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sarverv's review against another edition
5.0
I reallly liked this book. It's a stupid teenage book, but I was soo surprised with how much I enjoyed it.
nicolemhewitt's review against another edition
4.0
This review and many others can be found on my blog - Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I'm pretty much reading this series all in a row (with an occasional book in between) so that I can get to Breathe, Annie, Breathe, which was just released. These books are all quick and easy reads and I'm really enjoying getting to know the kids of Hundred Oaks!
Parker doesn't have a lot of girlfriends - she's pretty much shut people out because most of her friends shunned her after her mom announced that she was gay and left their family for a woman. She now pretty much sticks to her best (guy) friend Drew. She's even given up on softball because it's something she shared with her mom and she just can't face her teammates anymore. Parker feels like she has to prove that she's not like her mom, so she makes out with as many guys as she can, but she doesn't feel anything for any of them. Until she meets the new boys' baseball coach.
What I loved:
Parker.
I loved Parker's struggle with her own identity - who she was and who others perceived her to be. Parker was messed up in a lot of ways and didn't always make the best decisions, but I could understand why she acted the way she did based on her past experiences. She was soul searching - not always in the healthiest of ways. I enjoyed her journey. One of Parker's best qualities is her fierce loyalty to her friends - this loyalty sometimes caused her pain, but she never wavered, nonetheless!
Drew and Will.
While Parker didn't have any friends who were girls, she did have Drew, her best friend, who stuck by her no matter what. She also developed a friendship throughout the book with her one-time rival, Will (who everyone called Corndog). These relationships were the best part of the book!
Handling of religion.
I really liked the way that Kenneally handled the religious issues in this book. The book definitely addressed religion without getting preachy. While I didn't love that so many people at Parker's church judged her family because of her mother's sexuality, the reality is that homosexuality is a hot button issue for many Christians and there are plenty of people (especially in a small town environment) who would react just this way. I was thankful that Kenneally also gave us more open-minded Christian characters as well, though. She showed both sides of the story, which I appreciated. Parker learned a lot about herself and her relationship with God throughout the book, which I loved!
Realistic portrayal of student/teacher relationship.
Kenneally handles the issue of a student/teacher affair a bit differently than I've seen in other books. I don't want to give too much away, but I felt like the real issues that would come up due to age difference and the fact that they are at different places in their lives were actually explored in a realistic way. At the same time, this did lead to my negative ...
The negatives:
Aspects of the romance.
While I appreciated the fact that the student/teacher relationship was handled realistically, there were some moments between them that just made me uncomfortable because they felt kind of ... wrong. Not merely because of the fact that they were student and teacher, but because of the characters' own obvious discomfort with the situation. Like Catching Jordan, this book made me nervous at times that the romance was heading in a bad direction. Still, just like in the first book in the series, Kenneally does redeem things in the end.
So, overall, this was another successful trip to Hundred Oaks! I'm really enjoying this series! I give Stealing Parker 4/5 Stars.
I'm pretty much reading this series all in a row (with an occasional book in between) so that I can get to Breathe, Annie, Breathe, which was just released. These books are all quick and easy reads and I'm really enjoying getting to know the kids of Hundred Oaks!
Parker doesn't have a lot of girlfriends - she's pretty much shut people out because most of her friends shunned her after her mom announced that she was gay and left their family for a woman. She now pretty much sticks to her best (guy) friend Drew. She's even given up on softball because it's something she shared with her mom and she just can't face her teammates anymore. Parker feels like she has to prove that she's not like her mom, so she makes out with as many guys as she can, but she doesn't feel anything for any of them. Until she meets the new boys' baseball coach.
What I loved:
Parker.
I loved Parker's struggle with her own identity - who she was and who others perceived her to be. Parker was messed up in a lot of ways and didn't always make the best decisions, but I could understand why she acted the way she did based on her past experiences. She was soul searching - not always in the healthiest of ways. I enjoyed her journey. One of Parker's best qualities is her fierce loyalty to her friends - this loyalty sometimes caused her pain, but she never wavered, nonetheless!
Drew and Will.
While Parker didn't have any friends who were girls, she did have Drew, her best friend, who stuck by her no matter what. She also developed a friendship throughout the book with her one-time rival, Will (who everyone called Corndog). These relationships were the best part of the book!
Handling of religion.
I really liked the way that Kenneally handled the religious issues in this book. The book definitely addressed religion without getting preachy. While I didn't love that so many people at Parker's church judged her family because of her mother's sexuality, the reality is that homosexuality is a hot button issue for many Christians and there are plenty of people (especially in a small town environment) who would react just this way. I was thankful that Kenneally also gave us more open-minded Christian characters as well, though. She showed both sides of the story, which I appreciated. Parker learned a lot about herself and her relationship with God throughout the book, which I loved!
Realistic portrayal of student/teacher relationship.
Kenneally handles the issue of a student/teacher affair a bit differently than I've seen in other books. I don't want to give too much away, but I felt like the real issues that would come up due to age difference and the fact that they are at different places in their lives were actually explored in a realistic way. At the same time, this did lead to my negative ...
The negatives:
Aspects of the romance.
While I appreciated the fact that the student/teacher relationship was handled realistically, there were some moments between them that just made me uncomfortable because they felt kind of ... wrong. Not merely because of the fact that they were student and teacher, but because of the characters' own obvious discomfort with the situation. Like Catching Jordan, this book made me nervous at times that the romance was heading in a bad direction. Still, just like in the first book in the series, Kenneally does redeem things in the end.
So, overall, this was another successful trip to Hundred Oaks! I'm really enjoying this series! I give Stealing Parker 4/5 Stars.
madithecloud's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
michalice's review against another edition
3.0
I've had Stealing Parker for a while, but getting a review copy of Breathe, Annie, Breathe gave me the push I needed to pick up the books in the series and get them read.
Parker lives with her Dad, and her brother, she cut ties with her Mum when she divorced her Dad to go and live with a girlfriend. Her family go to church every weekend, and while church is meant to be a place of forgiveness, theirs is too busy judging each other, judging Parker and her family, and making sure their own children have nothing to do with Parker, even her best friend has found someone else. Parker's life isn't the best, her Dad is quick to brush everything off or take the time to pray about things, her brother is going off in the deep end, bringing home girls, drinking himself into oblivion, and is just not himself at all.
Stealing Parker was an interesting book for me to read. I am not a religious person at all, I haven't set foot in a church willingly for as long as I can remember, but the fact that this church is telling them who they can and can't associate with was just wrong, how they treat Parker is just wrong, they should have been there to help and support them, and not be so judgmental. Their attitude sucked and I really expected more from them. Drew was a good friend for Parker, but I really disliked how he acts when he finds out what Parker has been doing.
As a character I did like Parker most of the time, the times I didn't like her were when she was stringing Will along, or how she acted with Brian. Saying that however, after everything that Parker has gone through, you can expect some immaturity from her especially with her age and her inability to speak rather than act on her feelings.
I did feel proud of her when she eventually comes to her senses, standing up for herself, doing something she loves, and finally accepting that she can't have everything the way she wants and that life keeps moving one, whether she wants it to or not.
Final Verdict
Stealing Parker was a quick read, and while there were a few moments I didn't really like too much, it was a good read.
Parker lives with her Dad, and her brother, she cut ties with her Mum when she divorced her Dad to go and live with a girlfriend. Her family go to church every weekend, and while church is meant to be a place of forgiveness, theirs is too busy judging each other, judging Parker and her family, and making sure their own children have nothing to do with Parker, even her best friend has found someone else. Parker's life isn't the best, her Dad is quick to brush everything off or take the time to pray about things, her brother is going off in the deep end, bringing home girls, drinking himself into oblivion, and is just not himself at all.
Stealing Parker was an interesting book for me to read. I am not a religious person at all, I haven't set foot in a church willingly for as long as I can remember, but the fact that this church is telling them who they can and can't associate with was just wrong, how they treat Parker is just wrong, they should have been there to help and support them, and not be so judgmental. Their attitude sucked and I really expected more from them. Drew was a good friend for Parker, but I really disliked how he acts when he finds out what Parker has been doing.
As a character I did like Parker most of the time, the times I didn't like her were when she was stringing Will along, or how she acted with Brian. Saying that however, after everything that Parker has gone through, you can expect some immaturity from her especially with her age and her inability to speak rather than act on her feelings.
I did feel proud of her when she eventually comes to her senses, standing up for herself, doing something she loves, and finally accepting that she can't have everything the way she wants and that life keeps moving one, whether she wants it to or not.
Final Verdict
Stealing Parker was a quick read, and while there were a few moments I didn't really like too much, it was a good read.
reddyrat's review against another edition
4.0
In her follow-up to the wonderful Catching Jordan, Miranda Kenneally has established herself as a masterful writer of young adult contemporary fiction. Like her first book, Stealing Parker follows a normal teenage girl going through unusual but believable trials, shows her progress a wiser, better person, and pairs her up with a great guy.
Parker's world fell apart when her mother left the family for another woman. Not only does Parker have to deal with the normal anger and grief that anyone would experience when a parent leaves, but she also has to deal with the aftermath of her mother's scandal. Parker's unforgiving, conservative Christian neighbors only make things worse by acting like she's tainted. Parker's personality transplant into feminine, flirty make-out queen is understandable in the circumstances.
The first guy on the scene in this book is Brian, the boy's baseball coach. Since he's the only guy mentioned in the synopsis, I wondered if he would be the "hero" of the novel. He starts out being good for Parker. He jokes around a lot and treats her differently than her peers. But eventually the creepiness factor crawls in. Brian is not a bad guy per se. If Parker was a few years older, they might make a good pair. But this is lesson number one in why 18 + 23 = Bad Idea.
Enter up Will. Sweet, smart, funny, down to earth. He's there for Parker when no one else is and doesn't judge. What I love about Ms. Kenneally's books is that the winning guy is not necessarily swoon-worthy, drop-dead gorgeous. Or even if he is, that's not what's emphasized. Plus, The main characters of the Hundred Oaks series find nice guys. These are the types of guys who, even if they don't end up getting married some day, the girls can look back at their relationship fondly, instead of wondering "ugh, what was I thinking?" Plus, the boys are "boys," not unrealistically mature men in 18 year old bodies.
If you're a fan of contemporary YA fiction, I can't recommend Stealing Parker or Miranda Kenneally's other books highly enough. There's lots of snark and witty dialogue to make you laugh. The main characters end up in better places than they started and they find super sweet guys. These are the kinds of books that make you go "Awww..." at the end.
Rating: 4 / 5
Parker's world fell apart when her mother left the family for another woman. Not only does Parker have to deal with the normal anger and grief that anyone would experience when a parent leaves, but she also has to deal with the aftermath of her mother's scandal. Parker's unforgiving, conservative Christian neighbors only make things worse by acting like she's tainted. Parker's personality transplant into feminine, flirty make-out queen is understandable in the circumstances.
The first guy on the scene in this book is Brian, the boy's baseball coach. Since he's the only guy mentioned in the synopsis, I wondered if he would be the "hero" of the novel. He starts out being good for Parker. He jokes around a lot and treats her differently than her peers. But eventually the creepiness factor crawls in. Brian is not a bad guy per se. If Parker was a few years older, they might make a good pair. But this is lesson number one in why 18 + 23 = Bad Idea.
Enter up Will. Sweet, smart, funny, down to earth. He's there for Parker when no one else is and doesn't judge. What I love about Ms. Kenneally's books is that the winning guy is not necessarily swoon-worthy, drop-dead gorgeous. Or even if he is, that's not what's emphasized. Plus, The main characters of the Hundred Oaks series find nice guys. These are the types of guys who, even if they don't end up getting married some day, the girls can look back at their relationship fondly, instead of wondering "ugh, what was I thinking?" Plus, the boys are "boys," not unrealistically mature men in 18 year old bodies.
If you're a fan of contemporary YA fiction, I can't recommend Stealing Parker or Miranda Kenneally's other books highly enough. There's lots of snark and witty dialogue to make you laugh. The main characters end up in better places than they started and they find super sweet guys. These are the kinds of books that make you go "Awww..." at the end.
Rating: 4 / 5
melg14's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
Yes it was a good book and yes it took me awhile to read it, like a few days, don't ask me why.
Anyway, Stealing Parker was well written and humorous. Drama, sexual scenes, stereotypes, etc. are included. Kinda annoying, but still contributed well.
Parker- could get annoying but I tolerated her. She was confused, hurt, and lost. She was just trying to feel something- find herself.
Brian- no comment. Like seriously I don't even know what to say haha
Will (Corndog)- Adorable. Reminded of someone I met- kinda. He was so caring, funny, and ah!
Drew- Great! Freaking funny and just a good friend. Although, he was very selfish near the end.
I seriously cannot do this book justice. Blah. It was just great. No disappointment. Possibly better than Catching Jordan.
I forgot! Sam and Jordan! Super funny as always but there were only like 3 tiny moments with them =/
Sam was in the book a lot though, which was good since he is hilarious.
Yes it was a good book and yes it took me awhile to read it, like a few days, don't ask me why.
Anyway, Stealing Parker was well written and humorous. Drama, sexual scenes, stereotypes, etc. are included. Kinda annoying, but still contributed well.
Parker- could get annoying but I tolerated her. She was confused, hurt, and lost. She was just trying to feel something- find herself.
Brian- no comment. Like seriously I don't even know what to say haha
Will (Corndog)- Adorable. Reminded of someone I met- kinda. He was so caring, funny, and ah!
Drew- Great! Freaking funny and just a good friend. Although, he was very selfish near the end.
I seriously cannot do this book justice. Blah. It was just great. No disappointment. Possibly better than Catching Jordan.
I forgot! Sam and Jordan! Super funny as always but there were only like 3 tiny moments with them =/
Sam was in the book a lot though, which was good since he is hilarious.
Spoiler
the ending was frustrating! Their kiss was so lame! They were like pecks and she didn't even really describe it so we didn't get a good vibe from it. Just that it spread warmth through her body. I don't know it was just ugh. I wanted more! I love them so much!lisawreading's review against another edition
4.0
I just love this YA series. High school and teen romances are not sugar-coated, and the author avoids typical YA stereotypes, instead focusing on real emotion, friendships, and complications. This is another great installment in the Hundred Oaks series.
nina_rod's review against another edition
3.0
Stayed up till three am reading this. Not sure why. I don't think I was compelled because it was so good. I think I needed to know where it was going. In the end, I wish I put it down and slept. I didn't
like it as much as the first in the series, Catching Jordan. But I do like football better baseball. There were more complicated themes in this series that I liked such as how to continue to be a devout Christian amid religious hypocrisy from your church and church-going peers. Also appreciated the "be yourself" message in this teen novel. Something a few adults in the novel need to learn.
My favorite part in the novel is where the pastor of Parker's conservative Christian church talks about symbols of the devil. They include peace signs and Coexists bumper stickers. Hilarious. Can't look at them now without thinking.. devil worshipers!
like it as much as the first in the series, Catching Jordan. But I do like football better baseball. There were more complicated themes in this series that I liked such as how to continue to be a devout Christian amid religious hypocrisy from your church and church-going peers. Also appreciated the "be yourself" message in this teen novel. Something a few adults in the novel need to learn.
My favorite part in the novel is where the pastor of Parker's conservative Christian church talks about symbols of the devil. They include peace signs and Coexists bumper stickers. Hilarious. Can't look at them now without thinking.. devil worshipers!
hpitcher15's review against another edition
3.0
Not sure what to really think about this book. I guess because Parker and I are the same age I am trying to figure out why she does some of the things that she does. Like the coach? really? But all in all i really enjoyed this book and find that Kenneally is able to write YA books in a way that is different from most. While most are either crude or cheesy in their romances, I find that she does a wonderful job in making it very genuine and right on the mark when it comes to teen relationships.
christajls's review against another edition
4.0
This review originally posted at More Than Just Magic
Stealing Parker is a complicated book – and that’s putting things lightly. But it is because of those complications that the novel can explore a variety of themes, and the characters can experience a lot growth and self discovery.
Parker’s life has been a bit of a mess ever since her Mom came out of the closet. It’s not that Parker is against homosexuality. She’s pretty sure her best friend is gay. What affects her more is the way the rest of her community began to treat her after they found out about her Mom. Girls who were once her friends began to tease her, members of her congregation shun her family, and her and her father and brother are left to deal with it alone. I can’t even imagine how difficult their situation would have been. I never felt any ill will towards Parker’s mother – she needed to be honest about herself – but you also really feel for Parker. Most YA books (that I’ve read) which feature LGBTQ parents, generally show a positive relationships between parent and child. It was interesting to see how Parker struggles with the fallout of her Mom’s sexual orientation and the reactions of a small town community.
On the heterosexual side of things, I also really appreciated how honest this story was when it came to Parker’s relationships. She got herself into some really unhealthy situations. I think it’s safe to say she was definitely taken advantage of at certain points but I also think it’s safe to say she made a lot of poor, reckless choices. But that wasn’t it for Parker. She also has some really healthy well adjusted relationships and I think that was more realistic. Parker wasn’t a bad person, she wasn’t a broken person. She was just a girl trying to figure things out. And that led her down both positive and negative paths. I think we’ve all be there.
I could go on and on exploring the complexities of all of Parker’s relationships but I think that would be redundant. Let’s just say that Stealing Parker is an excellent and thoughtful contemporary read about exploring your own values, needs and limits. This was my first Miranda Kenneally book but it won’t be my last.
Recommendation: Stealing Parker is a gripping, authentic story. A must read for YA contemporary fans and those interested in books with realistic parent-child relationships.
Stealing Parker is a complicated book – and that’s putting things lightly. But it is because of those complications that the novel can explore a variety of themes, and the characters can experience a lot growth and self discovery.
Parker’s life has been a bit of a mess ever since her Mom came out of the closet. It’s not that Parker is against homosexuality. She’s pretty sure her best friend is gay. What affects her more is the way the rest of her community began to treat her after they found out about her Mom. Girls who were once her friends began to tease her, members of her congregation shun her family, and her and her father and brother are left to deal with it alone. I can’t even imagine how difficult their situation would have been. I never felt any ill will towards Parker’s mother – she needed to be honest about herself – but you also really feel for Parker. Most YA books (that I’ve read) which feature LGBTQ parents, generally show a positive relationships between parent and child. It was interesting to see how Parker struggles with the fallout of her Mom’s sexual orientation and the reactions of a small town community.
On the heterosexual side of things, I also really appreciated how honest this story was when it came to Parker’s relationships. She got herself into some really unhealthy situations. I think it’s safe to say she was definitely taken advantage of at certain points but I also think it’s safe to say she made a lot of poor, reckless choices. But that wasn’t it for Parker. She also has some really healthy well adjusted relationships and I think that was more realistic. Parker wasn’t a bad person, she wasn’t a broken person. She was just a girl trying to figure things out. And that led her down both positive and negative paths. I think we’ve all be there.
I could go on and on exploring the complexities of all of Parker’s relationships but I think that would be redundant. Let’s just say that Stealing Parker is an excellent and thoughtful contemporary read about exploring your own values, needs and limits. This was my first Miranda Kenneally book but it won’t be my last.
Recommendation: Stealing Parker is a gripping, authentic story. A must read for YA contemporary fans and those interested in books with realistic parent-child relationships.