What starts as a story of two awkward teens turns into a gorgeous love story with one hell of an ending.
Eleanor & Park, by Rainbow Rowell
St Martin’s Press, ISBN: 978 1 250 01257 9
I have been ranting and raving about this book all over twitter and to everyone I know who will stand still long enough for me to tell them about it for the last couple of days because OH, MY. This book, you guys. It’s a love story with a dash of music – but not a regular old so totally done love story. Instead, we meet two kids who are don’t fit in but somehow, slowly, find that they fit together perfectly.
It’s not a fall into love. It’s not a slide from friendship. It’s awkward and resisted and not trusted and has its fits and starts and fights and twists, but Eleanor and Park, well, they just keep being drawn in further than they ever wanted or planned, and it’s gorgeous and difficult and amazing.
Did I also say I’d been ranting? Because yes, I sort of wish that the couple of people who told me they loved the book had also mention that it is a bit… gutting at the end. Without spoilers, let me only say that Eleanor’s difficult life causes a twist at the end that is likely to leave your teen reader a tad emotional, but I will also say that it is totally worth it. This is one fantastic piece of teen fiction and a love story that is far from just another fluffy bit of chicklit. Raves well-earned indeed.
Also available as an ebook, so you can break your heart electronically.
This sounds good! I need to get this! Thanks!
I remember seeing this book under your arm… and now I feel I must get my hands on a copy. It “feels” like that “Wallflower” movie I still need to see. I think I CAN’T WAIT!!