A review by serendipitysbooks
Last Summer on State Street by Toya Wolfe

emotional reflective 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 a very impactful coming of age story, centred on four girls who live in the Robert Taylor Homes, a public housing project in Chicago, during the eventful summer of 1999. Twelve year old FeFe and Precious are long term friends. Along with Stacia and newcomer Tonya they spend a lot of time outside playing games and jumping rope together. The contrast between their childhood innocence and the environment in which they live - one where their homes are being torn down and they worry about where they might end up living, where their friends slowly disappear as apartment buildings are demolished, where drugs and gang violence are rife and sheltering from gunfire a commonplace occurrence - was striking and a highlight of the book for me. Apart from the forthcoming loss of their homes, other events of this summer will change their lives forever, robbing them of any remaining childhood. I felt for the girls, but also their brothers and other boys, who are relentlessly targeted by gangs and police, and of course the mothers who try against the odds to keep their children safe. The storytelling and writing were fabulous. The essence of twelve year old girlhood was beautifully captured and the sense of place was strong. Despite never having lived anywhere remotely like the Robert Taylor Homes Wolfe’s writing had me feeling I was right there. Highly recommend this fabulous debut. 
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