Jessica is a normal teenage girl on a normal Saturday when her mom gets the news: she got a new job offer and Jess is moving to New York. The good news? They’re finally getting away from her abusive father. The bad news? Jessica, her mother, and her two younger siblings, are uprooting their lives and moving across the country. Come Monday, Jess gets to start a new school for performing arts. Her passion for music and acting throw her into the spotlight, much to the dismay of the school’s queen bee, Macy. Macy seems to have a grip on everyone’s life and connections to all the big producers. Will Jess be able to stand against Macy and her plans to destroy Jess? Or will Jess be another one of Macy’s many victims?

I felt that Saturday was an enjoyable young adult novel overall. The title of the book is not explained until the very end of the book, which leaves readers wondering throughout the book. And in those last few pages it was made out to be a theme.

I think this would be a great book for middle-grade readers or young teens who are struggling with fitting in at school or facing bullies. This is stirring melodrama that follows an interesting character through hurdles I think that many readers will be able to relate to.

I would recommend Saturday to young readers looking for a book that is easy to read but still carries an important message. The themes of bullying and conflict resolution make this a perfect book for that age-group. It portrays ways to stand up for yourself without becoming a bully. It discusses conflict resolution without condoning abuse or putting the abuser down. It portrays the difficulty of learning right from wrong in a manner that would be beneficial for any teen. I appreciate Cindy DeFuria for finding that balance in her story and I respect the message that she is sending through this poignant contemporary fiction book.

Pages: 188 | ASIN: B0BL5FH1VC