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49 pages 1 hour read

Sadeqa Johnson

Yellow Wife

Sadeqa JohnsonFiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2021

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Book Brief

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Sadeqa Johnson

Yellow Wife

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2021
Book Details
Pages

288

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Virginia • 1850s

Publication Year

2021

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson tells the story of Pheby Delores Brown, the daughter of an enslaved woman and a white plantation owner in 19th-century Virginia. Pheby's journey takes her from a plantation to Devil’s Half Acre, where she must navigate her survival under a jailer who controls the sale and transport of enslaved individuals. She strives to protect her loved ones, endure internal conflicts, and make difficult choices to maintain her children's dignity. This book discusses slavery and its effects, and it also contains graphic accounts of physical and sexual violence.

Dark

Emotional

Mysterious

Melancholic

Unnerving

Reviews & Readership

4.5

79,770 ratings

91%

Loved it

7%

Mixed feelings

1%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Sadeqa Johnson's Yellow Wife is widely praised for its vivid portrayal of historical events and compelling character development. Reviewers appreciate the book’s emotional depth and gripping narrative. However, some critique its pacing, noting a slower middle section. Overall, it is highly regarded for its evocative storytelling and strong, resonant themes.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Yellow Wife?

Readers who enjoy gripping, historical fiction with strong, resilient female protagonists will be drawn to Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson. It will appeal to fans of The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom and The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead, offering a powerful, emotive narrative set against the brutal backdrop of American slavery.

4.5

79,770 ratings

91%

Loved it

7%

Mixed feelings

1%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

288

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Virginia • 1850s

Publication Year

2021

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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