Author: Miranda Kenneally
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire, 245 Pages (October 1st, 2012)
From: the Publisher
Format: ARC
Add to: Goodreads
Synopsis: Red-hot author Miranda Kenneally hits one out of the park in this return to Catching Jordan's Hundred Oaks High.
After a scandal rocks their conservative small town, 17-year-old Parker Shelton goes overboard trying to prove that she won't turn out like her mother: a lesbian. The all-star third-baseman quits the softball team, drops 20 pounds and starts making out with guys--a lot. But hitting on the hot new assistant baseball coach might be taking it a step too far...especially when he starts flirting back.
Review: 5 Stars - Author Miranda Kenneally knows her way around fantastic
young adult contemporary stories and characters. Stealing Parker is the
companion novel to her freshman release Catching Jordan, set in the same
school, town and with a mix of characters you’ve met before, Kenneally brings
her realistic teen characters to life.
Parker just wants to be a normal teen girl who loves to play soft ball. In a small town it’s hard to do anything without everyone knowing your business. So when her mother comes out as a Lesbian, Parker takes the brunt of the fall-out at school with many of her school mates making her life a tad on the rough side. Dealing with bullies, her own self image and trying to find her way in a new family dynamic is rough and even those at her church are making her life difficult.
Parker's at a tough age and while those around her often make her life difficult, it’s her own choices that she’s forced to face that may be even more damaging to her.
I liked reading about Parker. Her inner dialogue was honest and I often felt my heart breaking for her. She questioned things and it was during these times I wished she had someone to talk to about before jumping right into things she wasn’t totally set on. Without her mother in the house she’s closed off and then the isolation she feels at school due to the taunts of others just push her further down into herself. It’s not to say that she doesn’t have friends, she does; some great guys on the baseball team that she’s helping out taking down stats. I just wish she would actually see the friends she really has instead of trying to prove something.
While I really enjoyed Catching Jordan, I loved Stealing Parker. This one had my emotions running a bit deeper for Parker and what she was going through. I felt that while she was dealing with her home life and the changes in her mom’s relationship with her father and her girlfriend, that I was the one who was listening to those inner thoughts. I just wish I could have been there to actually give her answers, some answers that she really needed.
All in all Stealing Parker was a wonderful contemporary novel that I loved. Kenneally is a wonderful writer that, without doubt fans of the genre should welcome with open arms. There’s no question in my mind after now reading two of her books that I will always be excited and eager to read what she has for us next. I’m thrilled to check out next title which is also another companion novel – Things I can’t Forget, March 1st, 2013.
FTC Disclaimer: I did NOT pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this HONEST review.
Parker just wants to be a normal teen girl who loves to play soft ball. In a small town it’s hard to do anything without everyone knowing your business. So when her mother comes out as a Lesbian, Parker takes the brunt of the fall-out at school with many of her school mates making her life a tad on the rough side. Dealing with bullies, her own self image and trying to find her way in a new family dynamic is rough and even those at her church are making her life difficult.
Parker's at a tough age and while those around her often make her life difficult, it’s her own choices that she’s forced to face that may be even more damaging to her.
I liked reading about Parker. Her inner dialogue was honest and I often felt my heart breaking for her. She questioned things and it was during these times I wished she had someone to talk to about before jumping right into things she wasn’t totally set on. Without her mother in the house she’s closed off and then the isolation she feels at school due to the taunts of others just push her further down into herself. It’s not to say that she doesn’t have friends, she does; some great guys on the baseball team that she’s helping out taking down stats. I just wish she would actually see the friends she really has instead of trying to prove something.
While I really enjoyed Catching Jordan, I loved Stealing Parker. This one had my emotions running a bit deeper for Parker and what she was going through. I felt that while she was dealing with her home life and the changes in her mom’s relationship with her father and her girlfriend, that I was the one who was listening to those inner thoughts. I just wish I could have been there to actually give her answers, some answers that she really needed.
All in all Stealing Parker was a wonderful contemporary novel that I loved. Kenneally is a wonderful writer that, without doubt fans of the genre should welcome with open arms. There’s no question in my mind after now reading two of her books that I will always be excited and eager to read what she has for us next. I’m thrilled to check out next title which is also another companion novel – Things I can’t Forget, March 1st, 2013.
FTC Disclaimer: I did NOT pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this HONEST review.
I am glad that you said that Stealing Parker was emotionally deeper for you compared to Catching Jordan because while I loved Catching Jordan, there really wasn't much depth
ReplyDelete- Juhina @ Maji Bookshelf
I loved Catching Jordan because Henry was awesome and I can't wait to read this new book. I think it is great that Miranda can throw so many emotions in one book and that it still feels real.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you ended up loving this one! Thanks for the great review.