Name: It Happened on Saturday
ISBN: 9781631636943

Sydney Dunlap

After thirteen-year-old Julia nearly becomes a victim of human trafficking, she must find the courage to speak up about her experience or else her friend could end up becoming a victim too.

It Happened on Saturday

2 stars for me, but I've given it three because it served it's purpose well, and it's purpose was not to entertain me.

This was an easy read about a topic that's really unsettling. Human trafficking is one of those things that always lurks in the back of my mind. I know it happens to so many people. I know slavery is at higher levels now then any other time in history. I see the phone numbers inside public bathrooms and always think of the people who have to call them.

I'm not always on board with the idea that children need to be introduced to traumatic experiences at a young age (usually with the excuse that "well, children that age are actually experiencing those things"), but I think this book is very necessary. Julia is relatable and her motivations are clear. "Tyler's" trap is clear from the outside, but Dunlap also makes it easy to see how these people target children and vulnerable people. This would be a fantastic assigned read. I liked the family's communication at the end, and the way Julia's counseling group was depicted.

From a writing standpoint, sometimes the description and Julia's inner monologue were a little clumsy. The characters didn't always ring true for me either - Julia's elder sister in particular, didn't read like a teenager, but rather as someone much older. This doesn't lessen the impact of what happens, or the natural progression of things in Julia's life that lead to "Tyler" targeting her. Definitely recommend for awareness purposes.

Hannah DCamp

2 stars for me, but I've given it three because it served it's purpose well, and it's purpose was not to entertain me.

This was an easy read about a topic that's really unsettling. Human trafficking is one of those things that always lurks in the back of my mind. I know it happens to so many people. I know slavery is at higher levels now then any other time in history. I see the phone numbers inside public bathrooms and always think of the people who have to call them.

I'm not always on board with the idea that children need to be introduced to traumatic experiences at a young age (usually with the excuse that "well, children that age are actually experiencing those things"), but I think this book is very necessary. Julia is relatable and her motivations are clear. "Tyler's" trap is clear from the outside, but Dunlap also makes it easy to see how these people target children and vulnerable people. This would be a fantastic assigned read. I liked the family's communication at the end, and the way Julia's counseling group was depicted.

From a writing standpoint, sometimes the description and Julia's inner monologue were a little clumsy. The characters didn't always ring true for me either - Julia's elder sister in particular, didn't read like a teenager, but rather as someone much older. This doesn't lessen the impact of what happens, or the natural progression of things in Julia's life that lead to "Tyler" targeting her. Definitely recommend for awareness purposes.

It Happened on Saturday

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