Saturday by Cindy DeFuria

Saturday by Cindy DeFuria is a gripping YA novel following a teenager’s journey through bullying. Showing the darker side of ambition, DeFuria plunges the reader into a competitive New York school for young talents where friendships are hard to come by, and some might even turn dangerous.

It’s on a Saturday that Jessica’s mom breaks the news that they’re moving to New York in a few weeks. Despite her sadness about leaving California behind, Jessica is excited: what better place to shine as an actress and singer? Famous for producing several stars, her new school is full of driven, highly driven young people who would do anything to achieve stardom, and Jessica is about to find out just how far some of them are willing to go.

The offbeat style of DeFuria’s prose gives credibility to her teenage character, revealing the frenetic nature of her new adjustment, and creating a truly empathetic portrait, as Jessica tries to adapt to this new cutthroat environment. Although Jessica’s troubles escalate in a way that seems more for dramatic effect than aiming at true realism, DeFuria uses an intriguing layer of surrealism to amplify the story’s emotional weight, giving the narrative a uniquely dark edge.

At its core, Saturday is a book about following your dreams, no matter who tries to stop you, for an inspiring, emotionally stirring, and passionately written work of young adult fiction.

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