It Happened on Saturday is about a very serious topic and one that needs to be discussed much more, because it happens to so many children. Julia begins an online friendship with someone she thinks is a boy a couple of years older than her, but in a heartbreaking and horrifying revelation, she narrowly escapes becoming a victim of human trafficking.

A book like this is invaluable for children. It’s highly readable-I finished it in one day- touching, relatable, and doesn’t talk down to young readers. It’s completely believable that Julia, feeling lonely and friendless like many preteens do, would cling to someone who knows “just what to say” to make her feel better and walk into this trap. This is why more books like this should exist, especially in this highly digital age, to help open a dialogue with children about this very real danger. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley and Jolly Fish Press for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

In such a digital age the world is at our fingertips. With the press of a button we have access to so many different things and people worldwide, but accessing these things also means we have granted access to ourselves for them. This isn't something that should be taken lightly but it can be so hard to get through to young people who truly think things would never happen to them. It Happened On Saturday tells us the story of Julia. Julia was just a kid who loved horses and hanging out with her best friend. She was a girl who believed it could never happen to her, until it almost does.

I think the author did a wonderful job at highlighting how easy human trafficking can actually happen. I like that there were bits of advice on things you can do if you ever find yourself in that type of situation.

It Happened on Saturday is one of those important books that will break your heart but is necessary.

Check the back of the book for a handy Discussion Guide on the story.

If you see something, say something.

Call 911 or the
National Human Trafficking Hotline:
1 (888) 373-7888

Wow. Just wow. I adore books with heavy subjects and they was the author wrote about this was so graceful and powerful. Julia was such a reliable and lovable MC that you just wanted the absolute best for her. I found myself talking to her the whole way through the book. Dunlap did such an amazing job writing this that it never felt uncomfortable or like things were being preached to you, which all too often happens with these types of books. Can’t wait for more from this author.

From its description you know right away that this is an important story that needs to be in the hands of teens everywhere. And right from the first page you know it’s not just the subject matter that will keep you reading. As the story evolves, you’ll love Julia, worry about her and want to leap into the pages of the book to warn her of what’s coming. A must read!

A beautifully written book about a very tough subject. I found the characters and the situation (unfortunately) to be realistic and compelling. At times it was hard for me as an adult to read, but as a parent I appreciate how accessible the story is for middle-schoolers. I understood Julia and was rooting for her the entire book. Kudos to the author!

It Happened on Saturday accomplishes a rare thing by spinning a compelling, page-turning story out of some incredibly challenging subject matter. Even though its topic is urgent and immediately applicable to the lives of young readers, the book never comes across as preachy or overly prescriptive. I would chalk a lot of that up to the author's intuitive sense for the unique day-to-day experience of growing up in the 2020s—plus all of the evergreen challenges and social upheavals that have always been a part of the tween experience. Many readers have remarked on this book's importance and relevance, and I agree. I have not seen another book address online safety quite so directly. And, in a world where the concept of "grooming" is so often abused and politicized into a tool for prejudice, this book helps caution young readers about what *real* grooming can look like. I would highly recommend this book for schools, library collections, and homes everywhere!

This book is important. The language used and the terms regarding social media are all current and the focus on self-image all make this book all too real for the reader. Middle school students should read this because it does not feel forced.
When 7th grader Julia feels left out and like she doesn’t belong, she asks her sister for a harmless makeover and posts a picture on her social media account. To her surprise the picture gets lots of attention, especially from Tyler, a boy who attends the local high school. Despite her friends and sister discouraging her, Julia decides to meet Tyler. Sadly, he is not who he says he is and things get out of hand quickly. Julia is targeted for an easy young girl to be human trafficked and narrowly escapes this horrific fate. She must face the consequences of her decision, face her family, and face the insecurity she feels about herself.

The language in this book especially stood out to me because it is current. The terms and slang words my middle schoolers are using were ever present. The book did not feel forced in anyway, although not as gripping as other recent books on the topic, this felt the most relatable. There will no frills or superficial dreams to drive the story, just a young teenage girl looking for acceptance

This book is so very important! I can see this being required reading in all classrooms. Such an accessible and appropriately written, powerful story on child trafficking.

It Happened on Saturday is about Julia, a typical 13-year-old girl, who loves horses. When feelings of loneliness and exclusion start building up, Julia strikes up a friendship with an older boy named Tyler online. Despite warnings from her sister and best friend, Julia meets up with him a few times. But Tyler turns out to not be who he says he is and Julia is lured into a dangerous situation. Luckily she escapes, but then has to work through her trauma and repair her relationships with those who are closest to her.

This book is an important cautionary tale as well as a resource for teens that will bring awareness to the issue of child trafficking. The author, Sydney Dunlap, handles the subject matter in an age-appropriate way and sheds light on both the issue and the aftermath of experiencing trauma. An excellent book!

I received an advanced copy of this ebook from the publisher for an honest review. This book is well written and the characters are described well. This book talks about a tough subject that happens everyday. I enjoyed this authors writing style, I plan to read more books by this author in the near future. This book will be in stores on February 21, for $19.99 (USD).

<Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think this story is an incredibly important one to tell young readers, especially young girls. The subject of human trafficking was covered tastefully but in detail, and I'm so glad the book also tackled the aftermath and healing journey after Julia's traumatic experience. The story was heartbreaking but realistic, and it's a horrifying thought to realize that the vast majority of kids aren't as lucky to escape as Julia. In the age of social media, when the chance to connect with strangers from all over the world is bigger than ever, it's essential to teach kids caution and warn them about all the potential dangers. I think the book does that without implying that all of social media is bad, which I appreciated a lot.

Although I really loved the story, I have to mention a few details that I didn't like. For starters, it was a bit obvious that Julia's POV was written by an adult trying to sound like a pre-teen. Sometimes, her voice just seemed unrealistic for her age, and it kind of took me out of the story a few times. Also, the book had many "tell instead of show" moments that got on my nerves a little bit. The author would describe events or conversations instead of showing them, and I think it took something away from the overall narrative (especially in the part when Julia and Tyler were only beginning to get to know each other). I think that showing those conversations would have made the story even more impactful and moving.

Other than that, though, I think this book should be on every middle-schooler's radar. It teaches many important lessons, from how to spot possible danger from traffickers to how important counseling and therapy are in the aftermath of a traumatic event. In that regard, it is truly a must-read.

As a mother of 4 girls, this book is my worst nightmare. I can only hope to have them read books like this as they get a little older (my oldest is right around the age to read this) and learn not to make the wrong decisions. I appreciate how the plot played out because the reactions to the events felt very realistic. The author did a great job approaching such a sensitive subject, making it easy for a middle grade reader to understand, but also opening older readers eyes.

It Happened on Saturday, by debut author Sydney Dunlap, is one of those books I will be telling everyone about. Written beautifully and thoughtfully, the story of Julia not only drew me in, but it also had me on the edge of my seat. The fast paced novel touches on an important and urgent topic in an accessible and developmentally appropriate way. The author created vivid characters in a relatable setting all while urging young readers to be aware of the reality (and dangers) of today’s online social world. While human trafficking is terrifying to think about, it is necessary for us to do so. I will share this book with my school and town’s libraries, my daughters, and my family and friends. Highly recommend!

This book is so important and so timely - I hope every middle-grade student will get a chance to read IT HAPPENED ON SATURDAY and discuss this very scary but necessary subject: human trafficking. In addition to tackling difficult material, Sydney Dunlap writes a compulsively readable narrative with relatable, lovable characters. I loved this book!

This addresses important topics about internet safety, sex trafficking, friendship, family relationships, and mental health,

Thank you to NetGalley & North Star Editions for providing an advanced reader copy of this book!

Julia is having a hard start to 8th grade. Her best friend, Nori, was away at camp all summer, and came back with Luke, her new boyfriend. Added to that, Julia’s other friends have moved away, and it feels like she is always by herself. So when her sister gives her a makeover and she posts the picture online, Julia is instantly excited when she finally gets the attention of a boy—actually not just a boy, but an older boy. She knows she’s not supposed to talk to strangers online, but who else can she connect with?

I had NO idea what this book would be about when I picked it up, so I was shocked as I got farther into the story. The story starts off with Julia’s social pressures and anxieties, which are only eased by her time with horses & conversations with this stranger online. But as the conversations continue, you can feel the tension building. This is truly a harrowing story and an has an important message about the dangers of social media and meeting strangers online. The second half of the story also really explores how someone can cope after trauma. I think that this will be a book that can really open conversations about trafficking to students, and make them aware of the dangers they could face meeting people online. (The author’s note also includes info on how middle schoolers are often targeted by traffickers.)

When best friends move away and another gets a boyfriend, how do you fill the lonliness? Julia receives a DM after posting a makeover picture. After talking, they meet. Tyler makes Julia feel special. The girl who loves horses and hanging out suddenly finds herself locked in a hotel room and warned to do whatever he says.
Beginning pacing was a bit slow, then, book unfolds into a needed story on human trafficking. Dunlap beautifully shares the aftermath from detectives, counseling, sharing, and forgiving yourself.

Author Sydney Dunlap has created a thoughtful and necessary read about the very real problem of trafficking. With realistic details and authentic self-consciousness on the part of the main character, Julia, Dunlap has written a book about a danger that many young people can encounter and, perhaps even more importantly, how a young person must navigate the process of healing afterwards. The first half of the book was realistically terrifying, as Julia grew further apart from her safe friendships and closer to the person who would ultimately put her in danger. The second half of the book was incredibly moving, as Julia escaped the trafficking attempt but had to deal with the lasting emotional harm. This book will provide young people with an opportunity to discuss difficult issues of online and in-person safety with their guardians, and does a great job of representing the scariness of this situation without ever sensationalizing it. A powerful debut.

Thank you NetGalley, Jolly Fish Press, and Sydney Dunlap for the opportunity to read this e-ARC!

Julia is going into 8th grade with her best friend, but she feels left behind and left out because her friend comes back with a boyfriend and seems to care more about makeup now. Not only that, but her parents and older sister seem to have less time for Julia as well.

One day, Julia gets a makeover from her sister and posts the picture online. She gets way more likes and comments than she usually does and starts chatting with a guy name Tyler. He's a few years older, but really understands Julia, more than anyone ever has. Julia starts up a fast friendship online with Tyler and eventually starts to meet him at the mall.

This book handles a sensitive topic (child trafficking) really well. It's not graphic, but certainly gets to the heart of the issue really well. When a child is struggling during an already-vulnerable time like middle school, they're especially vulnerable to trafficking. Dunlap made Julia's situation leading up to and after the trauma of meeting Tyler really middle grade appropriate -- Julia goes to group counseling and actually finds a lot of comfort with horses.

Trafficking can happen to anyone. This book save the lives of unsuspecting teenagers. The topic was handled so well, yet in a straightforward way so that teens and adults will realize it could happen to them or their friends.