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    It Happened on Saturday tackles social media safety

    0
    By Jessica on November 18, 2023 ages 11 & up, Middle Grade

    IT HAPPENED ON SATURDAY, by Sydney Dunlap, North Star Editions, Feb. 20, 2023, Hardcover, $19.99 (ages 11 and up)

    A teen is lured into a relationship via social media in It Happened on Saturday, by Sydney Dunlap. 

    Thirteen-year-old Julia would much rather work with horses at the rescue barn than worry about things like dating and makeup. But when her BFF meets a boy at camp, Julia’s determined not to get left behind. After a makeover from her older sister, she posts a picture of herself online and gets a comment from Tyler―a seemingly nice kid who lives across town. As they DM more and more, Julia’s sure that Tyler understands her in a way her family never has. Even better, their relationship earns her tons of attention at school.

    Then Julia finds out Tyler’s true plan, and her world is turned upside down. She fiercely guards her secret, but could her silence allow her friends to fall into the same trap? —Synopsis provided by North Star Editions

    It Happened on Saturday reads like a “message” book. And that’s not to say the message is bad, but it lacks that sort of organic feel that makes a book feel special. Instead, it feels like the author has a message to share, and the book is her way of doing it.

    It Happened on Saturday is specifically about a girl who becomes enamored with a guy she meets online. He compliments her photo and they begin “talking.” Soon, he’s asking her to meet and later lures her into a hotel room where he intends to hand her off to a human trafficker. That’s the first half of the book. The second half focuses on her experiences after getting away.

    Again, this is something to be aware of, but something with the book just didn’t sit right with me. I often felt like author Sydney Dunlap was telling rather than showing, and somehow the whole thing felt a bit formulaic.

    It Happened on Saturday is not bad, it’s just not great. I suggest parents read it before or in conjunction with their kid. Because of the topic, it warrants further discussion.

     

    Copyright © 2023 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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    Jessica
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    Jessica Harrison is the reviewer behind Cracking the Cover. She loves books and worked as the in-house book critic at a daily newspaper, writing reviews and interviewing authors for two years. When the company cut back, she lost her position covering books, but that doesn't mean she stopped reading. If anything, the whole experience made her more passionate about reading and giving people the tools to make informed decisions in their own book choices. She has been featured on NetGalley's Blogger Spotlight and is on Kindleprenuer's Ultimate List of the Best Book Review Blogs. Contact her at jessica(at)crackingthecover(dot)com and follow Cracking the Cover on Bluesky, Instagram,  Facebook and Twitter (X) @crackingthecovr. You can also read scaled down reviews on Jessica's Goodreads review page. Jessica is also a reviewer on Amazon.

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