The two major characters found in this story are nonetheless
Eleanor and Park. It’s a first love erupting with struggles shared between the
two teenagers. The setting is 1986 in Omaha, Nebraska. The author directly
reveals the setting to us before the chapter even starts and throws in multiple
references of media, popular language, and cultural differences that relate to
the time frame such as true white Americans still being majority and other
ethnic groups being the ‘small fish in the large pond’. The conflict that is starting to show is
Eleanor’s personal life in her family enables her to do much. Eleanor’s many
siblings and her mother must deal with a short tempered abusive stepfather.
This becomes an issue when Park falls into a mutual love for her. Park does not
face harsh family problems like Eleanor however he has trouble understanding
the things she deals with since he has not experienced them firsthand. The two
of them know that it won’t work but they are desperate enough to try. To be
honest this reminds me a little of Romeo and Juliet; they were forbidden to
meet at the same time they were crazy for each other. Both young lovers:
Eleanor and Park, Romeo and Juliet made rash decisions because of their love. A
few predictions I have moving forward would be the ending.
I’m a realist, as much I don’t want to believe it not
everyone gets picture perfect happy endings and especially not a book targeted
towards John Green fans. I’m excited to hear the rest of the story. I think the
story will end bittersweet like in ‘The Fault in our Stars’. I find beautiful yet sad things stick to
people the most whether it’s a movie, book, or music.
