“Eleanor & Park” is the oh-so-typical teenage love novel that everyone adores, or so it seems. This classic boy meets girl tale takes an untraditional turn with insights on bullying, poverty and sexuality. With the turn of every page, it’s nearly impossible not to fall in love.

Rainbow Rowell starts the story slowly with alternating voices of Eleanor, the red-headed girl with crazy men’s clothing, and Park, the skinny Asian boy who’s hardly popular but tolerated anyway. Set in 1980’s Omaha, Eleanor meets Park after sitting next to him on the bus ride to school. The odd pair bond over comic books and good music and eventually get to know each other a little bit more.

As the novel unfolds, the reader learns more about Eleanor’s life at home- a sad reality of family poverty, abuse and an alcoholic stepfather. Park’s lifestyle is seemingly opposite. His parents are accepting, caring and they love him unconditionally. It’s no wonder that Eleanor grows fond of spending countless hours at his home, even though she is shy.

The events in “Eleanor & Park” can relate to everyone in the littlest of ways. The bullying that Eleanor goes through hits home for a lot of people, as well as the siblings she has to deal with. Also, Eleanor’s struggle to blend in, but standing out instead, is relevant to many people in our society.

It was unclear from the beginning whether the supporting characters, such as Eleanor’s siblings and the bus bullies, would grow and develop like Eleanor and Park did. By the end, there was no doubt that they had grown to be significant parts of the plot. Park’s set of parents were by far the best and most realistic pair of parents ever seen in a young adult novel, there’s no doubt. Each had their own special characteristics. Park’s mom was very open minded and accepting, unlike Eleanor’s parents- who disliked Park and was unknown to their relationship.

The language in “Eleanor & Park” is purely breathtaking, there’s no other way to describe it. Sensual descriptions are everywhere, but they’re never misused or out of place. One of the most amazing literary moments was when Eleanor scolds Park for saying she looked “nice” to which Park thought, “Eleanor was right: She never looked nice. She looked like art, and art wasn’t supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something.”

Besides the language, Rowell baffles readers with her realistic creation of teenage body image issues. There has never been a main character to a young adult novel that was so…. Normal. Eleanor’s awkward attitude, disproportionate body parts, frizzy hair and clothing that fits way too snug in all the wrong places is anything but fantastical and romantic. It’s unbelievably true. The fact that Park loves her regardless is sworn worthy in itself.

“Eleanor & Park” captivates its readers and has them glued until the very end. This young adult novel is undeniably amazing and breathtaking. But the sob-worthy ending questions everything and its impossible not to wish it hadn’t ended. “Eleanor & Park” by Rainbow Rowell deserves more than a 10/10, if that were even possible.