Reviews with content warning for Adult/minor relationship - Yellow Wife

Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'

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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drnaynay's review against another edition

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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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bookrecsondeck's review against another edition

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sad tense

Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

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haley49's review

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challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This was such a poignant account of slavery in the 1850’s South and the horrible complexities of the trauma of slavery, no matter your position in the house. The comparison between enslaved people based on their duties and the interpersonal relationships that suffered. I had such visceral reactions to everything that happened and I felt for every single character (besides the enslavers) that it couldn’t be less than 5 stars. The only disappointment was the realization that this wasn’t a inspirational book where things instantly improved after slavery. I so wanted them too but that isn’t how it happened I guess.

I would recommend this story to anyone looking for a first hand fictional account of a complex part of history. However, check trigger warnings and make sure you are mentally well enough for the heavy themes.

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maddiet425's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective 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? Yes

3.0

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tmickey's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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? No

5.0

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amandasbookreview's review

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challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-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

5.0

“I hated having to rest my hopes on another white man. But it was not up to me. In this world, the men called Master held all the power.”

YELLOW WIFE

Yellow Wife is written by Sadeqa Johnson. Before I get into the review, there are a few trigger warnings: slavery, racism, physical abuse, sexual abuse, torture, racial slurs, miscarriage, child loss, pregnancy loss, death, trafficking, and that isn’t all of it.

It is 1850 and Pheby is being raised on the Bell Plantation. She is the daughter of an enslaved woman and the plantation master. She is considered a slave but has been taught to read, write, and play the piano. But most of all, she is told by her mother that she must never convince herself in her mind that she is a slave and that she will one day be free. But instead of being freed at 18, the Master’s wife has other plans for her. She sells Pheby and she is forced to be the mistress of the jailer in charge of what is called The Devil’s Half Acre where slaves are beaten and tortured. Every decision she will make is to ensure the survival of her children and loved ones but all of the decisions will come with a sacrifice.

The main thing I want to talk about when it comes to this book is the author’s note. While this book is fiction, it is inspired by real people and a real place. Sadeqa Johnson and her family took the Richmond Slave Trail Walk and she stumbled upon a story that she knew she had to tell. The story of Pheby is inspired by Mary Lumpkin. Johnson then immersed herself in the research behind this woman and it shows. This book is powerful, tragic, heartbreaking, and important. Because of Johnson, Mary’s name is not lost, like so many others who were victims of enslavement in the United States.

In this story, Pheby has a book that holds her mother’s healing recipes but when she is forced to work for the jailor, she meets several enslaved women and is determined to write their stories down before they are beaten and sold to the next white man. There is so much emotion written into Pheby and this story, it is clear that the author intended to honor her ancestors. This is a part of our history. A part of history that many want to ignore. We need to face these atrocities to acknowledge the generational trauma inflicted on Black people and to make sure that history never repeats itself. We can never atone for the brutality and heartlessness that occurred, but we can learn from it and make it so there is true justice and equality from here on out. This is an incredible read from beginning to end.

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aguattery's review

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challenging emotional sad medium-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? No

5.0

Love, love, loved reading this. It was touching, sad, and emotional in all the right ways. I was so invested in the characters and was constantly holding my breath to see what would happen at every turn.

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