Tara Hodgson’s debut young adult novel, Chasing Through Time, draws mixed reactions from readers. Some are immediately drawn to the anguished world of teenagers dealing with social media’s unrealistic expectations, bullying and exclusion.
“A few people have even said it made them uncomfortable because the emotions are so raw. But that’s what I wanted – those raw emotions felt especially by teenage girls,” said Hodgson, a Sturgeon County resident who teaches junior high school English.
Chasing Through Time is set in the fractious world of high school. Sarah, who lives in 2001, is dumped by a capricious boyfriend and pushed away by a once-best friend. Feeling lonely, insecure and invisible, she views herself as a pathetic loser.
Twenty years apart in 2022, Emma also deals with a devastating breakup and a brutal social media scandal that threatens her reputation. Her parents are distant, and she has no friends to lean on. Day by day her despair grows.
Both girls yearn for a true friend, and one night in a moment of weird science and a touch of magic, the two connect through time. As they confide in each other, their friendship develops into a lifeline for both teens.
While Sarah, who lives in an era prior to social media lawlessness, gains strength from her experiences, Emma’s life is destroyed through technology chaos. Sarah watches her friend struggle and is desperate to help even as she’s trapped in the past.
What makes Chasing Through Time a great read is the mental-emotional slow-boil collapse of Emma and the desperation Sarah feels in attempting to reach her friend. To heighten tension, Hodgson recounts the girls’ stories in alternating chapters in this 254-page novel.
“I wanted to juxtapose the two worlds. Twenty years isn’t a long time, but so much has changed. A lot of kids are really struggling. As technology has increased, there has been a big disconnect,” said Hodgson.
“I’ve been lucky at my school. We’re in a rural setting and we’re more connected. But I’ve worried about other settings where when you become a teenager, parents think the kids are old enough and they think they’re done parenting. But kids still need them so much, and parents are relying on technology to care for their children.”
Hodgson, who taught for 17 years, first noticed a correlation between increased technology use and mental health issues 10 years ago. However, problems were magnified during COVID.
During the pandemic students stayed connected by enhancing their social media presence. The extended hours only fueled more bullying, insecurity, friend issues and boy-girl troubles.
“I’ve seen kids average nine or 10 hours a day on social media. It even goes upwards to 12 hours a day. And I know one kid who was on it for 23 hours in one day.”
There’s also a slice of the young Tara in her two main characters, Sarah and Emma.
“When I was young, I was very shy, very insecure. I had that feeling of isolation. In junior high I’d get a stack of books and read them. I didn’t have a lot of friends because I was so shy. Looking back, I’m grateful because I was able to find comfort in books.”
It’s Hodgson’s youthful experiences and school yard observations that lend Chasing Through Time authenticity and insight into the teenage heart. Her prose and imagery are powerful yet crafted with economy and precision.
“What scares me is that children are over-protected in the real world. They can’t go to the store or ride a bike. But in the technological world, they’re unprotected. Parents aren’t giving them boundaries which is scary.”
She closes by saying, “This book is not just for teens, but also for parents. It can serve as a connector. I want my daughter and I to have conversations even if they’re uncomfortable. This is a tool that can help other parents.”
Chasing Through Time is available online at Amazon and Friesen Press.
