Stealing Parker

Stealing Parker

Author: Miranda Kenneally
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Publication Date: October 1, 2012
Pages: 256
Source: ARC for blog tour

About the Book: Red-hot author Miranda Kenneally hits one out of the park in this return to Catching Jordan's Hundred Oaks High.

After her family's 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.

My Thoughts: This is the first book by Miranda Kenneally that I have read and you had better believe Catching Jordan (her debut) just rocketed to the top of my TBR pile. I loved the way Kenneally writes. I loved how sports are such a lage part of the book but not the focus... like, it isn't a book about softball. It's simply a book about a seventeen year old girl and all the different facets of her life. I think that's what made it so powerful.

There is a whole lot going on in Parker's life. Her mom has come out as a lesbian and Parker feels like her family has been ripped apart. Add to that the way her friends and church have "turned" on her and you get on very lonely and mixed up girl. The reader sees how very confused and broken Parker is from the get go. We get to see her struggle, make mistakes, and learn. I love books like this... where we really get to see the growth and changes that a character goes through without the book being preachy! It was just so well done.

I felt so many different emotions as I was reading this book. I teared up and laughed out loud at multiple parts in the story. I felt angry on Parker's behalf and even at Parker. I was disgusted by some of the characters and cheered for others. There was a lot of head shaking as I remembered my own teen years. All in all it was such an enjoyable experience. I was very content when I put the book down. 

The one thing I do wish is that I had read Catching Jordan first. This book is its very own story but it takes place at the same high school so I think I would have enjoyed seeing the characters again (like in Sarah Dessen novel!) Obviously this isn't a complaint about the book... just my being a slacker and not reading Catching Jordan even though everyone was raving about it! 

Miranda Kenneally is a great addition to the world of contemporary YA. I highly recommend checking her books out!