Although Eleanor and Park connect as fellow misfits, their families are worlds apart. Eleanor & Park gives us vivid pictures of two entirely different kinds of families: Park's loving, stable home life is in direct contrast to Eleanor's desperate, badly broken home.
Not only that, we learn a lot about our two main characters because of the way they fit in—or don't—with their own families. Eleanor's been abandoned by her family, leaving her an outcast even in her own house, and Park doesn't always see eye to eye with his dad. Families make all the difference in the world; Park's family brings Eleanor and Park together, but Eleanor's family rips them apart.
Questions About Family
- At first, Park's family doesn't approve of Eleanor. What changes their attitude as the story goes on?
- Does Park think he "fits in" with his family? Why or why not?
- How does Eleanor's relationship with her siblings change throughout the book?
- Compare and contrast: Park's family Christmas versus Eleanor's.
Chew on This
Park's parents have a loving relationship that helps Park understand his love for Eleanor.
Eleanor's not optimistic about love because she's never really seen it up close.