Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor and Park share a bus seat on the ride to and from school.  They don't talk.  They don't look at each other.  They don't even acknowledge the other's prescence.

One day, Park notices that Eleanor is reading his comic books with him each day.  Then he sees the song titles written on her text books.

And they strike up a conversation.  Soon those conversations are the best part of each of their days.

The conversations grow until Eleanor and Park realize the feelings they have for each.  But can their star-crossed relationship survive?


This was a great look at life in the mid-1980s.  It's amazing to see how people lived without all the technology we take for granted.  It also a great love story that both girls and boys would enjoy reading.  I would recommend this book (or the audio version) to all teens.