Tiffany D. Jackson's heartbreaking young adult novel is not one for the faint of heart. Centering around the powerful friendship of Claudia and Monday, Claudia grapples with the absence of her best friend, Monday, after Monday fails to show up to school for several weeks. When Monday's absence continues over the course of several weeks, Claudia can't help but think that something is very wrong. This devastating novel brings to light the number of young Black children whose disappearances are not thoroughly investigated. 

The novel's chapters are titled "Two Years Before the Before," "One Year Before the Before," "The Before," or "The After" which can make for a confusing plot once you hit the mid-way point of the novel. While I liked Monday's Not Coming, the back-and-forth between the timelines was confusing and as a result, made the reading experience less enjoyable for me. I also did not love the plot "twist" - it seemed unnecessary and would have been made for an equally powerful story without it. That said, Monday's Not Coming is a hard-hitting read that sheds light on current issues.