Catching Jordan puts a great emphasis on the untraditional relationship and character roles Jordan possess in the book. What effects (if any) do these types of relationships have on kids and people today? Is it important for people to be exposed to them?
At the beginning of Catching Jordan, Jordan feels she can’t show romantic interest in boys or the guys on her team won’t take her seriously as the captain and quarterback. If you think about it, it’s a pretty ridiculous notion,and it’s all in Jordan’s mind. The guys on her team care that she’s an awesome football player. They don’t care what she does in her free time unless it interferes with her ability to run for a touchdown from ten yards out.
But in Jordan’s mind, the fear is palpable. It’s very real, and I think that many people have similar, yet different fears, depending on who they are.
For instance, how many people out there are gay, but are too scared to share their true nature with the world? How many people are interested in dating a person of another race or color, but don’t want to admit it for fear of how other people will react?
In the book, Jordan is an extreme tomboy who starts to fall for the alternate quarterback (Ty) on her team. Some of the guys on the team aren’t happy about it for various reasons. But once Jordan makes up her mind that she likes Ty, the other guys sort of shrug and move on with life.
The same can’t always be said for people entering into a homosexual relationship for the first time. Some people will balk at this. It’s just how things are. But some people will shrug and move on with life. It’s all a matter of exposure.
I think if more and more people begin to explore different kinds of relationships with different kinds of people, I imagine – over time, people will get used it.The more and more we expose teens, and people of all ages, to new experiences and relationships, people and ideals will evolve.
That’s what I hoped to get across with Catching Jordan. It’s okay to think and act outside the box – everything will be okay. And if it’s not, at least you tried and probably learned something and put yourself out there. That’s cool.
Jordan’s very different. How many girls do you meet who openly like all-you-can-eat buffets and football?
How are you different? Do you hide who you are for fear of how people will respond? How have you worked to move past your fears? Have you encouraged others to put their fears aside? Have you ever confronted someone for being closed to new experiences and relationships?
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Catching Jordan is Miranda Kenneally's wonderful debut, her second book, Stealing Parker will be published in October 2012.
Website: www.mirandakenneally.com
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