The Davenports
Krystal Marquis
In 1910s Chicago, this historical novel follows a group of Black teens, including four young women, living amid the wealth of the Davenport family. Their world includes servants, elaborate parties, and family expectations, but the characters also confront classism and gender norms. Olivia, the older Davenport daughter, is expected to marry as duty requires, until she meets a civil-rights leader. Across the story, the young people negotiate love, ambition, social expectations, and the pressures attached to family and class.
This book appears on 2 reading lists across 2 editions from 2 organizations.
