Catching Jordan

Gr 8 Up—Jordan Woods really is just one of the guys-the guys on her Tennessee state championship runner-up football team, that is. In fact, she's the starting QB and team captain. Seem a little far-fetched? Maybe not for the daughter of an NFL quarterback whose brother starts for the University of Tennessee and who tops out over 6 feet and 170 pounds. For assets, she has a near promise from the University of Alabama for a full ride, a close bunch of guy friends from her team, and a really good shot at the state title. Among the problems, she has a dad who won't come to her games; bitchy cheerleaders who sleep with her long-time buddy, Henry; and now Ty Green, a new guy who throws rockets and has a body and face that make her feel something that no other guy on or off the field has awakened. So, not only is he serious competition for her position, but he is also wrecking her concentration in games and practice. Strangely enough, when Jordan starts seeing him, Henry doesn't seem happy for her. She is the last to know that he has been in love with her for ages. She has some tough decisions to make about playing football and which boys' passes she wants to catch. Written in a casual, no-nonsense style that suits its protagonist, this novel has some interesting characters and promotes females in sports. It's a spirited football romance in the zone of Dairy Queen (Houghton Harcourt, 2006), especially for readers who associate a sack with a quarterback, not just shopping.—Suzanne Gordon, Lanier High School, Sugar Hill, GA