Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Even after hearing all the good reviews for Eleanor & Park I was still surprised by how much I liked it.  Outcasts, Eleanor, the new girl with crazy red hair, and Park, the half-Korean kid, regrettably find themselves sharing a bus seat to and from school.  Soon Park realizes Eleanor has been quietly reading his comics over his shoulder and they gradually start to talk about X-Men and The Smith's.  Eleanor's personal story takes time to unfold and we find out her home life is terrible; with an abusive stepfather who kicked her out a year ago.  And although Park's home life looks idyllic, especially to Eleanor, Park has his own father/son issues.  Their first love blossoms as their trust grows and they begin to lean on each other when life gets tough.