Book Review: Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson

Title: Monday's Not Coming

Author: Tiffany D. Jackson

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre:  Contemporary,  Mystery, Young Adult

Pages: 464

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Year Published: 2018 

Format: Audiobook

"Monday Charles is missing, and only Claudia seems to notice. Claudia and Monday have always been inseparable- more sisters than friends. So when Monday doesn't turn up for the first day of school, Claudia's worried. When she doesn't show for the second day, or second week, Claudia knows that something is wrong. Monday wouldn't just leave her to endure tests and bullies alone. Not after last year's rumors and not with her grades on the line.  Now Claudia needs her best- and only- friend more than ever. But Monday's mother refuses to give Claudia a straight answer, and Monday's sister April is even less helpful.

As Claudia digs deeper into her friend's disappearance, she discovers that no one seems to remember the last time they saw Monday. How can a teenage girl just vanish without anyone noticing that she's gone?"

My Rating: 5/5

This book is heavy. There is no way around it. The missing BPOC and indigenous girls and women in North America are ridiculously high. There is rarely follow through to find out where they've gone, and often they are brushed under the rug as runaways. This story didn't stray from those truths. It showed in vivid light the issues that can arise when a community is taught that things that happen under a parents roof are their own business. I work in childcare so this hit me differently. The idea that a girl could go missing without follow up, thorough searches, police reports or anything else is only the tip of the iceberg. This story had characters that were realistic and heartbreaking, an atmosphere that was so well written and filled with description and the plot was mysterious without being over the top. The twists and turns were surprising, and I felt, well handled.

 It also tackled many topics the idea of being "easy" in society, and how girls are treated as sexual beings at such a young age. This is a book that will sit with you and while it's haunting, it's also reminding each and every one of us that warning signs can not be ignored, and the safety of a child is the responsibility of all. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny