Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson

TW: child abuse/neglect, miscarriage, homophobia

The novel Monday’s Not Coming is complex. The novel focuses on the mysterious disappearances of black children and the faulty system that frequently causes the kids to fall between the cracks. These are two extremely serious themes. The narrative is told from the viewpoint of Claudia, who becomes concerned when no one seems to notice that her closest friend Monday has vanished. The narrative develops layer by layer as Claudia tries to understand the mystery of her missing companion, ultimately shocking the reader. While I, as a reader, had a little idea of what the novel was about, there is no way that I could have foreseen the manner in which Jackson would build this tale. 

I loved how complicated the relationship between Claudia and Monday was, and how difficult it might be to discover the beauty in such a tragic situation. Their bond goes beyond a typical friendship. They are soulmates, two people who were created to be connected. The narrative is made much more tragic by their bond at its very core.

By Teen Reviewer, Maheen