Glancing at the house one last time, I gave Ms. Roundtree a hug. “Thank you.”
“Sure, baby, anytime.”
I jumped in the car, kissed Michael, and we drove off, cranking up Daddy’s newest song.
With Monday humming along.
Acknowledgments
First, thank you, Jesus, for showing me signs when I absolutely needed them.
Natalie Lakosil, as always, thank you for being a ball of positive energy and optimism.
Benjamin Rosenthal, thank you for seeing the gold in this book when I thought it was a pile of steaming poop. You are so encouraging and have a knack for easing my doubts.
Duane Tyler Jackson, thank you for taking such good care of Oscar. You are so gifted, talented, and caring, I have no doubt in your success, pudding pop!
Tara, my best friend since the second grade, the ying to my yang, the Monday to my Claudia . . . that one week you went “missing” was the longest week of my entire life and inspired parts of this story. Love you, blueberry girl.
Drew “Droopy” Anderson, the first person to read this book, thank you for all your help in shaping this story, making it as true as possible to DC, and for reminding me of my love of poetry.
Justine Larbalestier, thank you for always pushing me to demand the best for myself. I appreciate you seeing my worth when I can’t. (Also, thanks for sharing Scott Westerfeld with me.)
Laurie Halse Anderson, I cannot thank you enough for taking me under your wing! That two-day therapy session was everything I needed and put the battery pack in my back.
Shout-out to my safe space: Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Dhonielle Clayton, and Ashley Woodfolk. Thank you for never letting me quit.
To my homies, Jason Reynolds, Justin A. Reynolds, and Lamar Giles . . . thank you for always checking on me and cracking jokes. I can always count on y’all.
To the 2017 Debuts, Class of 2k17, the Debutante Ball, the mothers of Jack and Jill, Kidlit Authors of Color, Madcap . . . your support throughout my debut year has been AMAZING! To the ladies of the Women of Color Retreat in Costa Rica . . . thank you for helping me regain my sense of peace.
Big ups to my girls, who constantly reminded me that I am loved when I wasn’t feeling all that loveable while writing this book: Nicole J., Nicole W., Tiffany S., Tiffany T., Simone, Tonia, Adana, Shanelle, Jessica S., Jessica H.M., Lyneka, Crystal, Suzanne, T. Nicole, Starr, and Indigo.
To my boo, you’re the best bae of all the baes.
Lastly, to missing children of color, we have not forgotten about you. We will continue to fight and give you a voice. You matter.
About the Author
Photo by Rayon Richards
TIFFANY D. JACKSON is the author of Allegedly. A TV professional by day, novelist by night, awkward black girl 24/7, she received her bachelor of arts in film from Howard University and her master of arts in media studies from the New School. A Brooklyn native, she is a lover of naps, cookie dough, and beaches, currently residing in the borough she loves with her adorable Chihuahua, Oscar, most likely multitasking. You can visit her online at www.writeinbk.com.
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Books by Tiffany D. Jackson
Allegedly
Monday’s Not Coming
Let Me Hear a Rhyme
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Copyright
Katherine Tegen Books is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
MONDAY’S NOT COMING. Copyright © 2018 by Tiffany D. Jackson. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
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Cover art by Zoa Photo/Stocksy and Getty Images
Cover design by Erin Fitzsimmons
* * *
Library of Congress Control Number: 2018933268
Digital Edition MAY 2018 ISBN: 978-0-06-242269-9
Print ISBN: 978-0-06-242267-5
* * *
1819202122PC/LSCH10987654321
FIRST EDITION
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