Reviews with content warning for Murder - Yellow Wife

Reviews tagging 'Murder'

seph268's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense 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? No

3.5

it’s a very heavy book. it was really hard for me to finish. the ending was lackluster, it didn’t really balance out the heaviness of the novel.

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hannahglenn's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

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cmarie825's review against another edition

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hopeful tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated

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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tayloremmap's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

2.5

I really enjoyed Pheby’s story, but I felt like this book was just a check-list of plot points that could have been fleshed out more.

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mossybooks's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative reflective sad tense

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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angieoverbooked's review against another edition

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emotional sad tense

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

Every aspect of my life is such a privilege. Certainly, I already knew this. But nothing I’ve read in recent memory reminded me of this so harshly and deeply as Yellow Wife, the heart wrenching story of Pheby Delores Brown, an enslaved woman in 1850. Simply holding this book to read it is something my ancestors could not do without risking their lives.

But I put off reading it, or more accurately, avoided it. Which is what I tend to do with most slavery themed content. But I realize now that this is so much more than that.

Yes, the real and painful history of enslaved Black people in the United States is on every page. But ultimately, this book is about love, family, sacrifice and survival. And while it certainly broke my heart, Pheby Delores Brown completely stole it. Along with several other unforgettable characters- Essex, Ruth, July, Abbie, Monroe. Learning that Johnson selected the character names from actual slave ledgers makes me feel even more moved by them.

This book is everything I love about good historical fiction- an imagined story in a real world that moves me and teaches me. And in this case, inspired by real people and set in my home state, Virginia, which made me feel even more connected to it.
I was completely transported and could not put this book down or stop thinking about it when it was closed.

Thank you, Sadeqa Johnson, for this masterpiece.

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