Monday's Not Coming

Monday’s Not Coming

• Genre: Fiction; young adult mystery
• Originally Published: 2018
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile HL620L; grades 8-12
• Structure/Length: 56 chapters; approximately 464 pages; approximately 10 hours, 6 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The novel follows Claudia, a teenager whose best friend, Monday, has disappeared without a trace. The central conflict revolves around Claudia’s desperate search for her friend in a community that seems not to notice Monday’s absence, which leads to the discovery of horrifying secrets.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Disappearance of a teenager; child abuse; neglect; themes of violence and trauma; dyslexia; mature language; references to sex, drugs, and alcohol

Tiffany D. Jackson, Author

• Bio: Born in the 1980s; American author of young adult fiction; holds a BA in film from Howard University; previously worked in television and film production; work often explores challenging social issues; known for her gripping narratives and multidimensional characters
• Other Works: Allegedly (2017); Let Me Hear a Rhyme (2019); Grown (2020); Blackout (2021, co-authored)
• Awards: Coretta Scott King - John Steptoe Award for New Talent (2019)

CENTRAL THEMES  connected and noted throughout this Teaching Unit:

• Perception Versus Reality
• Racism and Gentrification
• Coming of Age

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Unit, students will:

• Gain an understanding of the physical and emotional effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and gentrification, which impact Claudia’s life.
• Study paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of Perception Versus Reality, Racism and Gentrification, and Coming of Age.
• Plan, write, and present written observations incorporating the symbolism of color to represent a person, following the examples Claudia develops.
• Analyze and evaluate the plot and character details to draw conclusions in structured essay responses regarding the friendship between Monday and Claudia, the structure of the novel, and other topics.