This book was just really lovely. Stevie is such a charismatic character and a great one to follow through the trials of coming of age as a black woman in 1960s Chicago. The intersections between personal and political relationships and the development of all the characters are both astute and interesting, but it’s really the fun, bright prose and attitudes that make this just such a heartwarming discovery of oneself.

I knew I was losing my boyfriend, but I felt relieved. I realized that I had never been in love with Sean, just impressed with him. And that was a different feeling. It hadn’t made me want to run outside and taste a snowflake.