Review: Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally

Stealing Parker

By: Miranda Kenneally

Pub. Date: October 1, 2012

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Pages: 242

Source: ARC from Publisher

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 am a huge fan of Miranda Kenneally and Catching Jordan was one of my favorite books of 2011. When I was asked to be apart of the blog tour, I was beyond excited! I started Stealing Parker right away and it did not disappoint!

Parker Shelton's mom left the family to be with another women. Because of this, her church and her friends completely turned on her and everyone started calling her a lesbian. To compensate, Parker quit softball, a game she absolutely loved, lost 20 pounds and started making out with as many boys as she can. Drew was the only person that stayed true to her. He suggests that Parker helps out with the boys baseball team. It is here that she meets Brian Hoffman, the 23 year old baseball coach. She is instantly attracted to him, and though they know the age difference can get them in trouble, they decide to get "friendly" with each other.

I couldn't help but feel for Parker. It was bad enough that her life completely changed when her mom left, but now everyone else in her life has to leave her too? I think this led her to make the choices that she did, but you can't fault her for it. Parker was real and relatable.

I think the surprise hit for me in Stealing Parker was Corndog. He and Parker were always rivals academically, and I really didn't like him at first, but he turned out to be one of the sweetest boys in YA. I just loved him. He wasn't perfect, but just like Parker, he was realistic.

What I love about Miranda Kenneally is her ability to make every signal character feel important, and for the most part, she accomplished this, but I was disappointed in Brian's character. I feel like I didn't know him at all. He was hot and cold, and I hate characters like that.

Religion also plays a big part in this book. I am not a fan of religion in books, but I do think Kenneally did a good job approaching the subject.

Overall, I loved Stealing Parker, Kenneally is such a talented writer and I am already looking forward to her next book.