30 September 2012

Review: Stealing Parker By: Miranda Kenneally

Title: Stealing Parker
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.

Find the Author

Follow me on Twitter     /     Be friends with me on Goodreads
Subscribe to my RSS Feed

2 comments:

  1. 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

    - Juhina @ Maji Bookshelf

    ReplyDelete
  2. 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.

    I'm glad you ended up loving this one! Thanks for the great review.

    ReplyDelete

Comment and let me know your thoughts on this post.

Twitter Goodreads Email

Recently Read


Blog Archive

Search the Blog!

Learn more about RAK

Book Soulmates
Xpresso Book Tours

Total Pageviews

Copyright

FTC Disclaimer:

In accordance with FTC Guidelines, I have not received any monetary gain for any information posted within the pages of this website/blog. Any and all information has been provided by the publisher, author and or publicist for free. Content is also based on purchases made by myself or of my guest reviewer(s). Any and all opinions expressed within the pages of this website/blog are solely my own or those of the authors of any and all guest reviewers(s) or guest bloggers.



Related Posts with Thumbnails

About Me

Hi, I’m Lisa and I'm a proud bibliophile.

I enjoy reading and reviewing a variety of different books within the Young Adult, "New Adult" & Adult genres/categories. If you have any questions or if you are an author or publisher and would be interested in promoting a book, please feel free email. You can find my email under the "mail" button or under the contact link at the top of the page.

I look forward to hearing from you!


Authors, Publishers & Publicists

Have a book you'd like me to review or Promote? How about doing an Author Interview? Or maybe a Guest Post? Great! I'd love to! For more information about having your book reviewed here, please follow this link for more information:

Reviews, Interviews, Guest Posts and Contest.

Guest Reviewer Jenny

Guest Reviewer Jenny
Click for info & links to her reviews!

My Ratings

When I review I rate from 1 to 5 stars, 5 being the highest rating. I review based on many different things from the writing, to the story - to the characters and how I can relate to them or how they are developed. I also review based on if an author has worked their magic and was able to draw me into a story so deeply that I don't want to put the book down. If you would like me to review a book, please contact me or view my Contact Information and Review Policy for further details.

5 Stars - I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!
4 Stars - I Really liked/Loved it.
3 Stars - I liked it/Was pretty good.
2 Stars - It was, eh okay.
1 Star - It just wasn't for me.

Followers

Follow the Blog

Follow on Bloglovin

Follow By Email

Enter your email address:

Grab Me!

Blogs I Love