Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson

7 reviews

readtomea97's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This book was beautiful written, and gives a very unique insight into the lives of slave women, specifically mulatto/white passing women. This story is based on the life of slave concubine Mary Lumpkin, the bully trader (a.k.a. Master Robert Lumpkin), the Devil’s Acre plantation, Anthony Burns, and the experiences they had during slavery and her survival story. Look up Virginia Union University. I appreciate this perspective on her history however I will warn future readers interested this is a VERY heavy read. Be prepared for heartbreak, anger, and grief throughout this story. I can’t count how many times I wanted to put this down because black trauma continues to be too much to experience over and over again, but this was so beautifully written, I had to know how it ends. I respect Pheby’s journey because it wouldn’t have been an easy one for anyone by any means. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, Murder, Miscarriage, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Child death, Hate crime, Death, Bullying, Classism, Rape, Racial slurs, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Slavery, and Adult/minor relationship

drnaynay's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

SPOILER ALERT: A woman conceived by rape of her mom by the slave master, was sold into another form of slavery, and because she was “yellow” was chosen/forced to be the wife of her new master who ran a horrifically brutal jail for runaway slaves. If forced institutionalization, rape, and horrific details of slave torture is your thing, you will love this book 😵‍💫 I was completely disturbed through this whole book. I had mixed feelings between whether this is just another sensationalization/fetishization of Black women/Black people’s trauma or if there is really some value in the examination of this story through a historical lens. It was really gruesome and hard for me to read. I think you can guess where I landed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Sexual content, Violence, Child abuse, Torture, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, Racism, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Blood, Classism, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Slavery, Trafficking, and Vomit

catwomano's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Racial slurs, Child abuse, Excrement, Death, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Slavery, and Torture

_readwithleo's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Confinement, Death, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Rape, Bullying, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Miscarriage, and Racism

sleeson's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I have nowhere to start. The novel's pages are soaked in heartbreak, determination, love, and heroism. I could go on and on about this novel. 
Sadeqa Johnson's characterization for the role of each person is gracefully and carefully thought out. Her story will have you latching on to each moment Pheby's journey.
Our hero Pheby is unquestionably the strongest figure in the novel. The sacrifices she makes for everyone she meets, is due to her unconditional love for others. Strong language and Graphic sexual content alluded. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Excrement, Grief, Sexual assault, Vomit, Child death, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Classism, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Misogyny, and Rape

bookxcupid6's review against another edition

challenging hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Wow! I enjoyed This book thought it  is very triggering because of how slavery is portrayed, how the white banked in joy at the misery of the black people become tell me why they were stacking chairs, setting up tables, lugging liquor, prepping food, blowing up” balloons, organizing games for the kids and instruments for the bandstand to celebrate like it’s a concert, not a flogging? It’s a show to them, an exposition of the power they want to hold on to badly.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Sexism, Torture, Slavery, Death, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Violence, Racism, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Classism

booksbykb's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Excrement, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Slavery, Racism, Rape, Racial slurs, and Physical abuse