It's the summer of 1999, and her high-rise is next in line to be torn down by the Chicago Housing Authority. Felicia "Fe Fe" Stevens is living with her vigilantly loving mother and older teenaged brother, whom she adores, in building 4950 of Chicago's Robert Taylor Homes. Even when we lose it all, we find the strength to rebuild. Louis Post Dispatch, Chicago Tribune, Veranda, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Publishers Weekly, and more! For fans of Jacqueline Woodson and Brit Bennett, a striking coming-of-age debut about friendship, community, and resilience, set in the housing projects of Chicago during one life-changing summer. Tragic, hopeful, brimming with love, Wolfe's debut is a remarkable achievement."-New York Times Book Review Named a Best Book of Summer by Good Housekeeping, Chicago Magazine, The St. It will transform you back to 1999 and if you lived in Chicago or any hood during that time you will be able to relate to Fefe and her friends.The Stephen Curry Underrated Literati Book Club Pick! " powerful novel. While it has violent topics and experiences it is completely authentic. If you love historical fiction, especially dramas about family, gentrification and faith, this book is for you. She sees firsthand how the projects can break people while she also realizes the government doesn’t care about poor, Black folks no matter what their political affiliation might be. She has faith that she will survive the Robert Taylor Homes even though she knows it is part of her identity. In the quiet mornings when all the gang violence ceases, she goes to church with her devout Christian friend and finds solace in the church. But Fefe has a heart of gold and doesn’t want to judge people based on their family’s reputation, even though the family has a long history of crime.ĭespite the vivid crime and abuse that Fefe sees, it doesn’t break her. Fefe has another friend that her mother and close neighbor friend warns her about, too.
The girl they hesitantly befriend is the daughter of a drug addict who abandons her daughter frequently. When Fefe decides to bring another young girl into their circle, things seem to go downhill. For years, the projects have occupied prime-time real estate on State Street which is one of the major streets on the southside.įefe takes us on an emotional journey where she and her friends try to stay together but grow apart due to their own situations.
Residents of Robert Taylor are eagerly awaiting their vouches so that they can relocate because the city of Chicago has started its gentrification process with its public housing residents. Fefe lives in the 4950 building– which is the last Robert Taylor Home left standing. The story follows a 12-year-old girl named FeFe who lives in Chicago’s Robert Taylor Homes. Last Summer On State is a must-have addition to the Black girl coming-of-age literary canon.
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