Review: Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Catching Jordan

By: Miranda Kenneally

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: December 1, 2011

Genre/Age: YA Contemporary

Pages: 288

Source: ARC from Around the World ARC Tours

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 of her high school football team. They all see her has 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 starting position… and suddenly she’s hoping he’ll see her as more than just a teammate.

First of all, I just want to say that the description above doesn’t do the book justice at all, or even really give an accurate summary. So expect a lot more when you crack this one open! :) Now, on to the review!

Oh my goodness, I LOVED this book. It’s just pure fun and cuteness and completely enjoyable. And at the same time, it’s not meaningless fluff and actually handles some real issues. Jordan is an awesome character, and she’s dealing with a lot in her life. Yeah, sure, she’s crushing on the cute new player on her team, but she’s also juggling being the female captain of her high school football team, wishing her dad would support her, trying to get college football coaches to take her seriously, and handling somewhat delicate relationships with the other guys on her team as well as opening herself up to the possibility of friendships with other girls.

And in case you couldn’t tell from all that, most of her life revolves around football. Which is totally understandable. I was a dancer and musical theater geek in high school, so I definitely get the whole focus thing. The great thing about Catching Jordan is that even though it is definitely about football, it doesn’t feel overwhelming and the football never takes over. I know next to nothing about football, but I still thoroughly enjoyed every second of this book. It even made me wish I could go back to a high school football game (which is not a normal wish for me, trust me :P).

Hands down, my favorite thing about Catching Jordan was Jordan’s relationship with the rest of the guys on her team. They are so wonderfully protective of her and it is just adorable, and those rare moments when Jordan needs a “girl talk” and tries to go to her guy friends are wonderful and hilarious. Her best friend Sam Henry is a particular favorite of mine. He and Jordan have been friends forever and have such a sweet, comfortable relationship. Watching them together was great fun and left a grin on my face the whole time.

And of course this review wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t mention the love story, right? :D But all I’m going to say is that I LOVED it. It’s sweet and heartbreaking and completely feels like high school. (Which isn’t a bad thing, in this case!)

Catching Jordan is a lovely, realistic portrayal of one girl’s journey through senior year, and it is definitely a book I’ll be rereading when I want an awesome, feel-good, make-me-smile story. This is definitely one you don’t want to miss!