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A review by foxreadsbooks
The Davenports by Krystal Marquis
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
In her author's note, Marquis notes that she wanted "The Davenports to hold up examples of representation" she did not have as a teen, and to "focus on young Black women discovering the courage to pursue their dreams- and loves-at a time when Jim Crow, fear, and distrust threatened both." In this, Marquis succeeds. The 4 female protagonists follow their hearts, even though internal and external conflicts. The novel introduces significant historical changes like Jim Crow laws, the end (and lasting repercussions) of slavery, and the civil rights movement.
Why 3 stars then? To be fair, this wasn't written for an adult white woman, so take the following with a grain of salt. I often have difficulty with novels written through multiple POVs, and 4 characters, who were all interesting in their own right, were too many. Coupled with the parallelism in their stories, it felt like the ups and downs were a little one note, especially as early on, these conflicts centred around men. As this appears to be a series, I would have loved a novel about each woman individually rather than jumping back and forth.
Would I put this in a high school library and encourage kids to read it? Yes. Would I recommend it to a friend... probably not.
Why 3 stars then? To be fair, this wasn't written for an adult white woman, so take the following with a grain of salt. I often have difficulty with novels written through multiple POVs, and 4 characters, who were all interesting in their own right, were too many. Coupled with the parallelism in their stories, it felt like the ups and downs were a little one note, especially as early on, these conflicts centred around men. As this appears to be a series, I would have loved a novel about each woman individually rather than jumping back and forth.
Would I put this in a high school library and encourage kids to read it? Yes. Would I recommend it to a friend... probably not.
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, Slavery, and Racism