“Eleanor and Park” by Rainbow Rowell Book Club Questions

Courtesy Of:
www.rainbowrowell.com

There seems to be an increased trend of adults reading Young Adult books in the last decade.  Why is this? I think that question has more than one answer. For starters anyone who read a J.K. Rowling books  or the “Twilight” series will tell you that you get spellbound by the fantasy.  And then there are the story lines that bring you right back to your own youth.  Sometimes its simply the pure innocence and raw emotions found in the teenage characters and story-line.

I had Eleanor and Park  by Rainbow Rowell on my reading list for almost a year.  Yes, almost 12 months! It kept falling down the list as knew books came out that sounded more thrilling and deep to me.  Then one day, I decided to pick it up.

Like more YA books, the light writing style in Eleanor and Park is easily pulls the reader in.  However, the story of these two unique teenagers still has its rawness and pain that makes it a compelling read.  You’ll wish Rainbow Rowell writes a sequel when you are hanging on to the last sentence.

There will be lots of questions you will want to ask, so why not make it one of your book club books?  Here are some good questions for the group:

1. Park is a minority in his community and high school.  Why do you feel he is so accepted by the popular kids at school?
2. What makes Park start to notice Eleanor on the bus?
3. How did Park and Eleanor eventually fall in love?  What do you find unusual about this teenage romance?
4. Who was your favorite character and why?
5. Did you have an “Eleanor” or “Park” in your school growing up?  Were you friends with them or did you observe them from afar?
6. Park’s family was not very convinced that the relationship he had with Eleanor was a good one, why?  When did they accept Eleanor?
7. Why do you feel that no parent or teacher questioned Eleanor’s living conditions?  Do you think that realistic?
8. The novel abruptly ends.  What do you think was on the postcard?
9. Rainbow Rowell fan’s have asked for her to write a sequel to Eleanor and Park.  If you could help her what would you like to see happen to their lives?