The only thing that stood between me and the friend I’d been missing so bad all summer was one of the saddest looking horses I’d ever seen. It’s my hope that young readers will come away from the story with a sense of appreciation for the value of honesty and true friendship, as well as a growing awareness that will help them make the best possible decisions, especially as they go online or use social media. From the data collected, though, it is known that thousands of youth under the age of eighteen are lured or forced into trafficking in the United States alone each year, counting toward a current worldwide total of about a million young trafficking victims. When I got involved in theĪnti-trafficking movement, I learned that nobody has the exact numbers because so many cases go unreported. It can happen to anyone, no matter their socioeconomic status, race, or gender identification. Julia’s story is just one of many ways trafficking can occur. Even so, It Happened on Saturday is ultimately a story of hope, healing, and Julia’s journey toward finding her voice.
As a longtime elementary school teacher, I realized there was very little written on this topic for middle-grade readers, and I wanted to introduce this subject matter when young people need it most. I chose to write about this topic after I’d been volunteering for local anti-trafficking organizations and learned that eleven- to fourteen-year-olds are especially susceptible to being lured or forced into trafficking. She makes a risky choice and narrowly escapes becoming a victim of human trafficking.
It Happened on Saturday is the story of a thirteen-year-old girl named Julia who is dealing with issues that many kids face: changing friendships, family challenges, and social media.
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