She dresses in baggy, boys’ clothes and was large in stature, with red hair. 119).In many ways, Eleanor is a target for bullies. She tells her parents she is spending time with a girl named Tina instead (p. Because she does not want to cause trouble at home, Eleanor lies to her parents about her relationship with Park.Park decides to wear eyeliner to school and although his mother accepts his decision, his father is angry and does not speak to him for weeks.When he is falling in love with Eleanor, Park remembers how kissing other girls in the past had left him uninspired.Additionally, Eleanor’s first two friends (other than Park) are two African-American students. Although Eleanor and Park references racial tension between the students, Park is half-Korean and, although he feels like a misfit, it appears as though the other students accept him.Additionally, the book refers to Eleanor’s parents having sex, noting that Eleanor and her siblings knew to hide when they heard the bedsprings.On one occasion when they were going to Park’s room to listen to music, his father told him, “Just don’t get anybody pregnant.” See, for example, pp.Eleanor and Park hold hands, kiss, and (although not explicitly depicted) almost have sex.When Eleanor realizes what he is doing, she runs away and classmates (including some who had been bullying her all year) help her escape. Eleanor’s stepfather writes offensive, sexual messages on her textbooks, and it is apparent, although not explicitly discussed, that he intends to harm her.Other students call her names (“Raghead,” “Bloody Mary,” “Big Read,” “c*nt”), vandalize her gym locker with maxi pads, and steal her clothes and put them in the toilet. Eleanor is the subject of ruthless bullying at school.Once, Eleanor’s mother allowed her stepfather to banish Eleanor from the house for a year, forcing her to stay at a neighbor’s house. Eleanor’s mother displays bruises and other signs of abuse. He yells at Eleanor’s mother while Eleanor and her younger siblings cower in their room. Both kids suffer minor injuries and are punished accordingly. Park fights another teen who picks on Eleanor.The book makes a couple of references to kids smoking.Although Eleanor and Park do not drink, some of their friends do.He drinks all the time, and he frequently gets drunk (and abusive). The characters occasionally refer to each other as “retarded,” which may not be an obscenity but is rude nonetheless.

Although some adults also curse, others (Park’s mother and grandmother) discipline him for cursing. Profanity is not gratuitous but it is frequent, Profanity used includes:Ĭharacters also say, “Oh, my God” and its variations.

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