A very real sense of menace as this unusual and original book races to its climax

Passionately honest

A fearless novelist

A children's writer of rare gifts

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.'

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

A beautifully crafted story about the legacy of trauma

A supreme storyteller