Monday’s Not Coming
Written by Tiffany D. Jackson

Publisher’s Summary:
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 help.

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?

Primary Source Pairing:
Monday’s Not Coming is an emotional ride and a reading experience that will stay with you long after you close the book. Author Tiffany D. Jackson discusses her inspiration and motivation to write this book in an Epic Reads interview. For this primary source pairing, invite students to watch this interview and make a connection to the text. Jackson speaks of her research and the book’s plot being loosely based on two real events. The Detroit story is linked here. Encourage students to go deeper in discussion, research, and reflection on the topics Jackson raises of missing children, gentrification, and mental health.

Questions for Discussion:

• Describe what you see and hear.
• What do you notice first?
• Make a connection to Tiffany D. Jackson’s interview and something you read in the book Monday’s Not Coming.
• Jackson speaks of gentrification. Find an example of gentrification in the text. Why is this an important component of the plot?
• What questions do you have for the author? Contact her through her website: http://writeinbk.com/contact/

Credits:
Book Cover and Summary: Follett
“Missing Children, Gentrification, & Mental Health: Tiffany D. Jackson on Monday’s Not Coming” available on YouTube
“2 years after Detroit siblings found in freezer, abused kids have hope.” Detroit Free Press.  March 23, 2017. https://www.freep.com