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October 06, 2012

Review: Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally - Juhina

Stealing Parker

Title: Stealing Parker 
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Publication date: October 1, 2012
Publisher: Raincoast 
Genre(s): Young Adult (Contemporary)
Challenges: Contemporary
Source: Publisher
Format: ARC
Pages: 356
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.
I was so ecstatic when I finally got my hands on Stealing Parker, the companion novel to Catching Jordan which I adored! While Stealing Parker was great, especially its ending, it was no Catching Jordan. In stealing Parker, we've got Parker, a girl that is out to prove to the world, or at least her christian community, that she is not like her mother; she likes guys. However once she notices the new assistant baseball coach, he is all she thinks about. I initially liked their relationship, I thought it would be another "Slammed by Colleen Hoover" situation and I was shipping them so hard. However once Corndog, A.K.A Will, A.K.A her archnemisis who lost the valedictorian to Parker showed up, I started second guessing my decision on who to ship. 
Miranda Kenneally has written another brilliant sports related young adult novel. Trust me, the YA genre is missing this. However in Stealing Parker, Miranda heavily includes faith and what it means to be a christian. Parker has lost faith in god after her mom left and the people of her church turned on her family. I know this doesn't portray how all christians are, but man the people Parker lived around were so judgmental, hypocritical, and harsh. It is very hard to love your religion when you see the people representing it ostracize you and treat you like dirt. I felt for Parker, especially her older brother. I think Miranda portrayed their broken and fractured family really well. Yes, not all families are this messed up, but again, not all families are perfect. Some readers might say this is unrealistic, but these things do happen.
I felt this book was more about faith and believing in yourself and god as well as learning to accept people the way they are, whether you agree with their beliefs or not. Parker annoyed me at the beginning, I must admit that. However over time and after spending time with Corndog, she started to re-direct her anger and focus on what she already has. Miranda hooked me from the first page and created such realistic 17 year olds that remind you of how immature and cringe inducing we got when we were their age! It was a fun novel that also delivered some deep and meaningful messages to all the readers. I would recommend it to YA contemporary fans that want a meaningful contemporary. 

13 comments:

  1. I loved this one! I also like her relationship with Brian at first. It was something they kind of needed but then she found Corndog who was truly what was good for her. I thought all her feelings and hardships were realistically handled and I was proud of how much she worked to change and be happy. Loved seeing Jordan and Sam Henry again too!

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  2. I still have to read this one...and I have heard nothing but good stuff so far, so I am super excited to get my hands on it! I am especially excited about the characters...they seem very interesting and easy to connect too. Plus, I love a realistic book..I find it very effective in contemporary books since it gets the point across to readers! Awesome review, Juhina! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Now, I just have to pick it up! LOL ;p

    ~ Maida @ Literary Love Affair 

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  3. Yay, I'm so glad you enjoyed this one, Juhina! I've been quite excited about it and finally bought it on my Kindle thing week, so I definitely need to read it ASAP! I'm excited to meet this slew of new characters and Kenneally's work is always so heart-warming and leaves you feeling more than a little pleased, so I can't wait. Wonderful review, Juhina!

    ~Keertana
    Ivy Book Bindings

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  4. I have seen this one around. I would really like to read Catching Jordan too. This sounds wonderful. Great review. :)

    Thank you for stopping by
    Jenea @ Books Live Forever

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  5. I'm so excited to read this! I also loved Catching Jordan and I didn't know that Miranda had written another novel! So, right now I am jumping up and down with excitement while typing on the computer :D
    My newbie blog:
    http://allaboutyanovels.blogspot.com/

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  6. EEP! So excited to get to this one.

    Valerie
    StuckInBooks.com

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  7. I can't help but giggle like a five year old every time I hear the name Corndog! ;D This definitely sounds like a fun read. Though, surprise surprise, I haven't read Catching Jordan yet. I need to get to that soon! :)

    Great review.

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  8. Great review! I also really loved this book :)

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  9. Great review, it's good to hear that this one is so enjoyable. I really need to read Catching Jordan, it seems that this is a really popular series! Thanks for sharing :)

    Steph @ SOOTP

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  10. I really need to read this and Catching Jordan. I have Catching Jordan, I just haven't gotten to it. I really have been meaning to. This one sounds really good. Great review!

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  11. Wonderful review.
    I really loved CATCHING JORDAN and am planning to buy and read a copy of STEALING PARKER soon as well. Nonetheless I have to admit that I'm a bit scared to not like the companion novel as much as the first book because of the religious topics. I usually try to avoid these books... so if it weren't a companion novel to CP, I probably wouldn't even bother to give it a chance. Really hope I won't end up disappointed though and like it as you did! :)

    Carina
    Fictional Distraction

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  12. While I didn't love this one quite as much as Catching Jordan either, I still thought it was fabulous. I had some trouble with Parker in the beginning as well, but she really grew on me and I was so rooting for her and Corndog the entire time! Lovely review Juhina!

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  13. I haven't read Catching Jordan yet, but I keep hearing about it...everywhere! :) They both sound like fun books, and I'm glad you found it to be a realistic portrayal. Great review!

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