Catching Jordan (review)

Carrying on her family's football tradition, Jordan Woods is the best high school quarterback in the state of Tennessee, and she's got her sights set on Alabama to play college ball. Her focus is shaken, however, when a guy named Ty shows up to join the team. The problem, besides the fact that Ty makes her knees go weak and wrecks her concentration, is that he, too, is a quarterback, and he's used to being the team leader. The other problem is that she finally learns that her best friend, Sam, is in love with her, and she has to face the fact that while Ty is sweet, hot, and very interested, Sam might just be her first draft pick after all. All this romantic complication comes as she is being courted by Alabama; their interest puts her over the moon, but when she finds out that they want her more as a PR stunt than a player, she has to rethink her dreams. Jordan is a compelling protagonist, an appealing mix of confidence and vulnerability, depending on which field she's playing. Her growing appreciation of a few of the cheerleaders is deftly handled as she comes to realize that her prejudices against girls in general have been misguided; both girls and boys are depicted with admirable complexity and fairness, even while acknowledging that their motivations for relationships aren't always that complicated. Jordan's commitment and ability to stand by her goals and remain true to herself, even to the point where she stands up to her father (who doesn't want her to play) and to Ty, is inspiring, and her relationship with her rock-solid, supportive teammates is endearing. Reminiscent of Murdock's Dairy Queen (BCCB 9/06), this is a solid, substantive romance that makes all the right moves for girls who won't settle for a seat on the sidelines, in love or on the field.