2023
WISE Score
Amazon
Think Bridgerton vibes but set in 1910 Chicago, featuring a wealthy Black family navigating love, status, and the start of the civil rights movement.
4.3
4.3View →Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased, but as an Amazon Associate, Screenwise earns an affiliate fee if you buy a book or game by clicking one of our links. We don't get any credit if you just Google it instead :)
The Davenports is the kind of book that makes history feel like a gossip column in the best way possible. It’s smart, it’s fast-paced, and it actually teaches you something about the Black middle and upper class of the early 20th century without feeling like a textbook.
It’s a great pick for the kid who wants romance and drama but is also starting to care about social justice and history. It’s 'brain rot' proof—pure quality historical fiction that’s actually fun to read.
Perfect for 12 and up. It’s sophisticated enough for older teens and adults, but clean enough that a mature 11-year-old wouldn't be out of their depth.
The story centers on family loyalty, sisterhood, and finding one's purpose. While there is romantic drama and some social maneuvering, the core values are about integrity and ambition.
It breathes life into 1910 Chicago, specifically focusing on the Black elite—a setting rarely explored in YA. It invites readers to imagine a different kind of historical narrative than the ones usually taught in school.
Very safe for its target teen audience. Content includes mild language, some smoking (historically accurate), and depictions of historical protests/violence that are contextually appropriate.
High marks for historical education. It covers Black entrepreneurship, the early civil rights movement, and the constraints placed on women, all inspired by the real-life Patterson family.
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