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Weekend Picks for May 9th

5/9/2025

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Alyssa Engler
Our second Weekend Picks for May comes to us from another Oakland University student Alyssa Engler. Her featured novel, Monday's Not Coming, focuses on the themes of friendship and loss as it weaves a mystery about a girl who has gone missing: Monday Charles. The story uses non-linear storytelling  as a way to blend the past with the present. 

Alyssa has this to say about herself as an introduction to our readers: "Hello! My name is Alyssa. I'm a full-time student at OU working towards an English Language Arts for Educators degree and a server by night! In my free time, I love hanging out with my German shepherds (the one in the photo is my late baby Bella; right now, I have two, Rebel and Ryder!). But outside of them, you can find me with my head in a craft of some kind!"

Many thanks to Alyssa for her contribution this week, and for pointing us toward another important YA novel read. 

Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson

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We all have that person; yes, that best friend, sibling, or coworker you just thought of. The one who’s all in, no questions asked. Someone who feels like warmth in the coldest weather, or the sunshine slipping through in your cloudiest moment. Maybe you sat next to them in class randomly on the first day, talked to them at a party and just instantly clicked, or perhaps you’re like me; she happened to apply at your work, and within minutes, you’re laughing and talking like you’ve known one another for a lifetime.

We all have the one person, that special person.

But sometimes life throws us a curveball, something we never see coming.

​What if one day they didn’t show up, didn’t pick up the phone, disappeared into thin air, and suddenly weren’t around; they were gone. That’s Claudia’s fear when she can't get ahold of her best friend: Monday Charles.
Author Tiffany D. Jackson explores the theme of loss and societal neglect as she tells the story about how Monday isn’t coming back. And despite how hard the protagonist Claudia tries, no one – not the school, not the police, not even Monday’s own family – seems concerned. Claudia struggles to piece together the puzzle that is her best friend, her person. The novel brings into focus the experiences of missing children and their loved ones, particularly those children who are overlooked by the systems meant to help keep children safe. 
This novel isn’t just a mystery – it’s a powerful story of friendship, mental health, and how the system can fail a vulnerable community and its people. Jackson’s non-linear storytelling is a tool that lets us see deeper into Claudia’s confusion and pulls readers deeper into her perspective. 

This book will force us to think about uncomfortable truths and leave you thinking long after you turn the final page. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves mysteries with real-world relevance, and those who love a good plot twist you won’t see coming from miles away.
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Tiffany D. Jackson
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    Editor/Curator:

    Our current Weekend Picks editor/curator is Dr. Amanda Stearns-Pfeiffer. She is an Associate Professor of English Education at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan where she has taught courses in ELA methods, YA Literature, grammar, and Contemporary Literature since 2013. When she's not teaching, writing, or reading, she loves to spend time with her husband and three kids - especially on the tennis court. Her current research interests include YAL featuring girls in sports and investigating the representation of those female athletes. ​​

    Questions? Comments? Contact Amanda:
    [email protected]

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