Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Saunders
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Teen girls find purpose in inspiring historical romance.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
When MORE THAN THIS begins, it's the summer of 1910 in Chicago, and four young Black women face the challenges that come with impending adulthood in a complicated time. Ruby is preparing for her impending marriage when rumors threaten her future plans; Helen is vying for a place in the family business; Amy-Rose is grieving for her mentor and trying to open her own salon; and Olivia is juggling activism with a potential romance. In a time when Black people and women have such limited choices, will these four tenacious women be able to achieve the lives they want?
Is It Any Good?
This character-driven tale is an irresistible mix of ambitious characters, history, and romance. In More Than This by Krystal Marquis, the young women of the Davenport family and their circles continue the pursuits of love, justice, independence, and business success that took shape for them in The Davenports. The story presents a spectrum of personalities and values in each of the main characters, prompting readers to reflect on their own unique identities. Meticulously researched history will enchant historical fiction fans, but any reader will enjoy how the book's 1910 Chicago comes to vivid life, and they'll also learn a bit about the rapidly changing time between the Civil War and the civil rights movement.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about life choices and consequences in More Than This. What are some important values or causes that are central to your sense of integrity? What helps you persevere when your choices bring challenges?
How do acts of compassion help the people in More Than This maintain social ties across the different walks of life?
The Davenports series gives readers four characters with four separate points of view, but these are told by a third-person narrator. Why do you think the author chose to have this outside voice tell the story instead of the young women themselves?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Historical Fiction
- Topics : Activism , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , History
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Integrity , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Dial Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : November 12, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 17
- Number of pages : 384
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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