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loripopp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Racism, Slavery, Excrement, Death of parent, Classism, Vomit, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Grief, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Miscarriage, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Body horror, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Death, Violence, Trafficking, Torture, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Confinement, Child abuse, Colonisation, and Child death
hannahglenn's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Classism, Emotional abuse, Violence, Slavery, Torture, Racial slurs, Racism, Death, Excrement, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Gore, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Confinement, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse
jewelsbooks2531's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Abortion, Death, Blood, and Child abuse
Moderate: Vomit, Rape, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, and Violence
amandasbookreview's review
- 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.”
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.
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
tayloremmap's review against another edition
2.5
Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Racism, Rape, Torture, Murder, Racial slurs, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Child death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Death of parent, Excrement, and Sexual violence
thebookishfarmer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Confinement, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Slavery, Child death, Classism, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Sexual assault
aguattery's review
- 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
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Body horror, Slavery, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Blood and Alcoholism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
chronicallyplotting's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Blood, Child death, Grief, Genocide, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Xenophobia, and Torture
sarahmcg's review
- 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
5.0
Despite this being a work of fiction, the author Sadeqa Johnson noted that she pulled inspiration from a true story and heavily researched the history that she based the book off of. This book was often difficult to read - please consider the content warnings prior to picking up this book.
Graphic: Rape, Miscarriage, Slavery, Racism, Racial slurs, Violence, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Torture, Pregnancy, Vomit, Sexual content, and Excrement
bookswithlee's review against another edition
- 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? No
5.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Rape, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Death of parent, Death, Child death, Slavery, Racism, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Grief, and Emotional abuse