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A review by fandomsandfiction
The Davenports by Krystal Marquis
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.0
Set in the year 1910, The Davenports is a YA historical drama following the lives of four young Black women in the United States during a time of political unrest.
There is Olivia, the eldest Davenport daughter, who is burdened with the expectations of being a respectable woman and being dutiful towards her parents. There is Helen, the youngest Davenport daughter, who couldn't care less about the social conventions and desperately wishes to be involved in her family's carriage business. There is Amy-Rose, the Davenport family maid and friend, who dreams of opening her own hair salon for black women. And there is Ruby, Olivia's best friend and potential sister-in-law, burdened with her own set of familial expectations.
Told from alternating points of view, the intertwining stories of these young women are filled with love, courage and determination. I found it to be a mostly enjoyable read that provides a glimpse into issues of racial and gender politics.in 20th century America. I did feel that the story dragged a bit too much and lost its initial vigor towards the end. Besides being anti-climatical, the ending has a weird shift in writing style and character dynamics, which left me feeling conflicted. The romantic plotlines of the four women are much too similar and the recurring tropes creates a sense of redundancy. I personally feel that the relationship drama overshadows the more serious issues the story tells, and it may be difficult to follow if unknowledgeable about American history, but the author does explain the political setting in an author's note at the end of the book. I acknowledge that this is a young adult fiction, so this narrative style may have been a deliberate literary choice.
Overall, a decent debut into the world of historical fiction.
There is Olivia, the eldest Davenport daughter, who is burdened with the expectations of being a respectable woman and being dutiful towards her parents. There is Helen, the youngest Davenport daughter, who couldn't care less about the social conventions and desperately wishes to be involved in her family's carriage business. There is Amy-Rose, the Davenport family maid and friend, who dreams of opening her own hair salon for black women. And there is Ruby, Olivia's best friend and potential sister-in-law, burdened with her own set of familial expectations.
Told from alternating points of view, the intertwining stories of these young women are filled with love, courage and determination. I found it to be a mostly enjoyable read that provides a glimpse into issues of racial and gender politics.in 20th century America. I did feel that the story dragged a bit too much and lost its initial vigor towards the end. Besides being anti-climatical, the ending has a weird shift in writing style and character dynamics, which left me feeling conflicted. The romantic plotlines of the four women are much too similar and the recurring tropes creates a sense of redundancy. I personally feel that the relationship drama overshadows the more serious issues the story tells, and it may be difficult to follow if unknowledgeable about American history, but the author does explain the political setting in an author's note at the end of the book. I acknowledge that this is a young adult fiction, so this narrative style may have been a deliberate literary choice.
Overall, a decent debut into the world of historical fiction.