Sadeqa Johnson wrote Yellow Wife after she visited Richmond, Virginia. With her family she visited the Richmond slave trail and the Lumpkin Jail. She learned about the jailor and his wife and family. She did research on the area. She read the names of slaves sold at the Lumpkin Jail and used their names as characters in this historical fiction novel. This is one of those books that is hard to read and very necessary to read. The main character is Pheby Delores Brown who, at age 17, is looking forward to turning 18 because her father/master has promised to free her on her birthday and send her north. Freedom doesn't come for Pheby until after the Civil War has ended. She ends up as the wife of the jailor in Richmond. Pheby is a strong female character trying to do her best in an impossible situation.
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