49 pages • 1 hour read
Yellow Wife
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Book Brief
288
Novel • Fiction
Virginia • 1850s
2021
Adult
18+ years
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
79,770 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
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 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.
79,770 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Ruth Brown
Ruth Brown
Pheby's mother, a skilled healer whose wisdom and spiritual beliefs shape the guidance she offers her daughter, attempting to secure a better future for her.
Essex
Essex
An enslaved worker on the Bell Plantation and Pheby's secret lover, whose hope and planning for escape underscore his resistance to his circumstances.
Rubin Lapier
Rubin Lapier
The owner of Lapier's jail, representing the harsh realities of slavery through his brutal and calculated dominance over Pheby and other enslaved people.
Delphina Bell
Delphina Bell
The wife of Jacob Bell who exerts her authority with cruelty towards Pheby, showing her deep-seated resentment and the destructive impact of the system on individuals.
288
Novel • Fiction
Virginia • 1850s
2021
Adult
18+ years
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