Review: Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally

Goodreads:
Parker Shelton pretty much has the perfect life. She’s on her way to becoming valedictorian at Hundred Oaks High, she’s made the all-star softball team, and she has plenty of friends. Then her mother’s scandal rocks their small town and suddenly no one will talk to her.

Now Parker wants a new life.

So she quits softball. Drops twenty pounds. And she figures why kiss one guy when she can kiss three? Or four. Why limit herself to high school boys when the majorly cute new baseball coach seems especially flirty?

But how far is too far before she loses herself completely?

Source: Christmas gift

Review:

Plot: When reading the back of the book, it may seem like the cheesy story of a girl falling for an older man. Yet, Kenneally takes it to the next level. She bring in the classic drama of everyday life, conflicting views, and religion. It's not everyday an author brings in religion.

One's preferred sex is a conflicting issue in our nation. Religion is one too sometimes. Put them together and major conflict! In this book, Kenneally addresses gayness and how religion really views it. How though the Bible tells us God loves us all, he frowns on those who do not love the opposite sex. Through this book, you really see how prejudice people truly are, despite saying they are 'true Christians'. In my opinion, there are no 'true Christians'; for, along the line, we all sin. I don't go to church every Sunday but I believe in God. Stealing Parker really brings out the true beauty of how gays are viewed. I'm a supporter for gays. Some of my friends are gay, one of my teachers is gay, and I have cousin that's gay. They are just people. Nothing truly extraordinary about them.

There is so much emotion in this book. It goes deeper than Catching Jordan, which focuses on girls in sports and how they are viewed differently than boys. All the raw emotions that come out in this book are so real that you fell Parker's pain and all the crap that has happened to her. It's emotional. End of story.

And besides the emotional turmoil, Stealing Parker also shows what happens when you cling to the past. Brian sounds awesome, but his desire to be young again ruined his life. This is a lesson everyone needs to read.

Characters: Like I said before, a lot of emotion. Parker is a girl who bottled up all her emotions about her mom coming out and everyone picking on her and her church turning away from her and she tries to get through it by hooking up (makeout sessions) with a bunch of guys to show everyone she isn't like her mom. She's complex with her emotion, but yet forward--wanting to be accepted back yet not wanting people to think she's gay. She's a roller coaster.

The rest of the character are very emotional/stereotypical. I say stereotypical because most of the characters have the typical view of gays and those associated with them. Also emotional because of those who are or don't care about gayness. there's so much prejudice against them and others that the characters are so real because of it.

The two characters I did love were Will and Drew. Will was an absolute gentleman and the one guy your dad would like. He's much like Sam, same situation with his home life, and a sports guy. He was wonderful. And I get how he felt when he found out about everything. But he could at least hear Parker out first. Drew reminds me of my friend Aaron, who is much like Drew, except doesn't do sports. But the fact Drew becomes like everyone else after the big climax peeved me off, but he redeems himself.

Romance: Parker, because her mom left and her dad and brother truly don't pay attention, she's looking for somone to love and love her back. In Brian, I believe she saw an older man who would be maturer than boys her age and would want more than sex. This isn't true. Brian is 23! He's not grown up anymore than I am! He was a stupid man using the desire of a minor to feel young again.

And it's true: Love is Blind. I say this because Parker was so blinded by Brian that she couldn't see Will, and Will is just like Sam Henry--sweet, nice, a gentleman. That really ticked me off.

Ending: It was happy. Brian got what he deserved. Parker's life turned around. It was a good ending.

Rating:

The Big Kahuna.

I loved it that much

Cover:

I think there should be a bit more baseball in the cover. Maybe homeplate?

Ending:

Keep On Reading!