Catching Jordan is a combination of Friday Night Lights and Anna and the French Kiss.  It is a pitch perfect balance of football and relationships  that will leave you wanting more from this debut author.

Catching Jordan is a fun read that will have you at times cheering and crying.  Jordan Woods is the captain and quarterback of her high school football team.  While this is an unusual position for a girl Jordan is supported by her team and family, well most of her family.  Jordan’s father is the quarterback for the Tennessee Titans and he isn’t ok with Jordan’s dream of playing football in college.

Jordan is a strong character who prides herself on being in control both on and off the field.  Her best friends are guys from the team because the girls in school just don’t get her and to be honest Jordan doesn’t get them either.  Miranda Keneally describes the dynamics of high school relationships with brutal honesty in a way that can be appreciated by readers.  Jordan’s friends Sam Henry, JJ, and Carter defend her no matter what.  So when a new quarterback shows up and threatens Jordan’s position and her impenetrable control, things get a little crazy between her and her best friend Sam Henry.

This book reminded me of Friday Night Lights.  In the story football plays a backdrop to the greater story of the individual characters. Jordan and the boys all want to play college football but she has the least likely chance because she is a girl. Each of the characters has some personal issue they are trying to work whether be trying to tell your dad you don’t want to play college football or admitting maybe you love someone more than should each characters journey is just as intense as the game on Friday night.

Catching Jordan is a great read.  At its heart are the struggles of being a teenager and deciding on giving up your dream or just adjusting it.  Catching Jordan is a contemporary novel that filled with real characters and gives an accurate portrayal of being a high school athlete both male and female.

Catching Jordan by Miranda Keneally  available now.