Reddit mentions of Eleanor & Park

Well, if there has to be a discussion on strong female characters, it's only fair to discuss the boys.

I think strength would be better defined as well-rounded characters who avoid stock cliches and change (for better or for worse) through the course of a novel. So at this point, I don't think a battle-weary swordsman with a dead family bent on protecting his sweetheart and little sister while adhering to a code of chivalry is a particularly strong male character - even if he is harboring some pretty heavy traditionally male features. Unless he has some other things going on for him, he sounds pretty boring to me.

I've said this before, but I'd like to see more boys - of any orientation - comfortable with traditionally feminine hobbies or attributes. There are plenty of examples in anime, but in literature, all I can think of from the top of my head is Park's use of guyliner in Eleanor and Park. It's almost standard for girls in books to like sports or camping or being a tomboy, but you don't often see authors writing about boys enjoying musicals, or baking, or wedding planning, or whose favorite color is pink even though that's everywhere in real life.

Note: these examples are drawn from the cigar-smoking, whiskey-drinking, project car and video game enthusiast STEM majors who frequently inhabit my kitchen. They were teenagers once. Not much changed except the acne.

True facts. 25 years old and reading Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell.

Boy Proof by Cecil Castellucci (geek girl's senior year of high school in Hollywood) comes to mind.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell is about a girl obsessed with Harry Potter-esque fanfiction and cut off from her twin when college starts. Also by Rainbow Rowell, Eleanor & Park might fit - Eleanor's pretty much a loner.

A book! thanks for the contest, lovely!

My choice would be this book! On a rainy day one of my favorite things to do is get under the covers with a cup of tea and a book and just read for hours. It's so relaxing just listening to the rain while reading! The old man is snoring, thanks for the contest! :D

Here are a couple I read back in the day -

Be More Chill, by Ned Vizzini

King Dork, by Frank Portman

Elanor & Park, by Rainbow Rowell

and most likely other stuff from the same authors, too.

I just downloaded PT last night at my 13 yo daughter's urgency, then promptly gave her my Kindle so she could read that and Eleanor & Park (another pretty good YA novel), so it might be a while before I get to it!

I think you should read this. I started reading this the other day and its awesome. I love reading books! Book of choice

Here are some suggestions that might work:

Eleanor & Park

The 100-Year-Old-Man Who...

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

It really depends on where your taste overlaps.