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midnightmarauder's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Last Summer on State Street is told from the perspective of Felicia Stevens, often called Fe Fe by her friends and other people in the neighborhood. She lives in the South Side of Chicago in the Robert Taylor Homes projects. She has two best friends: church-girl Precious Brown, and Stacia Buchanan, who comes from a gang-affiliated background.
Though the girls come from different walks of life, they lean on each other for support and friendship. Tonya, a new girl in their building, appears, and Felicia invites her over and she joins their friend group. But, Tonya comes with her own set of problems that don't show themselves until later.
Tonya flinches a lot at loud sounds like gunshots or yelling, which makes me believe that she was a victim ofphysical abuse , even though it's never explicitly stated. However, it is revealed that she is a victim of sexual abuse at the hands of drug dealers in their neighborhood. Her mother is also a drug addict, so it's possible that she could've been pimping Tonya out to the dealers in exchange for drugs .
Fe Fe, who is naive but also very curious, grows up quickly during her time on State Street, witnessing both her building,which is slated for demolition , and her friends fall apart around her. Although so much changes around her, she uses the issues as vitriol to get an education and move out of Chicago altogether , making something of herself.
I enjoyed reading this book so much, that it was always hard to put down. It reminded me a lot of my own childhood back when I lived in the projects; how I had a mother who sheltered me the best she could from the dangers of life in public housing, and how I had friends who, more often than not, had worse living situations than I had.
Though the girls come from different walks of life, they lean on each other for support and friendship. Tonya, a new girl in their building, appears, and Felicia invites her over and she joins their friend group. But, Tonya comes with her own set of problems that don't show themselves until later.
Tonya flinches a lot at loud sounds like gunshots or yelling, which makes me believe that she was a victim of
Fe Fe, who is naive but also very curious, grows up quickly during her time on State Street, witnessing both her building,
I enjoyed reading this book so much, that it was always hard to put down. It reminded me a lot of my own childhood back when I lived in the projects; how I had a mother who sheltered me the best she could from the dangers of life in public housing, and how I had friends who, more often than not, had worse living situations than I had.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Gun violence, Abandonment, Blood, Death, Police brutality, and Violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Drug use, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Toxic friendship, and Adult/minor relationship
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