Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Last Summer on State Street by Toya Wolfe

41 reviews

fjswabey19's review

challenging inspiring reflective fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Gun violence, Child abuse, and Sexual assault

vaanessssaa's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

I cried. This is a devastatingly realistic fictional take on growing up in The Projects and it hits even harder hearing it from the perspective of a girl right on the cusp of change.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Police brutality, Gun violence, Rape, Pedophilia, and Drug use

ranti's review

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious relaxing sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence and Sexual assault

danieleg's review

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Really great book that was also a difficult read; heartbreaking portrait that resonated while also taking a lot out of me. Tw: child abuse/sexual assault for sure, and I do wish there was a little less god stuff but I understand how it can be a great place to turn to for community and hope.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual assault

distractible's review

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Gun violence, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Drug abuse, and Sexual assault

Minor: Pregnancy

mamaofperfectpayton's review

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Child death, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Death, and Violence

cleches's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, Sexual assault, Abandonment, and Drug abuse

maregred's review

challenging inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Rape, Classism, Drug abuse, Death, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Addiction, Gun violence, Racism, and Adult/minor relationship

girrllie's review

It was too sad and violent. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Drug use, Gun violence, and Rape

leahgustafson's review

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This is a beautiful, raw, and haunting coming of age story set in Chicago during the summer of 1999. Fe Fe has lived in the Robert Taylor Homes her whole life. Now they are set to be torn down, and its residents will (hopefully) be relocated. 

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I love how this story is told from twelve-year-old Fe Fe’s perspective. She and her friends jump double dutch as they navigate this looming change and seek refuge from the gang violence and drug trade that plagues their community. I think that while a child’s perspective can be unreliable at times, children are also very observant and they see the world in a unique way. Eventually the perspective shifts and we get Fe Fe as an adult narrator, reflecting back on her time in the Robert Taylor Homes. This is an interesting shift because as a child, this housing complex has been her whole life, but as an adult, this is just a piece of her life. I think this is really impactful because it shows how life in the Robert Taylor Homes (and the relationships/experiences that came with it) shaped her, but they are not her only identity. Finally, we get Stacia’s perspective at the end of the book. At first I thought this was an odd choice, but it lets the reader into some things that Fe Fe didn’t fully know or understand as a child. 

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Something I find myself coming back to time and again is Fe Fe’s love for Meechie. It is so real and genuine. Her reflections on/how she grabbles with his choices are a powerful insight and commentary on black boys’ options for achieving safety, security, and ultimately survival. 

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This is Toya Wolfe’s debut novel, and I will definitely read anything else she writes! Wolfe herself grew up in the Robert Taylor Homes, and I’d like to think she’s added a bit of herself to this story and its characters. 

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🚨 This book has some heavy content warnings so please make sure you check that out before you dive into this one! 

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Check out what I'm reading next on Instagram @LeahsLitReview!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Addiction, and Gun violence