Eleanor and Park

“Park spent the day trying to think of how to get away from the new girl. He’d have to switch seats. That was the only answer” 

This quote suggests that Park initially disliked Eleanor, whom he found quite strange. He wanted to distance himself from her so that his bullies would not bother him, but he ends up falling in love with her. 

“Choose a romantic poem, that’s my advice. You’ll get the most use out of it” 

Mr. Stressman, Park and Eleanor’s English teacher, gives this advice to his class in regard to a poetry assignment that he has just given out. He implores his students to learn a love poem for the assignment, as they will be useful in the future. Funnily enough, Park starts to fall for Eleanor after she recites hers. 

“Jungle fever is a thing … Your people come from the jungle” 

Cal makes this mean and racist remark to Park during a discussion they are having. Cal is not trying to be mean, but his cluelessness is what is really offensive. 

“She was the only person in the class who would read her poem like it wasn’t an assignment” 

Park thinks this to himself after Eleanor’s most recent poetry recitation in Mr. Stressman’s class. Eleanor’s recitation inspires Park and he begins to see her in a different light. 

“She woke up to shouting. Richie shouting. She couldn’t tell what he was saying” 

This quote explains how Eleanor was awoken yet again by Richie screaming at her mother. At this point in Eleanor’s life, such behavior from Richie is a common occurrence. 

“That morning, in English, Park noticed that Eleanor’s hair came to a soft red point on the back of her neck” 

Park loses focus in class and starts to stare at the back of Eleanor’s neck. This moment suggests that Park is starting to think of Eleanor more and more and not merely as a friend. 

“Okay, well … good … It’s just that you’re so young

This is Eleanor’s mother’s reaction when she finds out that Eleanor has been hanging out with Park. Their friendship has been completely platonic so far, but her mother still insists that they don’t see each other. 

“Park stood up when she got to their row, and as soon as she sat down, he took her hand and kissed it. It happened so fast, she didn’t have time to die of ecstasy or embarrassment” 

This quote is indicative of the fact that Park and Eleanor have begun to fall in love with each other. Their relationship has moved from innocent interest to deep attraction. 

“Now Eleanor fixated on all the small luxuries strewn and tucked around the house. Packs of cigarettes, newspapers, magazines ... Brand-name cereal and quilted toilet paper” 

Eleanor is babysitting for her dad while he goes on a date, so she relishes the opportunity to look through his stuff. Richie’s house is bare of any luxury, so Eleanor gawks at all of her dad’s stuff. 

“She doesn’t care. I can even have girls in my room, if I keep the door open” 

When Park tells Eleanor she can hang out at his house after school, Eleanor asks whether Park’s mom will care. Park assures her that he’s even allowed to have girls in his room, but they will have to keep the door open. 

“I’ve got an idea ... You can be ungrounded as soon as you learn how to drive a stick. Then you can drive your girlfriend around …” 

Park asks his dad how long he will be grounded for after his fight with Steve and his dad tells him that he can be ungrounded when he learns how to drive the family’s stick-shift truck. Park is no good at driving the truck, however. 

“Did she miss him? She wanted to lose herself in him. To tie his arms around her like a tourniquet”

Eleanor realizes just how much she misses Park and she comes to understand just how much Park means to her. 

“Eleanor made him feel like something was happening. Even when they were just sitting on the couch” 

Park thinks this to himself when he and Eleanor are sitting on the couch together. He is surprised by how special and alive she makes him feel, even when they are doing nothing. It is apparent that he is falling in love with her. 

“And then he noticed something else. Written just as small, just as carefully, in all lowercase letters: i know you’re a slut you smell like cum” 

Here, Park notices yet another lewd message written on Eleanor’s notebook. This message infuriates Park, as it is totally inappropriate. Only at the end of the book do we find out that Richie is its author. 

“Does Richie hate your brothers and sisters too?” 

Park and Eleanor rarely talk about her home life, so Park finds an opportunity to ask her about her siblings and her stepfather. Right after Park asks this, Eleanor is so uncomfortable that she asks him not to say Richie’s name anymore. 

“Park do you … want to look like girl? Is that what this about? Eleanor dress like boy. You look like girl?” 

Park’s Korean mother asks him about his recent decision to wear eyeliner to school. She is very traditional, so she does not understand why he would do such a thing. 

“I don’t know, I don’t really miss them, I’ve never really missed anybody but you” 

Park is trying to explain to Eleanor that she is the first person that he has ever missed, but she just does not understand. She asks him whether or not he misses his school friends, but he reiterates that he only misses her. 

“For a second, he thought he’d gone too far. He hadn’t even meant to, he was practically sleepwalking

Park wonders if he has been too aggressive during a romantic session with Eleanor, but Eleanor did not think so. 

“Are you saying that you’re not good looking?” 

Park and Eleanor discuss Park’s looks, and he explains that he does not feel very attractive because he is Asian and Asians aren’t really considered attractive. Obviously, Eleanor completely disagrees and her tone is incredulous when she asks this question.

“Your stepfather’s been looking for you … He’s been driving around the neighborhood all goddamn night” 

This is what Tina tells this Eleanor after Eleanor runs away from Richie’s house. She left after she discovered that Richie was the one writing nasty notes to her. When Tina explains that he’s been out looking for her all night her fears are confirmed. 

“I gotta tell you, Park, that doesn’t sound like much of a plan … But I can’t think of a better one”

This is Park’s dad’s reaction when he catches his son trying to sneak out in order to help Eleanor flee to St. Paul to get away from Richie. To Park’s surprise, his father actually consents to the mission. 

“Call me as soon as you can, okay? Tonight. Collect. And give me your uncle’s number” 

Park begs Eleanor to give him a call later that night so that he knows everything turned out alright. Park is greatly disappointed when Eleanor never calls, not that night or any other. 

“He stopped trying to bring her back” 

This quote points to the fact that Park waited and waited to hear a response from Eleanor that never came. He was torn up about it at first, but eventually he stopped caring and his memories of her began to fade.