This book is a tour de force. Monday’s Not Coming sweeps you up with intrigue, characters, and a truly emotional story). It is a must read.
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?
Review
So I think what makes this book even more emotional is the author’s note at the beginning of the book. The events in Monday’s Not Coming are not pure fiction, they aren’t fancy, they’re grounded in events that have happened. While this isn’t strictly based on a single incident it’s inspired by the collective experiences of those who have gone missing and the communities of the lost.
The story centers around Claudia and her search for her missing best friend. She struggles because it seems like only she is noticing the signs and you kind of ask yourself – how does no one know where she is? The book is written from different time lines: The Before, Before the Before, The After. This is such a clever writing technique on the part of Jackson because it interweaves memories, hindsight, and more into a story that is jam packed with heart break.
Monday’s Not Coming celebrates the important of speaking out, of seeing what others miss, or choosing to spot the inconsistencies. It’s easy to be wrapped up in our own lives, to trust the authorities, or to willfully ignore. It’s true strength to speak up when others are content to stay silent. The book wraps you up, it demands to be read as this book takes a dark and enthralling turn. I finished this book in one sitting and I’d dare you to tell me you didn’t. This book is fantastic – incredibly poignant and emotional. I know this review is shorter than my normal reviews, but it’s because words cannot describe the experience of reading this book. You just need to read it for yourself.
Check out Monday’s Not Coming on Goodreads.
This book is one if my highly anticipated reads of this year and I absolutely cannot wait to read this. I wish the prices go down soon
And now after reading a review, I am sure that this is a great read.
I loved what you said about being busy in your own life and not getting what’s happening elsewhere. It is the fact of the world these days. No one wants to bother about anyone else.
And that writing technique of before and after before is really unique. I remember reading the same technique in Looking for Alaska.
Loved your review
Thanks! I cannot talk enough about how much I enjoyed this book. I think you would really LOVE THIS! I wish I could just lend you mine!
This is a must read for me. I love books that are based on true events. I just finished a middle grade one last night called Ghost Boys.
That’s also on my TBR!
Thank you Lili – I’d never have even thought of looking at this if it wasn’t for your review. Horrible things happen all around us but we either choose to ignore the signs, are unaware of them or then again, assume that those in ‘authority’ will deal them. Sadly there are those times when nobody does anything; if we can teach our young people anything it is not to be afraid, to ‘take care’, to be safe; rather to have belief in oneself, to have the courage to speak out and to keep speaking out until someone listens.
YES! This is such an amazing comment because it exactly deals with that. What do we do when our words aren’t listened to? When the authorities don’t listen! Ugh this book is so good.