Yellow Wife

Rating: it was amazing

This story is inspired by the story of Mary Lumpkin and Lumpkin’s jail in Richmond, Virginia.

Bell Plantation, Charles City, Virginia, 1850. Pheby Delores Brown, after losing her mother and after broken promise of freedom, she is being sold to traders. At an auction, she is “rescued by gentleman’s kindness.” Rubin Lapier is the owner of the jail, where Pheby spent the night before the auction. And now is one of the workers at the jail sewing, mostly mending clothing. Her constant companion is “the click-clack sounds” of slaves’ iron confinements and “the moaning from inside the jail…” Should she follow in the footsteps of a woman she saw at the market? A woman like her, who isn’t free, “yet she lived a life better than some white women.” There is a reason why the jail is called the Devil’s Half Acre. Whenever she thinks she can endure this place, there is a reminder that she cannot.

The fastest page-turner ever and heart-pounding read. On one hand, the jail owner, known as the Bully Trader and on the other, a beautiful young slave woman. He is one of the cruelest people if not the cruelest person in town. He trades slaves without any scruples and enforces brutal punishments when requested by other slave owners. He is also a master of his “wife,” who is forced first to make the right decision for herself and later for her children. Once a mother she needs to protect her children at any cost.

This story brings heart-wrenching scenes of flogging, of slaves bidding, degrading transactions and agony of mothers being separated from their children and other members of the family. It’s all very real.

This is a story of an extraordinary woman, who learns that as a mulatto she is worth more than a black slave. She was promised freedom at the age of eighteen. When that eludes her, she weighs her options very carefully. Does she want to be a run-away slave or make a life out of situation the life presented her with?

With riveting prose the pages fly and the heart beats for the astonishing heroine. Well-developed character pulls you into the story immediately and stirs emotions within you. A grim time of history masterfully narrated.

Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: it was amazing

This is a Historical Fiction book. This book takes place in the South (Virginia, but some of the places talked about in the book is in North Carolina) during the time people had slaves. We follow young female slave called Pheby Delores Brown. I have to say this book was hard to read at times, but I really think everyone should read this book. It is a part of the Sothern past, and we cannot forget it. I feel the characters came to live in this book. I think this is the first book that was told in the point of view of a slave that I have read. This book was so beautifully written, and Miss Pheby touched my heart so many ways. I did not want to put this book down. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Simon & Schuster) or author (Sadeqa Johnson) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that. This book is schedule to be release on January 12-2021.

Rating: it was amazing

I love Southern Historical Fiction. And this hauntingly beautiful and tragic novel did not disappoint. This is a story of great courage and love and made me feel all the feels. It is a remarkable story that was well written…The characters felt as though they were living alongside me telling me about their life and their journey.

Pheby and her story will be with me for a very long time as this book has characters that will touch your heart and fill it with pain and joy. Sadeqa Johnson knows how to express love through her characters in a simple yet poetic way.

It's hard for modern-day white or black people to understand the relationship between jailers and their slaves. It's so much more complicated than we imagine. Ms. Johnson did a wonderful job of showing the reader the precarious relationship. The ending, especially, brought tears to my eyes. Such a wonderfully written story that I couldn't put down and read in one sitting...highly recommend!

Disclousure:
Thank you NetGalley, Sadeqa Johnson and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review; all opinions are my own.

#NetGalley

Rating: it was amazing

This is one of those books that will literally stay with you forever. It was absolutely heartbreaking, extremely graphic and made me feel sick to my stomach but I could not put it down. My heart was pounding throughout this entire book.

It is so hard to believe that this is a real part of our history. The brutal punishments that were inflicted on human beings just blows my mind. How was this endured? How could someone do these things? I can't even comprehend it. It was very hard to read but I believe it is important to know.

The characters and emotions in this book were extremely well written and I felt for them as if they were real people. The writing was excellent. The bravery that some of the women in this story showed is astounding. I can't imagine ever having that much courage.The choices that people had to make in order to protect themselves and their loved ones were incomprehensible to someone who has lived the life I have lived. These people were heros.

This book is inspired by a real family and a real jail in Virginia and it is set to be released on January 12, 2021 and I could not recommend it enough!! This book is amazing!

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: it was amazing

This book will have you on the edge of your seat from the beginning. Such a sad tale but yet full of hope through out the story.
I love stories like this. I stayed up late to finish reading it. But oh my! So worth the read! This author has done a remarkable job in keeping me spellbound! She's quite the storyteller and she's a new to me author.
Here's a favorite quote:
"Peace I leave you, my Peace I gives you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don't let your heart be troubled and be not afraid." From our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
My favorite spiritual song:
There is a Balm in Gilead.
To save a sin sick soul. There is a balm in Gilead
Such an emotional song and so soothing to my soul as well.
I wanted to cry for the characters in this book. I love how the author has made them alive for me.
My heart went out to these people.
The only two things that I didn't like was the bedroom scenes so I skipped over those. I guess I'm weird in that way.
I didn't like how the overseers mistreatment of the slaves. Made me very sad.
But, overall a very good read. I wasn't disappointed.
I really love that Pheby gets to tell her story in her own way and from her point of view.
Oh and I love Pheby's full name. It's so pretty and unusual in my opinion.
July was the one that I liked. She was my friend throughout the story and I love her gentle ways with others.
I highly recommend this book.
This is a book where it's voices need to be heard and told.
I give five stars. Excellent writing and leaves the heart feeling satisfied.
My thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.

Rating: it was amazing

This is an amazing and at times, heart wrenching, story. Everyone should read this book. Please be warned, this book takes place in 1850s Virginia. There are depictions of the horrors that took place there, including slavery, racism, rape, death, beatings, and sexism.

Rating: really liked it

Go ahead, sign me up for the heartache. :( This sounds so sad but important.

Rating: it was amazing

You do not want to miss Yellow Wife! I was captivated from the first page. I absolutely loved this book! A must read for historical fiction fans!

Rating: it was amazing

Having the opportunity to chat directly with authors makes me fall in love with their books even more. And that’s exactly what happened with Sadeqa Johnson’s book, The Yellow Wife.

The Yellow Wife is a masterful piece of historical fiction that was inspired by Sadequa’s family’s visit to the Richmond Slave Trail along the James River in Virginia. When I spoke with Sadeqa recently, she shared how a Mary Lumpkins trail marker kept calling her psyche back. I’m so glad she listened because the novel is brilliantly researched and soulfully written.

Sadeqa creates a narrative through the eyes of the fictional character, Pheby Delores Brown, who becomes the yellow wife to the notoriously cruel owner of the Devil’s Half Acre jail. Pheby may be fictional, but through the narrative we get a glimpse of what life may have been like for the real Mary Lumpkins as she navigates motherhood. This is a must-read novel, or audiobook listen, for fans of historical fiction. I’m eager to share it with The Walking Book Club, whose members move while listening. I have a feeling there will be lots of member activity for this audiobook. Thank you for the advanced copy Simon and Schuster

Rating: it was amazing

The Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson is the absolutely stunning story of Pheby, a young slave who, because of her mother, had a much different upbringing than other slaves. She is educated, can play the piano, read and write. Once her mother dies, she is sold to the cruel owner, Jailer, of Devil's Half Acre Jail. There, Pheby tries to endure life for her children.

The Yellow Wife had me captivated immediately! While it is not the normal storyline I would gravitate towards, I couldn't put it down. I found myself staying awake late at night to finish it or even sneaking in a page or two any chance I had so I could continue to stay in the story. This story was full of heartbreak, grief, desperation, love and endurance. A masterpiece.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my review and honest opinions.

Rating: really liked it

The Yellow Wife is a historical fiction novel about Pheby, a biracial slave whose world is turned upside down when she is torn from the life she has known on a plantation. Pheby's mother is a slave and her father is a plantation master. Although Pheby is technically a slave, she receives special treatment from her father and he has always protected her. The master's wife sells Pheby to a slave trader one day and she lands in the hands of a slave jailer. From that point, Pheby is constantly in a fight for preservation of her life and her children's lives.

This story told about slave jailers, an aspect of slave trade that I had never read about before. This fast paced historical fiction novel told of harrowing conditions for slaves and African Americans. I was on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen to the characters and hoping that they would be able to escape their horrible situations. Sadeqa Johnson's imagery in this book is exceptional in this book and it brings this story to life.

Pheby was a smart, strong, and big-hearted woman. She was constantly making sacrifices for her children and her courage was inspiring. Her story was engrossing and I highly recommend this novel if you're looking for a quick historical fiction read.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for a free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: it was amazing

Pheby Delores Brown lives in two worlds. She is mulatto and her mom has told her to never think of herself as a slave, but Pheby is a slave. She walks a world where she is the daughter of a slave and his master. The master does not allow her to be touched by anyone. She is desperately in love with a slave who had to run for his life. She was ill-prepared for the life she would lead when the master’s wife sent her to jail to be traded. The jailer ends up picking her to be his “wife”. Since he was a jailer, there is no honorable white person who would marry him. Jailers handpicked from the mulatto women sent to them. Pheby came to the jail with child and the jailer never accepted this black child. Pheby had four girls with her jailer. He was called the Bully Trader and it is fitting. This is a character who is so cruel that I am not going to acknowledge his behavior in this review. He makes me sick.
This book is heart-wrenching. Pheby can read and play the piano, unlike most slaves. She lives in relative royalty when you compare her to the slaves working on plantations. He life does not involve terrible working conditions, but she is a concubine. She must behave and has no way to speak her mind. She has a black child who is not allowed to live with them, but the four daughters are loved by their father. Pheby must keep the jailer happy and this comes a high cost. She makes sacrifices for her family that I cannot begin to imagine.
I will be putting this book into everyone’s hands. Everyone should see this picture and they would understand more about the world. Sadeqa Johnson paints a picture that my mind could not conceive of until know. She does such a great job showing the privilege of the Yellow Wife while also showing that she is still very much a slave. It was such an eye-opening book for me. My best friend is “yellow”. I never understood why she felt lonely so often. It is because she is not really white and not really black, so she sits on the edge of both without every feeling acceptance fully in either. This book really touched me and showed me where these issues come from and how the began.
It also helped me to understand what people will do to protect their family. The abuse that they will endure to keep their family safe. How can I say I love this book while hating the subject matter? I loved the writing and the characters. The stark realities are hard to swallow and I feel so sad and so much responsibility to these men and women. I wish I could make reparations. Instead, I will share this book and hope that people see the need to make necessary changes in our country.

Rating: really liked it

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
Brutal and sad yet a very important part of history, this book packs a gut punch. At times, it's hard to read because of the sheer brutality of the treatment of these human beings. But the strength and courage off the main character and those she helps is amazing. This historical fiction book is a bit unlike others I have read.

Rating: it was amazing

Yellow Wife should be read by everyone. Johnson plunges her reader into the life of Pheby, whose life as a slave is not one that you would ever have read before. The novel begins predictably, but the turns it takes are breathtaking and the choices Pheby makes will have you on the edge of your seat. Written with muscle and passion and power, this book will consume you. Johnson's research is thorough and reading the author's note will make your hair stand on end. This is a remarkable novel. It will be a classic.

Rating: it was amazing

This book was everything I wanted it to be! It was well-researched, well-written, and utterly drew me in. I could NOT put this book down, and then I could wait to come write about it!

Pheby is a slave, but has been promised freedom on her 18th birthday by her father & master. When the master falls ill and her mother dies, Pheby is sold to traders and taken to a jail to be held for auction. After catching the eye of the owner of the jail, she is moved into his home and soon becomes his mistress. This story follows Pheby’s life as she navigates the horrors of the jail created by her husband, Rubin. She must keep her children safe, but also finds the atrocious actions by Rubin to be more than she can handle. How can she balance the life she now lives?

This was such an utterly amazing story. It is so obviously well-researched, and it tells a story that I have not read in historical fiction before. The lives of these women that were married to white slave traders was eye-opening.

Pheby’s character was amazing. She’s strong and smart, but she is in such a horrible circumstance. I loved reading about her life and found that when the book was over, I just wanted to read more!

This story is filled with horrible actions, described in a level of detail that makes you cringe and cry. It’s hard to read and creates such an emotion-filled journey, but it’s well worth the read. The disgusting treatment of human beings is hard to stomach, but I learned a lot while reading this, and it opened my eyes to yet again, more horrors of slavery.

Overall, I absolutely loved this story. It is a book that will stay with me for a very long time, and I highly recommend it for historical fiction fans!

I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.