Description (from Goodreads): What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though - she leads them as the captain and quarterback on her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starring position on the team... and has her suddenly wishing to be seen as more than just a teammate.Review: Catching Jordan is a great blend of sports, family drama, and romance though the book's description seems to market the latter. It is the story of being true to yourself regardless of how others see you. It is the story of pursuing your dreams. It is these universal themes regardless of your love/hate relationship to sports, you can connect and relate to the book and its characters.
Jordan Woods is a self proclaimed tomboy, a female quarterback who has lead her high school football team on a victory streak and another chance at the state championship. She knows exactly what she wants, playing football in college, and does everything that she can to make her dream possible. Some may say she has tunnel vision, but I don't view her that way. I believe she's driven, ambitious, competitive, and strong. She is truly a rare gem we find in contemporary YA whose focus is something beyond "who will be my boyfriend this year?" I loved Jordan right away. Though her passion for football may be foreign to me and a lot of readers, her insecurities are tangible and familiar. She longs to get her approval from her NFL playing dad who seems to do everything he can to avoid Jordan's games and ignore her skills while complimenting her teammates. Jordan is also at a loss on how to deal with her new found crush, Ty Green, a new student from Texas and also a great quarterback who might possibly steal her position on the team.
While romance does play a large role in the book and for the most part done quite well, it does not overshadow all of Jordan's great achievements and has her questioning the prioritizes in her life. I found the romance as a great device in enhancing the overall discussion of gender roles and expectations including Jordan's own preconceived notions. We expect her to be consumed with Ty and abandon her dreams, but she thankfully does not. She is constantly throw into the chaos of friendship, loyalty, what does it mean to love someone, and finally acceptance.
For me, the highlight of Catching Jordan are the various relationships in the book and the chemistry that all the characters share with one another. JJ, Carter, Ty, and Henry are adorable and infuriating in their own way. You want to hug, slug, and sometimes slap them upside the heads for being stupid just as you would with brothers and friends. Their love is genuine and constant. Jordan's family also plays a vital role in supporting and looking out for her. I especially loved watching her relationship with her father grow.
Some readers may be worried that heavy football terminology would be used, but I didn't really have a problem understanding the game. I think Kenneally provides enough details in her description for the reader to understand what was going on. I did have a few issues with how the characters causally thought about sex and having a teen boy sleeping over in a girls room without parental concerns. I also did find the plot twist in the book to be a bit abrupt, but despite these flaws I really enjoyed Catching Jordan would highly recommend it to readers of realistic fiction who enjoy a strong female protagonists.
Rating: 4 stars
Words of Caution: Some strong language, allusions to sex, and underage drinking. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.
If you like this book try: The Dairy Queen series by Catherine Murdock
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