No matter when you go to high school, appearance is always something teens struggle with. Social status can sometimes be determined on looks alone, and that's something both Eleanor and Park experience in this book. Eleanor's immediately shunned because of how she looks, and Park's friends never fail to remind him that he doesn't look like anyone else in Omaha.
On the flip side, Eleanor and Park both express themselves through clothing (and in Park's case, makeup), making a statement with the way they look and asserting their differences. Rowell uses physical appearance in Eleanor & Park to tell us a lot about her characters, whether it's Eleanor's colorful fashion sense or Richie's rat-like face.
Questions About Appearances
- Eleanor's very self-conscious about her weight, but she wears bright, colorful accessories and unusual clothes. What does that tell you about her?
- What does Park like about his appearance, and what doesn't he like? How can you tell?
- How important is appearance in Eleanor and Park's neighborhood?
- Park's mother, Mindy, is a beautician. How does she think differently about appearance than someone like Eleanor?
Chew on This
Mindy and Park use makeup differently, but Mindy understands why Park wants to wear eyeliner.
Eleanor dresses in men's clothing because she doesn't want her stepfather to see her as a woman.