Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- A major theme of this book is doomed love. Do you think Eleanor and Park's relationship was doomed from the beginning? Why?
- Eleanor and Park are each outsiders, but not in the same way. How is Eleanor different? What about Park?
- This book shows us two adult relationships that are polar opposites: Eleanor's mother's abusive relationship with Eleanor's stepfather, and the loving marriage of Park's parents. How does each of these relationships affect Eleanor and Park?
- Eleanor and Park's romance is definitely not love at first sight. How does Rowell hint at their connection from the start? How do we see their relationship change over the course of the story?
- Eleanor's stepfather, Richie, is the source of much of the evil in this book, but there are other factors that contribute to the abuse Eleanor endures throughout the story. What does this book teach us about what it's like to be a victim of abuse?
- One thing you're bound to notice right away is that this book's point of view alternates between Eleanor and Park, sometimes multiple times in the same chapter. Why do you think Rowell does this? How does this switch affect your reading experience?
- Does this switch change over time?