Rowell, R.
(2013). Eleanor & Park. New York:
St. Martin's Press.
Book Cover from Amazon
Contemporary Fiction
2014
YALSA Teen’s Top Ten Book of the Year
Grades 9 and up
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell is a YA contemporary fiction book about two teenage misfits. We get alternating points of view between Eleanor and Park. Eleanor is new to Park's school and ends up sitting with him on the bus. She has flaming red hair, is overweight, and dresses differently than everyone else. Park is half Korean and even though he has lived in Nebraska is whole life, he is shy and quiet not truly fitting in either. Eleanor is bullied because of her appearance and she also has struggles at home because of her step-father. Park struggles at home because he isn't into sports and would much rather read a comic book. At first Park doesn't like Eleanor and wishes that she didn't have to sit with him on the bus, however, as time passes he starts to include her in reading his comic books and listening to his music. As their relationship develops, they face challenges. Eleanor doesn't want her family to know and Park's mother doesn't like her, however, as the story progresses Park's mother comes around and even gives Eleanor a makeover. Their relationship is tested when Eleanor has to get away from her family. This is a story about first love intertwined with bullying, domestic violence, poverty, and being misfits that don't fit the mold.
Partner Titles:
Book Cover from Amazon
Nonfiction
Grades 7 and up
Bullying Under Attack: True Stories Written By Teen Victims, Bullies, and Bystanders edited by Stephenie Meyer would partner well with Eleanor and Park because of the themes of bullying. Students can read true stories from teens of bullying from all sides: the victims, the bullies, and bystanders.
Teaching Ideas:
1. Bullying- Health 9 SOL9.1 -The student will apply health knowledge and skills to the development and analysis of personal goals to achieve and maintain long-term health and wellness. Key concepts/skills include i) peaceful resolution of conflicts. Complete a lesson on teen bullying involving the guidance counselor and focus on peaceful resolution to conflicts. Using the interactive Smartboard, check out stopbullying.gov and have students make a list of ideas for peaceful resolutions to conflicts. Also give some scenarios for students to discuss ways to resolve in a peaceful manner.
2. Domestic Violence- Health 10 SOL10.3 -The student will implement personal-injury-prevention and self-management strategies that promote personal, family, and community health throughout life. Key concepts/skills include a) strategies to reduce and prevent violence. Discuss domestic violence as a lesson involving the guidance counselor and focus on strategies to reduce and prevent violence. Use kidpower to learn more about domestic violence.
3. Writing- English 9 SOL 9.6 -The student will develop narrative, expository, and persuasive writings for a variety of audiences and purposes. Ask students to answer this question in a paper using information from the book to support their stance. "What do you think the postcard said that Eleanor sent Park and why did she send it?"
4. Vocabulary- English 9 SOL 9.3- The student will apply knowledge of word origins, derivations, and figurative language to extend vocabulary development in authentic texts. a) Use structural analysis of roots, affixes, synonyms, antonyms, and cognates to understand complex words. Use words from the story to teach vocabulary lessons. Use a vocabulary graphic organizer to help students break words down.
5. Reading- English 9 SOL 9.4- The student will read, comprehend, and analyze a variety of literary texts including narratives, narrative nonfiction, poetry, and drama. g) Analyze the cultural or social function of a literary text. Eleanor and Park read comic books. Poll students as to who likes to read comics/graphic novels. Collaborate with the librarian and take students to the library to visit the graphic novel section. Supply some traditional comic book, too. Ask students to pair up and choose a comic/graphic novel to read. Once they finish have students develop a short book talk to share with classmates.
Further Explorations:
Rainbow Rowell's Official Website- Follow the author here for books, events, and news.
Social Media- Follow Rainbow Rowell on Twitter. It is always fun to follow authors and see what they have to say.
Bullying- Take a look at stopbullying.gov to find out what it is, who is at risk, and how to prevent it.
Domestic Violence and Abuse- Check out kidpower. Here you can read articles, watch videos, and more.
Check out the Eleanor and Park Book Trailer from YALSA here.
Teen Ink- Being Different- read an article about being different.
Teen Ink- What's Wrong with Being Different?- read an article about being different
Bibliography:
Alexie, S., & Forney, E. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian. New York: Little, Brown.
Flake, S. (1998). The skin I'm in. New York: Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children.
Meyer, S. (2013). Teen Ink: Bullying under attack : True stories written by teen victims, bullies & bystanders. HCI Teens.
Rowell, R. (2013). Eleanor & Park. New York: St. Martin's Press.
Rowell, R. (n.d.). Official website Retrieved from http://www.rainbowrowell.com/
Rowell, R. (n.d.) Twitter Retrieved from https://twitter.com/rainbowrowell
Schmidt, G. (2011). Okay for now. New York: Clarion Books.
Skovron, J. (2011). Misfit. New York: Amulet Books.
Stop Bullying. (n.d.) Website Retrieved from http://www.stopbullying.gov/
Virginia Department of Education. (2012). Grade 9 English Retrieved from http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/english/2010/stds_english9.pdf
Virginia Department of Education. (2012). Grade 9 health Retrieved from http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/health/index.shtml
Virginia Department of Education. (2012). Grade 10 health Retrieved from http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/health/index.shtml
Partner Titles:
Schmidt, G. (2011). Okay for now. New York: Clarion Books.
Book Cover from Amazon
Fiction
Grades 5-7
Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt will partner nicely with Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell because of the themes of domestic violence and love. Set during the era of the Vietnam War, Doug is new in town, has no friends, and an abusive father and this definitely parallels with Eleanor although it is her step-father that is abusive. Doug finds friendship and love in an unlikely girl named Lil just as Eleanor and Park find with each other. Kirkus and School Library Journal (SLJ) both give this book a good review. The lower reading level may give some of the struggling readers an option for another book with similar themes as Eleanor and Park.
Alexie, S., & Forney, E. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian. New York: Little, Brown.
Book Cover from Amazon
Fiction
Grades 7-10
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie makes a good partner for Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell because of the bullying and poverty themes. Junior is a Spokane Indian who enjoys drawing and is often bullied (as Eleanor is.) He was born with water on the brain and has many health issues. He lives in poverty (as Eleanor did) on the reservation with an alcoholic father. A teacher encourages him to want more for his life so he decides to switch to a white school off of the reservation and this just causes more problems. As he struggles to fit in at his new school, he is ostracized in his own community and even bullied more. SLJ says this should be a first purchase for all libraries.
Skovron, J. (2011). Misfit. New York: Amulet Books.
Book Cover from Amazon
Fiction-Fantasy
Grades 8 and up
Misfit by Jon Skovron could partner with Eleanor and Park because Jael doesn't fit in and feels like a freak just as Eleanor and Park are misfits. This will be a good book for students who prefer fantasy to realistic or contemporary fiction. Jael is half demon and on her sixteenth birthday she finds out that she must learn to control her demon side to take on a Duke of Hell. Kirkus Reviews calls it thoughtful, scary, and captivating.
Flake, S. (1998). The skin I'm in. New York: Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children.
Book Cover from Amazon
Realistic Fiction
Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent 1999
Grades 7 and up
The Skin I'm In by Sharon Flake partners well with Eleanor and Park because of the themes of bullying and poverty. Maleeka, much like Eleanor, is bullied for being different and because she wears homemade unstylish clothes. Maleeka is miserable in school when a new teacher, Miss Saunders arrives and she has a large white birthmark on her face. Maleeka likes writing, but doesn't realize that Miss Saunders really is on her side.
Meyer, S. (2013). Teen Ink: Bullying under attack : True stories written by teen victims, bullies & bystanders. HCI Teens.
Book Cover from Amazon
Nonfiction
Grades 7 and up
Bullying Under Attack: True Stories Written By Teen Victims, Bullies, and Bystanders edited by Stephenie Meyer would partner well with Eleanor and Park because of the themes of bullying. Students can read true stories from teens of bullying from all sides: the victims, the bullies, and bystanders.
Teaching Ideas:
1. Bullying- Health 9 SOL9.1 -The student will apply health knowledge and skills to the development and analysis of personal goals to achieve and maintain long-term health and wellness. Key concepts/skills include i) peaceful resolution of conflicts. Complete a lesson on teen bullying involving the guidance counselor and focus on peaceful resolution to conflicts. Using the interactive Smartboard, check out stopbullying.gov and have students make a list of ideas for peaceful resolutions to conflicts. Also give some scenarios for students to discuss ways to resolve in a peaceful manner.
2. Domestic Violence- Health 10 SOL10.3 -The student will implement personal-injury-prevention and self-management strategies that promote personal, family, and community health throughout life. Key concepts/skills include a) strategies to reduce and prevent violence. Discuss domestic violence as a lesson involving the guidance counselor and focus on strategies to reduce and prevent violence. Use kidpower to learn more about domestic violence.
3. Writing- English 9 SOL 9.6 -The student will develop narrative, expository, and persuasive writings for a variety of audiences and purposes. Ask students to answer this question in a paper using information from the book to support their stance. "What do you think the postcard said that Eleanor sent Park and why did she send it?"
4. Vocabulary- English 9 SOL 9.3- The student will apply knowledge of word origins, derivations, and figurative language to extend vocabulary development in authentic texts. a) Use structural analysis of roots, affixes, synonyms, antonyms, and cognates to understand complex words. Use words from the story to teach vocabulary lessons. Use a vocabulary graphic organizer to help students break words down.
5. Reading- English 9 SOL 9.4- The student will read, comprehend, and analyze a variety of literary texts including narratives, narrative nonfiction, poetry, and drama. g) Analyze the cultural or social function of a literary text. Eleanor and Park read comic books. Poll students as to who likes to read comics/graphic novels. Collaborate with the librarian and take students to the library to visit the graphic novel section. Supply some traditional comic book, too. Ask students to pair up and choose a comic/graphic novel to read. Once they finish have students develop a short book talk to share with classmates.
Further Explorations:
Rainbow Rowell's Official Website- Follow the author here for books, events, and news.
Social Media- Follow Rainbow Rowell on Twitter. It is always fun to follow authors and see what they have to say.
Bullying- Take a look at stopbullying.gov to find out what it is, who is at risk, and how to prevent it.
Domestic Violence and Abuse- Check out kidpower. Here you can read articles, watch videos, and more.
Check out the Eleanor and Park Book Trailer from YALSA here.
Teen Ink- Being Different- read an article about being different.
Teen Ink- What's Wrong with Being Different?- read an article about being different
Bibliography:
Alexie, S., & Forney, E. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian. New York: Little, Brown.
Eleanor and Park Book Trailer. (2014). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IicYOZyKqxw
Gommack, J. (n.d.). Being different. Teen Ink. Retrieved from http://www.teenink.com/hot_topics/pride_prejudice/article/14779/Being-Different/
Meyer, S. (2013). Teen Ink: Bullying under attack : True stories written by teen victims, bullies & bystanders. HCI Teens.
Moore, J. (n.d.). What is wrong with being different? Teen Ink. Retrieved from http://www.teenink.com/opinion/discrimination/article/143115/What-is-wrong-with-being-different/
Personal Safety to Help Stop Domestic, Dating, and other Relationship Violence. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.kidpower.org/library/article/stop-domestic-violence/
Rowell, R. (2013). Eleanor & Park. New York: St. Martin's Press.
Rowell, R. (n.d.). Official website Retrieved from http://www.rainbowrowell.com/
Rowell, R. (n.d.) Twitter Retrieved from https://twitter.com/rainbowrowell
Schmidt, G. (2011). Okay for now. New York: Clarion Books.
Skovron, J. (2011). Misfit. New York: Amulet Books.
Stop Bullying. (n.d.) Website Retrieved from http://www.stopbullying.gov/
Virginia Department of Education. (2012). Grade 9 English Retrieved from http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/english/2010/stds_english9.pdf
Virginia Department of Education. (2012). Grade 9 health Retrieved from http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/health/index.shtml
Virginia Department of Education. (2012). Grade 10 health Retrieved from http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/health/index.shtml
