BOOK TALK (continued)

Well.  So today I finished "Eleanor and Park."  Wow--what an intense, excellent read.  I promise I won't give away the ending.  But here are some good insights to take away from it, for those of us interested in the issues pursued in this blog:

1] Both Eleanor and Park are in high school.  They're both in various ways seen as "different."  They are not with the "in" crowd.  (persons with Moebius Syndrome who've been to high school know the feeling.)  But what the book shows is true--even if you're seen as different, it doesn't mean there isn't someone out there for you.  There can be.  Maybe it's someone else who is different--you would find you share a lot in common.

2] Again--teasing...well, no, really it's bullying--hurts.  People should never write it off as simply a rite of passage, that everyone does it or goes through it and therefore it's no big deal.  It can be.  And don't just tell someone to ignore it.

3] There was one character in the book--her name was Tina--who actually was quite interesting.  At first she appears to be a sort of stock character you'd expect to find in a book like this.  She's good-looking; she's popular.  And she absolutely torments Eleanor, the "different" girl, in so many ways.  But later on, when Eleanor is in trouble and needs help, it becomes clear--Tina doesn't really hate her.  She's concerned for her and helps her some.  That's probably something to remember--there's good in anyone;  the person who teases you isn't really filled up with hate (though sometimes it's hard to remember that.)

Still, I think it's also good to remember--even when the Tinas of the world do something good, don't forget--that doesn't excuse their bullying or somehow make it okay.

4] Love stories sure can make for good novels, hmmm?

5] The book's ending will leave a lot open for your imagination.  And that's a great thing about this book.

Read "Eleanor and Park."  You'll be glad you did.