What's new in The Davenports is not its premise; indeed, the rhythms of this YA historical romance, with its cast of passionate young people fighting societal expectations in an effort to find true love, feel quite familiar. What's new is its perspective. The novel's glittering galas, chaperoned outings, and forbidden social pairings feel straight out of Downton Abbey, but in The Davenports, almost everyone is Black, and smaller personal dramas play out against a background shaped by Reconstruction-era tensions and the nascent Civil Rights movement. The Davenport family is one of the wealthiest in Chicago, and siblings John, Olivia, and Helen have grown up with the expectation that they will model Black excellence at every opportunity. Their desire to make their parents proud while following their own dreams animates the novel's plot.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the historical perspective of The Davenports, which made up for the relatively predictable romantic pairings. It was refreshing to read YA historical fiction that centers Black hope, promise, and talent even as it wrestles with the complex and inescapable impacts of slavery. I don't know much about the real-life family that The Davenports is based on, but Marquis's novel made me want to learn more. I will definitely read the sequel, and I'm looking forward to offering this novel to my students!
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the historical perspective of The Davenports, which made up for the relatively predictable romantic pairings. It was refreshing to read YA historical fiction that centers Black hope, promise, and talent even as it wrestles with the complex and inescapable impacts of slavery. I don't know much about the real-life family that The Davenports is based on, but Marquis's novel made me want to learn more. I will definitely read the sequel, and I'm looking forward to offering this novel to my students!