Last Summer on State Street

Mar 12, 2026 7:17 PM

Author:Toya Wolfe

State Street Chicago, 1999. One summer that changes everything.

An unlikely trio: Felicia 'Fe Fe' Stevens, daughter of fiercely protective mother; Precious Brown, daughter of a prominent church Elder; and Stacia Buchanan, daughter of a Gangster Disciple Queen-Pin.

They have a simple friendship, whiling away sunny days with games of Double Dutch. But when Fe Fe invites mysterious Tonya into their fold, life as they know it will never be the same again.

Last Summer on State Street is a profound coming-of-age story about the restorative power of community, the claiming of one's own past, and the defining friendships which form the heartbeat of our lives.

Reviews

Last Summer on State Street is a beautifully observed portrait of family and female friendship. Toya Wolfe is a marvellous writer.

—— Audrey Niffenegger, New York Times bestselling author of The Time Traveler’s Wife

Tragic, hopeful, brimming with love, Wolfe's debut is a remarkable achievement.

—— New York Times

Toya Wolfe is a storyteller of the highest order-a wise and compassionate chronicler of girlhood, of Chicago, and of the things that make us human. Last Summer on State Street is a stunning debut.

—— Rebecca Makkai, New York Times bestselling author of The Great Believers

Last Summer on State Street is an ode to Black girls who are often forgotten. Toya Wolfe tells a compelling, warm, and funny story about a group of girls growing up in a Chicago public housing development.

—— Natalie Y. Moore, author of The Billboard

I can't stop thinking of Toya Wolfe's novel Last Summer on State Street. Wolfe writes with such grace and such restraint, I felt like I was sitting on the front porch listening to a story told by a friend. What a spectacular debut.

—— Alex Kotlowitz, author of An American Summer

Last Summer on State Street is a love letter to girlhood, the tenuous bonds of friendship, and the places we call home.

—— Nancy Johnson, author of The Kindest Lie

Wolfe's arresting and atmospheric narrative comes fully realized. This is a gut punch.

—— Publishers Weekly

First-time novelist Wolfe writes with lacerating precision and authenticity. Wolfe's deeply compelling characters, sharply wrought settings, and tightly choreographed plot create a concentrated, significant, and unforgettable tale of family, home, racism, trauma, compassion, and transcendence.

—— Booklist

LAST SUMMER ON STATE STREET is an astonishing debut, and Toya Wolfe is a remarkable talent. The novel is a hymn to girlhood, a loving and nuanced portrait of a place and a clear-eyed dissection of brutal social forces that catch Fe Fe, Tonya, Stacia and Precious in their crossfire. Wolfe's prose is rich, elegant and assured - a joy to read.

—— Jessica Moor

McKeon ... is a writer to watch. He conveys how people who cause harm can sometimes be victims, in their own way, and that takes skill. If you enjoy Colum Mcann's work, this novel is for you.'

—— Martina Devlin , Irish Independent

'... beautifully written, placed in those grey shadows between right and wrong and profound, terrible loss.'

—— Anne Cunningham , Sunday Independent

A beautifully crafted story about the legacy of trauma

—— Sarah Gilmartin , The Irish Times

A supreme storyteller

—— Robert Collins , The Sunday Times Ireland

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