Catching Jordan is the first book in the Hundred Oaks Series and, in my opinion, is the best. It is about Jordan Woods, who is a high school senior, the quarterback AND the captain of the football team, is 6 feet tall and is also ostensibly FEMALE! Isn't that awesome? She is a headstrong girl who knows what she wants in her life, though is not exactly equipped with the knowledge when it comes to the intricacies of the heart. She does not know what to do when she becomes infatuated with newbie Tyler Green, how to feel about her deepening relationship with best friend Sam Henry, nor does she know how to fix her relationship with her father, who does not seem to support her football career, and would rather she quit. Now what is a girl like Jordan to do?

SPOILERS AFTER THE JUMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The highlight of the book would definitely have to be the romance part. It was already very obvious to me who Jordan was going to end up with, and so I had no doubts at all. I loved Jordan almost immediately and her best friend, Sam Henry. They are very close and even have sleepovers where they sleep head-to-toe (though Sam always finds a way for him and Jordan to sleep head-to-head). From the very beginning, I was already rooting for Jordan and Sam Henry, (Jomry!) they just seemed to be the perfect match. I liked how Sam obviously likes her and how Jordan is so clueless. I loved the fake baby part and the part where they tease each other saying that the baby has the other's hair and the other's eyes when in fact, the baby was bald and had glass eyes. I liked Tyler Green, the new kid, at first, but as I found out more about him, I realized that he really isn't all that nice. I don't mean it in a nice-guy-is-actually-super-bad-and-everyone-should-hate-him kind of way, I mean it in a this-guy-doesn't-really-have-the-best-qualities-but-is-okay-I-guess kind of way.

What I liked even more about this book is how open it is to gender roles, that a girl like Jordan can be into sports, and into writing at the same time. I also loved that Jordan is a football player and her teammates are supportive of her. It was also nice that though Jordan grew up with guy friends, she also become more open and friendlier to other girls, who she realized were actually smart and fun too. The book encourages teens to become whoever they want to be and to not conform to the typical gender stereotypes, which is a very positive message for everyone.

Now, I'm gonna explain why I only gave this book 4 stars. It definitely wasn't the best book I've read though I liked a lot of things about it. It was actually a little bit shallow compared to other books I've read before. Jordan's problems were that: a. she couldn't choose between two amazing boys, b. her dream college only wanted her as a trophy (and there were other colleges who would have accepted her), and c. that her dad didn't support her playing football. 

I also didn't like the part when Jordan first saw Tyler and she was so distracted she just stood there, staring, until she got slammed by a a guy from defense (is that the right term??), I mean what's so fascinating about that guy that you had to just stand there?

So basically the story goes like this: Jordan plays football, she starts dating Tyler, then her dad starts supporting her playing football, then Jordan sprains her knee during a football game, then Jordan and Tyler break up, then Jordan and Sam become a couple... It's a long story but I liked it! READ IT!!!

What are the best books you've read? Comment below!