Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson: Book Review

Yellow Wife is a highly anticipated historical fiction written by Sadeqa Johnson. It was published in January 2021 by Simon Schuster. Set in pre-Civil War Virginia, you get a glimpse into the life of a mulatto slave woman who sacrifices everything to survive the Devil’s Half-Acre.

When I looked at the anticipated reads lists early this year, I was curious about Yellow Wife. I had assumed I knew the subject of the book, and I wasn’t far off. But what really grabbed me was the location the book was set. I was pretty excited to see the story starts in Charles City, Virginia, and shares time with Richmond, Virginia. Why? Because I grew up about 20 minutes from many of the plantations in Charles City and about an hour from Richmond. So in some ways, it was easy for me to picture the settings as I was familiar with the area.

Synopsis

Pheby Brown had been promised her freedom her whole life, that she would get her papers when she turned eighteen. Her mother had always told her she was a slave in name only, that she was free and always would be. When her eighteenth birthday arrives, nothing has gone the way she had been told. She was living a life she hated. Pheby was forced to be the mistress of the man who ran the Devil’s Half-Acre. She was surrounded by and forced to participate in the punishment and trade of slaves. How will she survive? Will she ever get the freedom she so craves?

Positives

This book is written so beautifully about such an ugly topic. But it is a topic that needs to be discussed and taught no matter how ugly it is.

The characters are written so that you can tell who the villains are and who are the “good” guys. When you meet Jacob Bell, you know he isn’t a great guy, but it seems to be one you could like. Yet, Rubin Lapier is obviously one you know you can’t like and won’t like by the end of it all.

Negatives

The punishments handed out by Rubin Lapier are given in graphic detail, as were some of the injuries that were caused by his punishments. I understand that the punishments listed are based on history, but maybe the descriptions could have been dialed back a bit.

There is a certain word that is throughout the book. While the word was commonly used in the 1850s, it is a word that most people frown upon using in the modern era. I have no issue with the word in the book, as it is used correctly (the language of the times); I just thought it appropriate to give a warning of some kind.

My Opinons

Yellow Wife is a beautifully written and thoroughly researched historical novel. One that I am glad to say I have read, and one I will insist others read. Why? Because it looks at something that not many books do. There are points where the book is heart-breaking. But it is one I read as a book about a mother’s love for her children. Pheby’s mother made sacrifices to ensure Pheby’s chance at freedom and out of her situation on the plantation. Pheby, in turn, makes sacrifices to ensure her children get a chance at freedom and out of their situation at the jail.

The book is relatively short; it’s under 300 pages. This means someone could easily read it over a weekend. I believe I read it in three days. Once I got into it, I had trouble putting it down. I believe others will have the same issue.

My only regret with the book is not knowing what happened between the escape and the letters between Pheby and Hester after the War ended. The letters fill in some blanks, but not all. I would have loved to know more about what happened in those 10-12 years not covered in the book. Maybe I’ll find out, and maybe I won’t.

Looking for some more books to read? Check out my other book reviews and my monthly reading wrap-ups.