What I liked about this story is how it dealt with the Japanese Relocation it sought to allow the reader to decide the morality of the situation. It did not try to force a point of view. The Relocation of the Japanese was not the only story there were several stories within this beautifully written book. Family culture, tradition, jazz music and crossing of nationalities were explored with ease and understanding of the difficulties of the time period.

I saw this author on a Orange County Library Book Talk when her book came out in 2021, I immediately ordered not one but two copies. I placed the book on our 2023 neighborhood book group's book club list, I knew it would make for great talking points.

Loosely based on true events that the author came across while walking the slave trail in her new Richmond, Virginia home the author new she needed to tell this story. Devils Half Acre a slavers prison run by Robert Lumpkin.

One thing I love about reading historical fiction is when I learn about additional people and events regarding events that have occurred.

Yellow Wife is the story of Phelby Brown a slave and the daughter of the plantation owner, was suppose to be set free when she reached the age of 18. Out of hatred the plantation owners wife sold her before that time to be taken to Devils Half Acre so she could be sold as a Jezebel. Survival for Phelby comes at the hands of Rueben Lampier the slaver running Devils Half Acre.

This is a story of what an individual will do for survival. When you have no rights because you are not only a slave but a woman you make choices that are for your survival and semblance of freedom. What is crazy is we believe he loved her in his own sociopathic way. This book would make a great addition to the curriculum for this period in history. Our book club had a very long discussion over this book and we did not even need the book club prompts until the end to cover a few things we missed. Johnson book also gives you a great jumping off point to learn a little more about Mary and Robert Lumpkin.