in the way between them.