Park Sheridan Character Analysis in Eleanor and Park

Park is one of the novel’s two narrators and protagonists, along with Eleanor. He is a starry-eyed, sensitive romantic whose quiet demeanor hides a passionate, restless soul. Park is half-Korean and struggles daily with racism from his peers, criticism from his strict father, and the nagging sense that he is out-of-place in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. Park uses comic books and music as a way of retreating from the world and from his peers—he enjoys a residual bit of popularity because he dated the popular Tina in junior high, but is constantly afraid to rock the boat and get bullied. When Park first meets Eleanor by chance on the school bus, he is desperate to avoid the uncool new girl—but as the two of them slowly (and almost wordlessly) begin bonding during their bus rides to and from school each day, he develops feelings for her that explode into a full-on romantic obsession. Park—not unlike Romeo from Romeo and Juliet—is intense, soulful, and amorous, and his relationship with Eleanor allows him to explore that part of himself without shame for the first time. Constantly dogged throughout his adolescence by feelings of being not masculine enough—feminized by his peers and indeed by society due to his Asian heritage—Park slowly begins to explore new ideas of what it means to be a man with Eleanor, feeling supported and inspired for the first time in his life. Park knows that Eleanor’s home life is difficult, but has trouble getting through to her—it isn’t until the novel’s climax that he understands just how much stands between them. Park helps Eleanor escape her dangerous home situation to stay with relatives in Minnesota, and writes her letters almost every day, hoping to sustain their intense love. Though the novel seems to suggest that Park’s letters will go unreturned, in its very final lines, Park smiles as he receives a postcard from Eleanor bearing “just three words.”

Park Sheridan Quotes in Eleanor and Park

The Eleanor and Park quotes below are all either spoken by Park Sheridan or refer to Park Sheridan. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Not just new—but big and awkward. With crazy hair, bright red on top of curly. And she was dressed like . . . like she wanted people to look at her. Or maybe like she didn't get what a mess she was. She had on a plaid shirt, a man's shirt, with half a dozen weird necklaces hanging around her neck and scarves wrapped around her wrists. She reminded Park of a scarecrow or one of the trouble dolls his mom kept on her dresser. Like something that wouldn't survive in the wild.

Related Characters: Park Sheridan (speaker), Eleanor Douglas

Related Symbols: Eleanor’s Clothes

Page Number and Citation: 8

Explanation and Analysis:

But Park didn’t have any luck—or status—to spare on that dumb redhead. He had just enough to keep himself out of trouble. And he knew it was crappy, but he was kind of grateful that people like that girl existed. Because people like Steve and Mikey and Tina existed, too, and they needed to be fed. If it wasn’t that redhead, it was going to be somebody else. And if it wasn’t somebody else, it was going to be Park.

Related Characters: Park Sheridan (speaker), Eleanor Douglas, Tina, Steve

Page Number and Citation: 14

Explanation and Analysis:

"So," [Park] said, before he knew what to say next. "You like the Smiths?" He was careful not to blow his morning breath on [Eleanor.]

She looked up, surprised. Maybe confused. He pointed at her book, where she'd written How Soon Is Now? in tall green letters.

"I don't know," she said. "I've never heard them."

"So you just want people to think you like the Smiths?" He couldn't help but sound disdainful.

Related Characters: Eleanor Douglas (speaker), Park Sheridan (speaker)

Related Symbols: Music

Page Number and Citation: 43

Explanation and Analysis:

Best of all, she had Park's songs in her head—and in her chest, somehow. There was something about the music on that tape. It felt different. Like, it set her lungs and her stomach on edge. There was something exciting about it, and something nervous. It made Eleanor feel like everything, like the world, wasn't what she'd thought it was.

Related Characters: Eleanor Douglas (speaker), Park Sheridan

Related Symbols: Music

Page Number and Citation: 57-58

Explanation and Analysis:

Until this moment, she'd kept Park in a place in her head that she thought Richie couldn't get to. Completely separate from this house and everything that happened here. (It was a pretty awesome place. Like the only part of her head fit for praying.) But now Richie was in there, just pissing all over everything. Making everything she felt feel as rank and rotten as him.

Related Characters: Eleanor Douglas (speaker), Park Sheridan, Richie Trout

Page Number and Citation: 67

Explanation and Analysis:

"You don't care what anyone thinks about you," [Park] said.

"That's crazy," [Eleanor] said. "I care what everyone thinks about me."

"I can't tell," he said. "You just seem like yourself, no matter what's happening around you. My grandmother would say you're comfortable in your own skin."

[…]

"I’m stuck in my own skin," she said.

Related Characters: Eleanor Douglas (speaker), Park Sheridan (speaker)

Related Symbols: Eleanor’s Clothes

Page Number and Citation: 105

Explanation and Analysis:

"Stop asking that," she said angrily. There was no stopping the tears now. "You always ask that. Why. Like there's an answer for everything. Not everybody has your life, you know, or your family. In your life, things happen for reasons. People make sense. But that's not my life.”

Related Characters: Eleanor Douglas (speaker), Park Sheridan

Page Number and Citation: 108

Explanation and Analysis:

She would never belong in Park's living room. She never felt like she belonged anywhere, except for when she was lying on her bed, pretending to be somewhere else.

Related Characters: Eleanor Douglas (speaker), Park Sheridan

Page Number and Citation: 127

Explanation and Analysis:

“Your mother's sorry. She's sorry that she hurt your feelings, and she wants you to invite your girlfriend over to dinner."

"So that she can make her feel bad and weird?"

"Well, she is kind of weird, isn't she?"

Park didn't have the energy to be angry. He sighed and let his head fall back on the chair.

His dad kept talking. "Isn't that why you like her?"

Related Characters: Park Sheridan (speaker), Jamie Sheridan (speaker), Eleanor Douglas

Page Number and Citation: 144

Explanation and Analysis:

[Mindy’s] hand settled softly in her lap.

“In big family," she said, "everything . . . everybody spread so thin. Thin like paper, you know?" She made a tearing gesture. […] "Nobody gets enough," she said. "Nobody gets what they need. When you always hungry, you get hungry in your head." She tapped her forehead. "You know?"

Park wasn't sure what to say.

“You don’t know, she said, shaking her head. "I don't want you to know. . . I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry," he said.

"I'm sorry for how I welcomed your Eleanor."

Related Characters: Park Sheridan (speaker), Mindy Sheridan (speaker), Eleanor Douglas

Page Number and Citation: 189

Explanation and Analysis:

[Eleanor] pulled away. "Are you kissing me because I look like someone else?"

"You don't look like someone else. Plus, that's crazy."

"Do you like me better like this?" she asked. "Because I'm never going to look like this again."

[…]

"You look like you,” [Park] said. "You with the volume turned up."

Related Characters: Eleanor Douglas (speaker), Park Sheridan (speaker), Mindy Sheridan

Page Number and Citation: 216

Explanation and Analysis:

"What do you want me to do?" Eleanor asked. [Ben and Maisie] both stared at her, desperate and almost . . . almost hopeful.

[…]

She was pretty sure she was wired wrong somewhere, that her plugs were switched, because instead of softening toward them—instead of tenderness—she felt herself go cold and mean. "I can't take you with me," she said, "if that's what you're thinking."

[…]

"You don't care about us," Maisie said.

"I do care," Eleanor hissed. "I just can't . . . help you." […] "I can't even help myself."

Related Characters: Eleanor Douglas (speaker), Maisie Douglas (speaker), Park Sheridan, Ben Douglas

Page Number and Citation: 227

Explanation and Analysis:

"Why is your stepdad looking for you?"

"Because he knows, because I ran away."

"Why?"

"Because he knows.” Her voice caught. "Because it's him."

Related Characters: Eleanor Douglas (speaker), Park Sheridan (speaker), Richie Trout

Page Number and Citation: 287

Explanation and Analysis:

"I just can't believe that life would give us to each other," [Park] said, "and then take it back."

"I can," [Eleanor] said. "Life's a bastard."

He held her tighter, and pushed his face into her neck.

"But it's up to us…" he said softly. "It's up to us not to lose this."

Related Characters: Eleanor Douglas (speaker), Park Sheridan (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 305

Explanation and Analysis:

Park spent most nights lying on his bed because it was the only place she'd never been.

He lay on his bed and never turned on the stereo.

Related Characters: Park Sheridan (speaker), Eleanor Douglas

Related Symbols: Music

Page Number and Citation: 314

Explanation and Analysis:

And they weren't going to break up. Or get bored. Or drift apart. (They weren't going to become another stupid high school romance.) They were just going to stop.

Related Characters: Eleanor Douglas (speaker), Park Sheridan

Page Number and Citation: 318

Explanation and Analysis:

Eleanor hadn't written him a letter.

It was a postcard. GREETINGS FROM THE LAND OF 10,000 LAKES it said on the front. Park turned it over and recognized her scratchy handwriting. It filled his head with song lyrics.

He sat up. He smiled. Something heavy and winged took off from his chest.

Eleanor hadn't written him a letter, it was a postcard.

Just three words long.

Related Characters: Park Sheridan (speaker), Eleanor Douglas

Page Number and Citation: 324-325

Explanation and Analysis:

Park Sheridan Character Timeline in Eleanor and Park

The timeline below shows where the character Park Sheridan appears in Eleanor and Park. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Park Sheridan has “stopped trying to bring [Eleanor] back.” She comes to him now only in... (full context)

It is August of 1986—the start of Park Sheridan’s sophomore year of high school. He listens to New Wave music on his headphones,... (full context)

Park’s neighbor Steve, one of the “morons,” calls out to him. Park hears Steve call his... (full context)

Steve urges Park to tell another guy on the bus, Mikey, about “Drunken Monkey karate.” Park insists he... (full context)

Park spots a new girl (Eleanor) standing at the front of the bus. He watches as... (full context)

Though Park has spent all day coming up with ways to “get away from the new girl,”... (full context)

Park thinks back to that morning’s English class—the redheaded girl was there, and Park learned that... (full context)

Mr. Stessman, Park’s English teacher, gives the class a new assignment: to memorize a poem. He tells them... (full context)

The narrative switches to Park’s point of view. He is home from school after an awkward bus ride next to... (full context)

Park dons his taekwondo uniform and sneakers and heads to the kitchen. His father, Jamie, “barrel[s]”... (full context)

Park and his friend Cal are sitting in the school library, and Cal is scheming about... (full context)

Cal points out “a girl who might want a piece of [Park,]” and Park looks over to see Eleanor staring right at him. Park insists that Eleanor... (full context)

At first, Park thought he was imagining things, but now he knows without a doubt that each day,... (full context)

Wednesday evening after taekwondo, Park sits in his room, planning on how he might congratulate Eleanor on doing so well... (full context)

...he’s “in with them somehow” since they all leave Eleanor alone whenever she’s sitting near Park. When the bus pulls up to school, Eleanor is disappointed—she and the kid have only... (full context)

Eleanor is shocked that afternoon when Park opens up the comic right where the two of them left off in the morning.... (full context)

Meanwhile, Park is worried that Eleanor might not give his comic book back. The only thing that... (full context)

The next morning, when Eleanor gets to her seat on the bus, Park is looking out the window. She wordlessly hands him the comic book, and he takes... (full context)

...following morning, Eleanor boards the bus to find a stack of comics on her seat. Park is already deep in his reading. Eleanor picks up the comics and holds them in... (full context)

Park is amazed by how fast Eleanor reads—he has to keep bringing her new comics when... (full context)

One morning, on the bus, Park, having slept in and left home in a hurry, has no comics for Eleanor to... (full context)

In English class, Park and Eleanor’s class is discussing Romeo and Juliet. Most of the class is unresponsive and... (full context)

That afternoon, on the bus, Park sidles in next to Eleanor, nervous that she won’t talk to him. Once he’s settled... (full context)

Eleanor falls asleep right after dinner that night, tired from staying up all week reading Park’s comics each night. She wakes up in the middle of the night to the sounds... (full context)

Park gets on the bus and sets a stack of comics—and the Smiths mixtape—on Eleanor’s seat.... (full context)

Park takes out his Walkman, puts the tape in, and places his headphones over Eleanor’s ears.... (full context)

Eleanor regrets not having just taken the tape from Park without a word. She feels stupid for telling Park her business, and worries that on... (full context)

...locker incident hasn’t even affected her that much—all she can think about, she realizes, is Park. (full context)

The narrative switches to Park’s point of view. That afternoon, on the school bus, Eleanor listens to music on his... (full context)

...the next morning, she feels better than the day before. She feels like she’s carrying Park’s music “in her chest, somehow.” The music has made Eleanor feel like “the world [isn’t]... (full context)

Throughout the school day in the classes they share, Eleanor and Park begin noticing more and more about one another. Park notices the softness of Eleanor’s hair,... (full context)

That night, Park makes Eleanor a new tape—and empties the batteries from all of his and Josh’s video... (full context)

In English class, Park and Cal are teamed up for an in-class exercise, but discuss homecoming plans instead of... (full context)

That afternoon, on the school bus, Eleanor sits with Park, discussing comic books. Each day when she gets on the bus she feels a pang... (full context)

That night, after taekwondo, Park doesn’t even bother changing out of his uniform before heading over to Eleanor’s to show... (full context)

...moments later, however, Eleanor comes to the door. The panicked look on her face tells Park that it was a “mistake” for him to come over. Her face lights up, however,... (full context)

...and keep from screaming in rage. Eleanor is angry that though she’s tried to keep Park “in a place in her head that […] Richie couldn’t get to,” Richie has managed... (full context)

...tells Eleanor that she’s too young for a boyfriend—Eleanor says that things between her and Park aren’t “like that,” and her mother leaves the room. Eleanor fights back tears as she... (full context)

On the bus, Eleanor sits down next to Park, who immediately apologizes for getting her in trouble the night before. Eleanor looks at Park,... (full context)

The narrative switches to Park’s point of view. As soon as he takes Eleanor’s hand, he feels a flash of... (full context)

When the bus pulls to a stop, Park and Eleanor let go of one another’s hands. He wonders if anyone around them can... (full context)

...to Eleanor’s point of view. All morning, she can’t stop thinking about holding hands with Park—she had no idea her hand had so many nerve endings. She keeps feeling like she... (full context)

The narrative switches to Park’s point of view. Eleanor doesn’t look at Park in English or history class, and after... (full context)

...a glacial pace. All she can think about is Monday, when she gets to see Park again. As she does her homework, she notices that someone has written “do i make... (full context)

Meanwhile, Park is spending his weekend having driving lessons with his father, Jamie, who is attempting to... (full context)

On the walk home, Park takes the long way so that he can walk past Eleanor’s house. He hopes that... (full context)

...steps onto the bus, she can’t help smiling all the way down the aisle to Park. When she sits down next to him, he takes her hand and kisses it. Park... (full context)

Before the start of English class, Park tells Cal that he’s not going to homecoming. Cal begs Park to tag along to... (full context)

Eleanor is on cloud nine all day. She can’t stop thinking about the fact that Park likes her—and misses her when she’s not around. Eleanor doesn’t even get stressed when the... (full context)

...time to go, and Sabrina relents. Eleanor is desperate for the chance to talk to Park on the phone at her father’s house. (full context)

The next morning on the bus, Eleanor asks Park for his phone number. He says that he assumed she wouldn’t be allowed to talk... (full context)

Park asks Eleanor if she still wants his number. She says she does, and explains that... (full context)

The narrative switches to Park’s point of view. He remembers the first time he saw Eleanor—and how he thought she... (full context)

...so nervous she can barely eat. On the way home from school, on the bus, Park makes Eleanor repeat his number over and over again to make sure she’s got it.... (full context)

...out of the house and spend some time at her father’s place—and to talk to Park on the phone. Eleanor hasn’t seen her dad in at least a year—when he was... (full context)

...the almost painfully sweet memories away and begins finding records she can use to make Park a mix tape of his own. (full context)

After school, Park arrives home to find Tina getting her hair done in the makeshift salon Park’s mother,... (full context)

After dinner, Park waits around for the phone to ring. Josh can tell he’s anxious, and makes fun... (full context)

Soon, the phone rings, and when Mindy picks up, she tells Park that it’s Eleanor. Park runs to his room to take the call there. Park and... (full context)

...call back in fifteen minutes—but barely have seven have gone by before she calls again. Park asks her where she is in the house and what she’s doing, so that he... (full context)

Park asks Eleanor why she’s mad at him, but she won’t answer. In response, she asks... (full context)

Eleanor tells Park to ask her why she likes him. Park does so. Eleanor replies that she doesn’t... (full context)

Park invites Eleanor to come to his house—his family, he says, would welcome her. Eleanor worries... (full context)

...take them to a movie. On the drive back from the theater, the car passes Park’s house, and Eleanor wonders which window is his. (full context)

Meanwhile, Park regrets telling Eleanor that he loves her—even though he does. He feels, though, that he... (full context)

As Eleanor boards the bus on Monday morning, she wonders if Park will look different to her now that she knows he is in love with her.... (full context)

The narrative switches to Park’s point of view. As the two of them ride home to Park’s house on the... (full context)

As Park prepares to introduce Eleanor to his mother, he advises Eleanor to smile. She gets upset... (full context)

Park pulls Eleanor back down onto the couch, assuring her that he doesn’t want her to... (full context)

The narrative switches to Eleanor’s point of view. She is worried that Park is going to break up with her tomorrow—she feels she made a fool out of... (full context)

The next morning on the bus, Eleanor is saddened when Park hardly even looks at her—and doesn’t hold her hand. Eleanor tugs at the edge of... (full context)

When the bus pulls up at school, Park is seething mad, and begins approaching Steve, the originator of the chant, and all his... (full context)

As teachers drag Park and Steve away to be disciplined, Eleanor is stunned and unsure of how she should... (full context)

The narrative switches to Park’s point of view. After the fight, he is suspended for two days. Park’s mother is... (full context)

The narrative switches to Eleanor’s point of view as she rings the doorbell at Park’s house after school. Park’s imposing father, Jamie—who looks like Tom Selleck’s character on Magnum, P.I.—answers... (full context)

That Friday, Park returns to school, but he’s still grounded for weeks after the fight. His mother says... (full context)

...fight, things have changed for her, too—the whole school knows that she is the reason Park and Steve fought in the first place, and there are even rumors the two of... (full context)

The narrative switches to Park’s point of view. As Christmas break approaches, he is still grounded, and worried that if... (full context)

Park goes over to his grandparents’ house for a while, and when he gets back, he... (full context)

On Monday morning, Eleanor seems “off.” Park lets her rest her head on his shoulder the whole bus ride, and doesn’t bring... (full context)

The narrative returns to Park’s point of view once again. All day, he watches the pensive Eleanor and worries about... (full context)

Eleanor misses Park so much she can barely stand it. She is afraid that if he knew how... (full context)

...is breakfast on the table. As Eleanor heads to the bus stop, she is afraid Park won’t be there—but is delighted to see that he is as she rounds the corner.... (full context)

Park is grateful for Eleanor’s happy, playful mood—even though he’s surprised and a little disoriented by... (full context)

...from English to history to Spanish. She feels pangs of nervousness about going over to Park’s creep in from time to time, but she reminds herself to be happy and tries... (full context)

During lunch hour, Park calls home to tell his mother that Eleanor is coming over after school. He urges... (full context)

...switches to Eleanor’s point of view as Mindy opens the front door for her and Park. Eleanor is worried that Park’s mom hates her, and feels Mindy scrutinizing her outfit as... (full context)

The narrative switches to Park’s point of view. Every day that week, Eleanor comes over after school. On Friday night,... (full context)

After the movie, Jamie suggests Park walk Eleanor home. Eleanor thanks the Sheridans for a lovely night, and then she and... (full context)

The narrative switches rapid-fire between Eleanor and Park’s points of view as they reunite on the school but on Monday. They are both... (full context)

At lunch, Cal tells Park that he and Kim are going out. Cal is grateful that Kim has given up... (full context)

...invite her to come dancing with them on Thursday. They tell her she can bring Park along—but Eleanor has a hard time imagining the two of them going out together in... (full context)

Eleanor begins spending every afternoon over at Park’s house, and Mindy pressures both of them to get their homework done while they’re together.... (full context)

Eleanor expresses her suspicion that Tina is leaving the notes—Park says Tina would never do anything so cruel, and explains that they used to be... (full context)

That night, Park reflects on the disastrous confrontation with Eleanor—and his history with Tina. Though he’s not interested... (full context)

The next morning, Park shows up to the bus stop ready to apologize to her—but when she isn’t there,... (full context)

...know why she’s been crying, she gets back into bed and retreats into fantasies of Park—fantasies that now feel cheap in the wake of their fight. (full context)

The narrative switches to Park’s point of view. It is a week into Christmas break, and he hasn’t seen or... (full context)

...of nice, and on the walk home, Eleanor briefly considers confiding in her mother about Park, but ultimately decides she can’t. (full context)

The narrative switches to Park’s point of view. He rides his bike back and forth past Eleanor’s house each day,... (full context)

...hands Eleanor her present—a 50-dollar bill. Eleanor has trouble enjoying her siblings’ excitement, though—she misses Park terribly, and wishes she could go over to his house. (full context)

Meanwhile, Park and his mother are at the grocery store, shopping for Christmas dinner. Mindy spots Eleanor... (full context)

That evening, after dinner and a movie, Mindy comes into Park’s room and gives him a present to give to Eleanor. She tells Park that she... (full context)

After Park’s parents have gone to bed, he dons a coat and sneaks out through the back... (full context)

The narrative switches to Eleanor’s point of view. She is shocked to discover Park at her window—shocked, happy, and scared. After sending Park over to the school, Eleanor gets... (full context)

Park, too, sleeps late on Christmas Day. Josh comes into his room to wake him up,... (full context)

Park thinks about his conversation with Eleanor last night—for the first time, she began telling him... (full context)

The next day, Eleanor arrives at Park’s house, and his whole family greets her warmly. She shoves a present into Park’s arms,... (full context)

The narrative switches to Park’s point of view. As Eleanor opens his present, he is nervous and regrets getting her... (full context)

The narrative switches to Eleanor’s point of view. She and Park sit in Park’s family’s kitchen, playing cards. When Park and Mindy ask Eleanor how her... (full context)

Eleanor spends most of the rest of her Christmas vacation at Park’s house. Eleanor’s mother thinks she is at Tina’s the whole time, and worries that Eleanor... (full context)

Eleanor always tries to leave Park’s house before dinner, so as not to be in imposition—and also because she wants to... (full context)

The narrative switches to Park’s point of view. As school starts back up, he has to fend off questions from... (full context)

One night, as Eleanor hurries to leave the Sheridans’ house before dinner, she runs into Park’s dad, Jamie, on the front steps. She greets him quickly and hurries past him, but... (full context)

The narrative switches to Park’s point of view. Even though he and Eleanor spend every afternoon and evening together, it... (full context)

As Mindy begins giving Eleanor a makeover, Park works as his mother’s assistant. Eleanor is slightly embarrassed, but because she is the Sheridans’... (full context)

...mirror, but Eleanor feels like she is about to cry. She is embarrassed, she tells Park when Mindy steps out for a second, to have everyone look at her. Park points... (full context)

The narrative switches to Park’s point of view. After Eleanor’s makeover is done, he can’t figure out “why it upset[s]... (full context)

When Park gets on the bus, he makes eye contact with Steve—who immediately asks if he’s wearing... (full context)

That afternoon, Park tells Eleanor not to come over—he is sure that he’s going to be grounded. He... (full context)

That night at dinner, Jamie will barely look at Park—though he asks where Eleanor is. When Park asks his father if he’s grounded, Jamie says... (full context)

Eleanor, too, is beginning to feel like she never gets any alone time with Park. She has considered sneaking out to meet him, but knows her mother would find out—Sabrina... (full context)

The narrative switches to Park’s point of view. Lately, he has been scheming of ways to make his rare alone... (full context)

Eleanor hates Wednesdays. Every Wednesday, Park has taekwondo, and Eleanor is forced to go straight home after school and spend all... (full context)

The narrative switches to Park’s point of view. Park, too, hates Wednesdays—he misses being around Eleanor, and hates the cold... (full context)

...of view. Now that Maisie and Ben know the truth, she fears her secret about Park will soon be out. Eleanor worries that “She [is] running out of time with him.” (full context)

Lately, Park has been cycling through new music especially fast, listening to everything from punk to New... (full context)

Eleanor and Park go into Park’s room and sit on the floor near the stereo. As Park cues... (full context)

Eleanor and Park listen to tape after tape, and, soon after Mindy stops by the open door to... (full context)

Eleanor is sitting with Park in his room after school one afternoon when he starts encouraging her to check her... (full context)

Eleanor is horrified and tells Park to stop saying such things, but Park retorts that Bono from U2 and Robert Smith... (full context)

...but as she hurries down the hall towards the main doors, she catches sight of Park staring at her red-faced and open-mouthed. ` (full context)

...night at the Sheridans’ house, she stays home in her own bed, afraid to face Park. (full context)

On Friday night, Park goes to bed early. He has been fielding questions about Eleanor’s whereabouts from his parents... (full context)

The next morning, Park’s whole family is going on an outing to the boat show, lunch, and the mall—but... (full context)

Eleanor is walking through the neighborhood when she passes Park’s house and sees that the Sheridans’ car isn’t in the driveway. She goes up to... (full context)

The narrative alternates quickly between Eleanor and Park’s points of view as they hungrily kiss and touch one another, pushing back against their... (full context)

As it starts to get dark out, Eleanor and Park straighten themselves up in case the Sheridans come home from their day out. As the... (full context)

Park’s family comes home, and Eleanor has dinner with them all before heading home. It is... (full context)

Though Park’s parents rarely fight, on Sunday evening, they spend an hour in their bedroom arguing. Park... (full context)

...bus, though, that there is nothing she or anyone can do to stop the bullying. Park, Beebi, and DeNice have all rallied around her, though, in order to show Tina and... (full context)

After school on Monday, Park is surprised when he sees his mother waiting outside for him in the Impala. Eleanor... (full context)

That evening, at Park’s house, Park gives Eleanor one of his school pictures from October. After dinner, they look... (full context)

That night, when Eleanor gets home from Park’s, she’s in a good mood. Sabrina offers to watch the door for Eleanor while she... (full context)

...the kids. It is a rare happy night in Eleanor’s household—and even though she misses Park, lately she feels “safe” and “untouchable” rather than miserable whenever she thinks about him. (full context)

Park, Eleanor, and Mindy are sitting on the couch watching TV one evening—Josh and Jamie are... (full context)

Eleanor and Park are giddy as they start driving through Omaha, and though the fear of Richie seeing... (full context)

As Park shows Eleanor around downtown and takes her to the record store, the Old Market, an... (full context)

As Eleanor and Park continue talking about their dreams for prom and exchange banter about their outfits, Eleanor gets... (full context)

When Eleanor and Park walk back over to the Impala, it is only 8:30 p.m. They get into the... (full context)

Park drives Eleanor back to her house. Richie’s truck is sitting in the driveway, but Eleanor... (full context)

...she feels something crunch beneath her leg. She feels around and realizes that one of Park’s comics is crumpled on the bedspread. Eleanor turns on the light and sees that her... (full context)

...her backpack, climbs out the window, and runs down the street. She is halfway to Park’s house when she hears a voice call out to her. She turns around and realizes... (full context)

...she grows paranoid and anxious. She tells Tina and Steve that she needs to find Park. (full context)

Meanwhile, Park is having trouble sleeping. He is “torture[d]” by sweet memories of kissing and touching Eleanor,... (full context)

Eleanor watches as Park climbs through the window, jumps down to the ground, and runs towards her to embrace... (full context)

Inside the garage, Park struggles to understand what’s going on. He asks Eleanor to tell him what has happened,... (full context)

Eleanor tells Park that she needs to go. Park feels like the world has been turned “upside down.”... (full context)

Park asks Eleanor how she’s going to get to St. Paul—she is planning on hitchhiking, but... (full context)

Park promises Eleanor that he will come for her after his parents are asleep, touching her... (full context)

Park heads inside and goes up to his bedroom. He reaches into his sock drawer for... (full context)

Park explains that Eleanor needs help, and is running away from home to escape her stepdad.... (full context)

The first couple hours of the drive are a blur. Park struggles with the transmission a couple of times and even gets on the interstate headed... (full context)

Eleanor wakes up in Park’s arms. She experiences a rare moment of bliss before her heart starts to break as... (full context)

As Eleanor and Park continue kissing, the narrative shifts rapidly between Eleanor and Park’s points of view as they... (full context)

Park goes off into a cornfield to relieve himself, and Eleanor sits on the hood of... (full context)

At another rest stop, Park calls his parents to check in, and then asks Eleanor if she wants to call... (full context)

In no time at all, Park and Eleanor arrive in St. Paul. Driving in the city is difficult, and Eleanor helps... (full context)

As Eleanor and Park continue driving, the houses start looking more and more familiar to Eleanor. She starts to... (full context)

Back at Eleanor’s uncle’s house, Park urges her to call him as soon as she can, and to give him her... (full context)

Eleanor wishes she could thank Park for “saving her life”—not just now, by bringing her to Minnesota, but “practically every day”... (full context)

Eleanor confesses aloud that she doesn’t know how to say goodbye to Park—he tells her she doesn’t have to say goodbye, because they’ll see each other again. Park... (full context)

Eleanor finally wrenches herself away from Park and out of the car, unable to bear the “gasping loss of him.” Park tells... (full context)

Park doesn’t ride the bus anymore. He drives his mother’s Impala—even though it is “ruined with... (full context)

The narrative switches to Park’s point of view. After Eleanor got out of the car when they arrived at her... (full context)

...first day, she ran back out to the porch to get one last look at Park—but he was already gone. Eleanor wrote her mother a letter that first night urging her... (full context)

Park writes Eleanor letters all the time, but never receives any back. Soon, he gets word... (full context)

Eleanor never opens any of Park’s letters. Countless times she gets out a pen and piece of paper and starts writing... (full context)

Back in Omaha, Park begins wearing his eyeliner in thick black smudges and listening to loud, angry punk music... (full context)

Park has stopped trying to “bring [Eleanor] back” but can’t stop walking by her old house,... (full context)

Meanwhile, in St. Paul, Eleanor lays all her letters from Park out “like tarot cards.” It was bad enough when they were coming every day—now that... (full context)

Park goes to prom with Cat, a girl from work. Holding Cat’s hand feels, to Park,... (full context)