West Liberty

This month we will be discussing Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany Jackson. Books are available for check out at the upstairs circulation desk.

Ripped from the headlines, this young adult fiction is based on the true story of two black girls who go missing, one in Washington DC, the other in Detroit. Told from the perspective of Claudia in flashbacks, Monday Charles is missing, has been missing, and no one seems to be taking the disappearance seriously.

Reviews:
“A mesmerizing, punch-in-the-gut story about the power of friendship and the horrors hiding right in front of us.” (Laurie Halse Anderson, author of Speak and Chains)

“This thought-provoking thriller examines issues such as abuse, gentrification, and the marginalization of people of color with nuance and sensitivity. The narrative deftly moves back and forth between past and present, building to a devastating conclusion. A spellbinding, profoundly moving choice for YA collections.” (School Library Journal (starred review))

“Jackson effortlessly weaves elements of suspense with issues of race, class, and gender, casting a harsh light on a world that often refuses to notice the disappearances of black and brown girls. The twist at the end is both gaspworthy and heartbreaking.” (Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review))

“Jackson doesn’t hold anything back when it comes to the pain of abuse and the ramifications of turning a blind eye. It’s a frank, devastating read filled with real and flawed characters, and it’s a story that needs to be read.” (Booklist)

“In addition to a gripping plot line, underlying social issues bubble beneath the surface, such as neighborhood gentrification, race, poverty, community, the healing of connection, and the destruction in disconnection.” (The Horn Book)

“The gravest, most fundamental challenge in Tiffany D. Jackson’s devastating novel is leveled at a society that purports to value children while allowing untold numbers of them, particularly poor children and children of color, to fall through the cracks.” (Chicago Tribune)