Last Summer on State Street, by Toya Wolfe

A book that wasn’t on my radar, but I immediately bought after watching my favorite BookTok’er rave about it….Last Summer on State Street, by Toya Wolfe was the perfect read to finish July. And I’m absolutely blown away that this book is the author’s debut novel…BEAUTIFULLY written!

Last Summer on State Street reads more like a memoir than YA and recounts the summer of 1999 in the Robert Taylor Homes housing projects in Chicago. The story is told from the perspective of Felicia (FeFe), both as a 12-year-old child and in hindsight as an adult. FeFe and her friends spend their summer days playing Double Dutch, but increasing gang violence and the impending scheduled demolition of their building threaten to disrupt and upend their futures. FeFe struggles to make sense of what’s happening around her, both personally and systemically. As an adult, she recalls how her last summer on State Street impacted her life, but didn’t define her. The book blurb really says it best… “Profound, reverent, and uplifting, LAST SUMMER ON STATE STREET explores the risk of connection against the backdrop of racist institutions, the restorative power of knowing and claiming one’s own past, and those defining relationships which form the heartbeat of our lives.”

I can’t recommend this one enough. I feel like it’s a book EVERYONE should read. I actually listened to this one on Audible as recommended by several people and I’m so glad I did…the narrator, Shayna Small, is a brilliant storyteller and added another layer of life and emotion to an already touching and poignant story. The audiobook was right at about 6 hours and I finished it in a day…I couldn’t stop listening (I believe the book is about 200 pages, give or take). Although relatively short, Last Summer on State Street packs a heavy punch.

While the themes present this story are gritty and raw, they weren’t gratuitous, rather very real and honest. Heartbreakingly endearing and inspiring. In a short amount of time, the author wrote and developed her characters so incredibly well. I was emotionally invested in each one…each so tangible and real. I couldn’t help but feel for them.

Such an impactful read, Last Summer on State Street is one that will stay with me for a long time. I HIGHLY recommend. I think this would be an excellent choice for a book club pick as well. If you’re a fan of Jacqueline Woodson & Brit Bennett, you’ll be sure to love Toya Wolfe, too.

4.5 out of 5 stars