Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson

Warning: This book contains some sensitive and often disturbing moments throughout.

I feel like I need to start adding that warning before some of the books I read. While many of them are not always happy themes throughout the book, every once in a while I read a book that it becomes almost upsetting to keep reading. And yes, you probably would be able to get that just by reading the book description but I am assisting just in case. Though I have often found that these novels that do handle the tougher topics in life, when done right, are some of the best books I have ever read.

The story begins on a plantation farm in Charles City, Virginia. Pheby Brown is a teenage girl living there with her mom and other fellow slaves. The master of the house has always had a favoritism towards Pheby over the others due to reasons you find out later on in the book. But the master’s wife despises Pheby for these reasons and on one night when the master and her mom are away on a trip, she sells Pheby to an auctioneer in Richmond. She is bought by the jail master of the infamous Devil’s Half-Acre. When a situation arises that has her putting her own safety on hold, she becomes the mistress of the jail owner. Throughout the story Pheby talks about some of the different treatments she gets for becoming his “wife” while also not hiding from seeing what the other prisoners have to go through. After many years she realizes she must do something to protect those around her even if it might cost her, her own freedom.

I really enjoyed this book. I don’t typically go to this history era when looking for a book but I am so glad I did with this one. While it is not an easy read by any means, it is a necessary read in my opinion. You definitely need to prepare yourself before you read it. It is a book that will have you wanting to just curl up in a ball and cry at some points while reading about what they all went through. While this is not a true story itself, I would not be surprised in the slightest if this situation had happened many times in history. Grab Yellow Wife next time you are in the mood for an incredible historical fiction novel.

Until Next Time, The Library Abroad

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