A review by drnaynay
The Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

SPOILER ALERT: A woman conceived by rape of her mom by the slave master, was sold into another form of slavery, and because she was “yellow” was chosen/forced to be the wife of her new master who ran a horrifically brutal jail for runaway slaves. If forced institutionalization, rape, and horrific details of slave torture is your thing, you will love this book 😵‍💫 I was completely disturbed through this whole book. I had mixed feelings between whether this is just another sensationalization/fetishization of Black women/Black people’s trauma or if there is really some value in the examination of this story through a historical lens. It was really gruesome and hard for me to read. I think you can guess where I landed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Classism