Although it's been on the market for a while, Eleanor & Park continues to be one of my favorite books. One may question why I'm rereading an older book, especially after having read it 5 times already! But! The answer I have is an easy one: I picked up Eleanor & Park during my freshman year of high school. It was winter, and I remember reading it wrapped in a blanket and engulfed in the living room recliner. Eleanor & Park was the first young adult novel I can recall honestly moving me. Nobody writes characters like Rowell. She realistically depicts personalities and backgrounds we rarely see and allows us to read the characters' thoughts as if they are your own. Her stories (this one in particular) feel genuine and relatable. The characters from Eleanor & Park are inspiring and real. Ever since the first winter I read this book, it's become a tradition for me. This book is the perfect transition into the cold season, as well as the hope and fresh beginnings of the New Year.
Set over the course of one school year in 1986, this stunning debut tells thestory of two star-crossed misfits falling in love for the first time. 5 1/2 x8 1/4.