My Name is Ona Judge is the story of two women who find themselves and the strength to leave their situations. One evening while looking through a family friend's house Tessa Scott discovers a diary that belongs to a woman named Ona Judge. Ona was a slave of General George Washington who escaped while he was President and living in Philadelphia. Ona was born to a slave of Mrs. Martha Washington and a white tailor that was working as an indentured servant. All of the slaves owned by Martha were actually being held in trust for her grandchildren and could not be sold or released. Ona was a favorite of the grandchildren and at a young age was moved into the house to take care of them. After a few years she became Martha's personal slave. This put Ona in a stiuation to be able to escape when the time presented itself.
Tessa is a home designer in Virginia and is family friends of the descendants of Ona's sister. Tessa has found herself in a relationship with an African American doctor who comes from a rich family. She has started to find that her boyfriend is different than the person she initially meet. He is controlling and demeaning. After an incident where he bruised her arm she finds the strength to escape him.
Ona is someone I never heard of and I enjoyed reading a fictionalized version of her story. So often we are taught that Washington freed his slaved after his death but what we are not taught is that only about a third of the slaves at Mount Vernon were his and that all those others were stuck in bondage to be given to these children when they become of age. These stories told from the enslaved person's perspective are so important to help breakdown existing perspectives.

Some books just speak to you when you first read about them. My Name is Ona Judge by Suzette D. Harrison was one of those books for me and I knew I just had to be a part of the book tour for it!

I love a great historical fiction novel, as well as the dual timeline concept. Even better is a novel that addresses a different time period or concept compared to my normal reads. My Name is Ona Judge is all that and more, focusing on the story of Ona Judge, a slave to Martha Washington, who eventually ran from Mount Vernon and established a life as a free woman. The contemporary storyline follows Tessa as she discovers a journal written by Ona while in the process of renovating a family home. As Tessa discovers more of Ona's story, she grapples with the problems in her own life too.

I had heard of Ona Judge prior to the book (as a former social studies teacher, I tend to have a good recollection for these things), but immersing myself into Ona's story really brought it home. I had known her as the woman who escaped the Washingtons but was never caught, but very little of the rest of her story. Harrison does an amazing job with the research into Ona's story and really brings the story to life, sharing the details of Ona's life as a slave and as a free woman.

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My, My, My…Ona Judge…Historical History At It’s Best!! 🖤🤎🖤

What can I say! Mrs. Harrison has made me a huge fan of her dual timeline historicals; taking the past and present and making it flow ever so effortlessly!! And with this book, oh, the history it tells!! You have Ona, a slave who will never be free, and Tessa, who needs to free herself from a dominant and abusive partner!! How their lives intertwined was such a beautiful story!

Tessa said, “Finding Miss Ona’s journal and reading her story was a lesson in dignity.” Miss Ona said, “Tessa was there alone, in stillness, snapping photos for what she thought would be her project. But it was ours.”

And indeed, it was both of theirs! This was such a poignant story and so darn hard to put down! If you haven’t had the chance to read this, I highly recommend that you do! And while purchasing this book, go ahead and pick up Mrs. Harrison’s other two dual timeline historicals, “The Girl At The Back Of The Bus” and “The Dust Bowl Orphans.” Suzette, all I have left to say is “KUDOS!!” 💜💜💜

My Name is Ona Judge is the third book I have read by Suzette D. Harrison and I enjoyed this one as much as The Girl at the back of the Bus and The Dustbowl Orphans. The story is told in dual timelines, with the present being narrated by Tessa Scott, an interior designer who is ambitious and extremely busy. She gets a request from her ex-boyfriend, Brandon (aka BC) to come and look at his grandma's (Momma Calloway) house. He things she should sell it, but his grandma thinks they should keep it. When Tessa looks over the house, she finds a diary written by Ona Judge Staines in 1796. Ona is Momma Calloway's Aunt Ona, an escaped slave, escaped from Mount Vernon and the household of George and Martha Washington. Tessa doesn't want to get involved as she is dealing with relationship and health issues, and she has a lot of decisions to make about her life. BC's family begins a journey to authenticate the journal. The second timeline is the story of Ona Judge. She is a very happy girl until she reaches the age of ten, when she is ripped from her family home and moved into the house of George Washington to become the maid and plaything of his five year old granddaughter. In Ona's story we see her life as a slave, her treatment, her escape and life afterwards. That is all I will say about the story.

This was another well-written story by Suzette D. Harrison. I have read many books dealing with slavery, but with every book, I learn something new. This is a slow moving story, but it is beautifully written and I was captivated for most of the story. The two timelines mesh well and the end has the two stories come together in a wonderful way. The characters are wonderfully portrayed. Tessa and Ona both have to deal with abusive situations. The secondary characters all add to the story. Tessa's boyfriend, Dominic, is written in an honest way and is easy to dislike as is fitting the storyline. Whenever I read dual timeline stories, I usually prefer one timeline over the other and in this book, it is definitely Ona's story. Some of the scenes where the slaves are mistreated are hard to read, but important to the story. Tessa's story had a bit of a supernatural touch and that is not my favourite plot device, but I did enjoy her story. Themes of racism/discrimination, slavery, abuse, ambition, friendship and rescuing yourself are all touched on. This story is based on a real person and her story, which makes it all the more poignant. The research that was done to pen this story must have been thorough and it shines through. Make sure you read the author's note at the end of the book to find out about the writing of this book. If you enjoy Historical Fiction, especially that of slavery and set in the United States, then I recommend you pick this book up.

Special thanks to the author, @bookouture, & @netgalley for my advanced copy.

I really enjoyed reading this although it was a bit slow paced at times. It was beautifully written and inspired by true events. The author gave us a dual novel based during both the past and present.

Told from the perspective of two characters. Ona Judge an escaped slave who lived in the household of former president George Washington. Modern day told by Tessa a friend of Ona’s family who stumbled upon an old diary filled with events and things that occurred throughout Ona’s life while living on Mt.Vernon and after her escape.

Tessa’s perspective kind of aided in bringing everything together. The novel could’ve been just as great if it were only about Ona too. Tessa’s boyfriend Dominic was giving Charles from a “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” vibes. So, it was great to see her finally gain the courage to leave him.

I enjoyed reading and learning about Ona the most. I guess I was more drawn to her experience considering the situations were more informative and based on real events. Her story also gave a firsthand look into how the Washington’s lived and the way other slaves treated each other based on their skin color. Assuming those with lighter skin were somehow treated better than the rest. Not even realizing at the end of the day they were all still in bondage.

Just like Dominic, Simmie was another character that became unlikeable. Her behavior toward Ona who was a child at the time was uncalled for and harsh. Ona was dealing with a lot being torn away from her family. Forced to be the playmate of the Washington’s granddaughter then later being pulled to be the maid of Martha Washington. While I’m sure she didn’t actually want either position being the maid of the mistress pushed Simmie out of the way. Which was the cause of her hateful behavior toward Ona.

Overall this was a great read the author did an amazing job blending the timelines and she addressed so much. Learning of Ona Judge was something new for me. If you’re into historical fiction I definitely recommend!!!!

Every time I say, "Author Suzette Harrison can't surprise me," she doubles down and blows me away. From the first page to the last, My Name is Ona Judge. held me captive. When she first posted that she was writing this book, I couldn't wait to get my hands and eyes on it. I love historical fiction, and this book didn't disappoint. I loved the dual timeline, a glimpse into the past, a dip back into the present. It flowed flawlessly, the scenes so vivid, I almost felt I was there.

Ms. Ona Judge was a slave, owned by George Washington. Ona basically jornaled, writing her story to give to her children. Reading the part about the Independence Day celebration reminded me of my grandfather telling me, "We don't celebrate Independence Day because we weren't independent."

This book was "unputdownable" and after a couple cups of coffee, my favorite snacks, reading to my grandbaby, I finished this book in 2 days. I'd highly recommend it to any and everyone! To the author, I'm standing up, clapping as hard as I can, and screaming, "Encore! Encore!"

Finding an old diary in a stained journal, Tessa finds herself caught up in the story of Ona Judge, a former slave in the household of George Washington. This is an intriguing story and very well written historical fiction. I will be looking for more of this talented author's works. Recommended reading.

I'm excited to share about this new novel about Ona Judge, a slave of Martha Washington. It toggles between the past (Ona's story) and the present (Tessa's story). I really loved Ona's story and voice and all the historical details that were woven in. Based in fact, this was a story that I was never taught in school.

Highly recommended!

Thank you for my copy and for letting me be part of the tour!

In her latest release, Suzette D. Harrison, through a dual time narrative and part fictional biography, tells the story of Ona Judge, a slave owned by Martha Washington, the wife of the first President of the United States of America.

We first meet Ona Judge as a ten year old being taught the skills of a seamstress by her mother. Ona is happy in the knowledge that as dower slaves she and her family will not be separated, sold off the plantation at any time like those slaves owned by George Washington. The dower slaves form part of the inheritance of Martha Washington's grandchildren.

However, Ona is separated from her loving family when she is assigned to the mansion, initially as the live-in playmate and servant to one of Martha Washington's granddaughters. Her talent with a sewing needle comes to the attention of Martha Washington and eventually Ona becomes Martha Washington's personal maid. When Washington is elected President and the household spends time between the plantation and New York, and later Philadelphia, Ona is separated from her family again.

As she grows older, Ona becomes aware of the hierarchy amongst the slaves themselves and how variations in skin colour make a difference to how they are treated. Those lightest in colour are tolerated around the Washington family and their visitors, while those darker are relegated to other jobs around the mansion or sent out to the fields. Ona is also aware of the hypocrisy of the Washingtons, especially in relation to the document Washington signed declaring all are created equal.

She witnesses the cruel punishment meted out to recaptured runaway slaves and, despite this, when she overhears a conversation in which her fate is being decided, Ona makes the brave decision to flee the Washington household.

This is a very thought provoking story of a woman who actually lived and dared to defy the President of the United States. I had not heard of Ona Judge before, but it is a name I will not forget. Her story is an emotional one that exposes the inhumanity slaves suffered and the courage required to make that all important bid for freedom.

While the modern thread of the novel was enjoyable and adroitly woven into Ona's story, highlighting similarities between the two women and certain aspects of their lives, I connected more with Ona. The impact of her story was all the greater for my having resisted the urge to research her life before reading this book.

My Name is Ona Judge is an amazing novel and one I'm happy to recommend.

Ona Judge was a slave. She was the "possession" of Martha Washington, wife of George Washington. This story is told from two time periods the current by Tessa Lorraine who finds the diary of Ona Judge and from Ona's own perspective. Both women are on different journeys in their lives. Tessa is trying to find her way in life in the modern world, Ona is on a journey to find her way to freedom. Ona's life is truly more compelling since she is a witness to history, she's privy to many ins and outs of the home life of George and Martha Washington at Mount Vernon. I did like Tessa but I found Ona's journey more interesting because her stakes were higher. Learning about slave life, how people navigated their lives, how they maintained a sense of self, how they loved and had families through those very difficult circumstances made for a tale that was interesting, full of historical detail and was such an interesting read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Who doesn't love a Dual Timeline novel about a part of history you know nothing about? These two qualities are literally my favourite things in historical fiction.
Harrison wrote a wonderful book, The Girl at the Back of the Bus, which tells the story of Rosa Parks.
This one centre's around Ona Judge (the clue is in the title) who was the maid/slave of George and Martha Washington.
Tessa's story brought it into the present day, and while I didn't gain a lot from her background, it helped to highlight the differences in society and I believe it was a better book for it.
The scenes that are described were rather bewildering for me, that people of such stature treated people that they saw were below them. 'Behind Closed Doors' really screams at me when reading, and I had no idea that such prominent figures did what is described here.
This is a shocking and harrowing read at times, but so important.

Wow, what a book! Not only was this an absolutely amazing book, it was also based on true events, another piece of hidden history. Why were we not told Ona Judge's story in school?

Beautifully written in dual timeline, flawlessly intertwining generations past and present.

Ona and Tess were both tenacious, strong willed women and their stories heartbreaking, real and highly emotional.

A thought provoking, highly recommendable page turner.

Many thanks to Bookouture for my tour spot.

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is the story of Ona Judge, who grew up enslaved at Mount Vernon, owned by George and Martha Washington. It is a dual timeline novel, with Tessa in the modern-day storyline discovering the diary of Ona hidden in an old house.

The story of Ona's life while enslaved, her treatment by the Washingtons, and her eventual attempt to escape is fascinating. The depiction of George Washington as a wily slave-owner who moved his slaves back and forth between states in order to avoid emancipation laws is definitely disturbing. The author's depiction of life at Mount Vernon is shocking and makes this a heartbreaking read. The modern-day timeline of Tessa is not very interesting and not needed. Ona's story could have stood on its own.

I recommend this as a realistic take on the life of George Washington and slavery in the U.S.

I received a free copy of this book from Bookouture via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.

Tessa Scott is supposed to survey a property as a favor to the grandmother of her childhood sweetheart. She doesn’t have time to take on any new jobs but she reluctantly agrees to survey that property. Tessa discovers an old battered journal hidden inside the fireplace of an old house. The journal dates back to 1796 and was written by a woman named Ona Judge. She was a slave and lived in the house of George and Martha Washington. Tessa hesitantly decides to read the journal, but once she begins to read the story of Ona Judge she is completely enthralled. Tessa is dealing with many things in her own life, she has health issues, a controlling boyfriend and family issues. While reading of the struggles and courage that Ona faced and survived, made Tessa strong in knowing that she too can overcome her obstacles.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I found it to be phenomenal. The dual timeline is one that I enjoy very much. The author does a fantastic job of intertwining the past and the present while at the same time teaches the reader of what time was like in the late 1700’s. I was completely enthralled with this book and found it unputdownable. I learned so much history about this era and I thought the storyline was very realistic. I felt compassion and sorrow for Ona Judge and those that were in her situation. I felt a heavy heart as I thought about this story long after I finished it. This is a book that will resonate in my heart for quite some time. I was inspired and heartbroken throughout this wonderfully written story. I devoured this book but the remembrance of it will last me a lifetime. I can’t recommend this one enough, written by such a masterful storyteller….WOW!!! I wish I could give ten stars.

Thank you Suzette D. Harrison for such a phenomenal story. This was a wonderful, thought provoking and fast-paced story. I really enjoyed it and I absolutely recommend it.

After I’d finished this book I needed a bit of time to gather my thoughts before writing my review. My head was in an actual spin after reading this truly amazing book . As in the author’s previous books this is a dual time line story and for me I absolutely loved both time lines. We have Ona Judge who is a slave in the house of the first president of the USA during the 18th century. Reading about her life and that of her mother and siblings who were also slaves was heartbreaking as you read what the had to endure. The other timeline as current day América and the story of Tessa who is an interior designer. So many times I wanted to shout at Tessa and tell her to run. You will understand why when you read this book. This book brought me to tears at times and made me realise what many suffered all those years ago.

Tessa Scott finds a diary of a woman who escaped slavery, dated 1796. This is the diary of Ona Judge, the enslaved woman who worked at Mount Vernon, President George Washington's plantation. Ona was ripped apart from her mother and siblings at age 10. This is an amazing story of resilience and strength.

Tessa Scott finds an ancient diary of a woman who escaped slavery. The diary dates back to 1796. Written in the hand of a woman name Ona Judge Staines who was a slave and resided in the house of George and Martha Washington. Like countless others in her time, she was nothing less than chattel property. Slavery at that time was legal, and Ona’s happy life as a young child while growing up with her mother and siblings was changed forever when at the age of 10 she was ripped away and sent to live in the Washington household.

Tessa at first is reluctant to read the diary that she found. She is currently dealing with some difficult situations in her personal life. For one thing, she has some health issues that she is concerned about and she’s also in a relationship that is not bringing her joy. Tessa knows that she must make some important decisions.

Although quite busy, when her boyfriend of long ago asks a favor of her, she feels she must agree. He asks her to look over his grandmother’s property as it is currently embroiled in a legal battle. This proves to be quite a distraction for Tessa, especially when she is trying to decide the fate of her current unhealthy relationship.

As the story is told in dual timeline fashion, we also see the life of Ona judge over the course of several years, Beginning when she was just 10 years of age. The chapters in this book are set in a way so that readers can see how Ona grew up, how she escaped slavery, and what happened in her life after that.

Suzette D Harrison has a gift. She writes a story that makes you think. That makes you feel. That makes you want to rail against the offenders in her stories. Last year I had the pleasure of of reading my favorite book of 2021, The Girl at the Back of the Bus by Suzette D Harrison. Another fabulous book I was able to read by this wonderful and talented author is another favorite of mine for 2022, The Dust Bowl Orphans. Thankfully I was blessed with a chance to read this book, My Name is Ona Judge. It was just as impressive. Just as memorable. And now I have found another favorite book of 2022.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/5LK3i5Q0BBI

This is a dual time line historical fiction/modern day novel about Ona Judge and her life as a slave. Who is Ona Judge, you ask? She was a real person who was a slave in the George Washington household in Mt Vernon and traveled with the family to Washington DC after Washington was elected president. Since I'd never heard of her before or been taught about her in school, I goggled her and found many books written about this woman and her escape from slavery.

New Hampshire, 1796. “My name is Ona Judge, and I escaped from the household of the President of the United States. I was the favored maid of George and Martha Washington, but they deemed me a slave and thought me property, and I hear ten dollars is offered as reward for my capture. Now I must write the truth that I have lived, and tell my story…”

Ona Judge - we follow her story from a very young age. From her learning to sew at her mother's knee. being a companion to the Washington grandchildren and finally the personal maid to Martha Washington. In that role, she had to move to Washington after the presidential election. She had always questioned why her people were treated so poorly and once she got to Washington, she began to meet free black people and abolitionists who wanted to help her. Even though she knew if she got captured after she escaped, her punishment would probably be death, it was worth it to take the chance to find freedom.

Present - Tessa is part of a large family and is working to make her interior design business a success. When she is in the old house of a family friend, she finds an old tattered diary that belong to Ona. It had long been rumored that a member of the family was a slave to the Washingtons and finding the diary proved that it was true. As Tessa read more of the diary, it helped her to make some tough decisions in her life and work to set herself free.

Sometimes in dual story line novels, I prefer one time line over the other. That wasn't the case with this book - both time lines were well written and both women had to learn to be strong and take control of their lives.
The author did a lot of research in Ona's life and the time period that she lived in and the results of her research shows on every page.

This is a book that you don't want to miss about two strong and resilent women who both have to work to find their freedom and happiness. It's an amazing story about love, loss and redemption based on a true story from the founding of America

I read ‘The Girl at the back of the Bus’ a few months back by the author and really liked it. Interestingly, while this is a completely different story, the style is very similar with two timelines. There are a few other similarities in the structure, and broadly both books deal with the larger issue of discrimination. This is based on the true story of Ona Judge, which I did not know about till I read this book.

In the present day, Tessa is an interior designer who is ambitious and determined to make her career. Her relation with her boyfriend Dominic though is in an uncertain situation, and she feels stifled. Tessa’s ex-boyfriend is Brandon (who she refers as BC) and she knows the family well including his grandmother Momma Calloway. There is a family property which Brandon thinks should be sold, while his grandmother feels they should hold it. Tessa visits the place and in the dark, while she is somewhat spooked, she comes across a diary written by Ona Judge. Momma Calloway refers to her as Aunt Ona – many skipped generations prior. As Tessa reads the initial section, she is fascinated, and the family takes the next steps to authenticate the contents.

In another timeline, George Washington is President and he and his wife Martha manage their affairs with the services of many slaves. Among them is Betty and her children including Ona. Ona learns to sew and do other work on the estate. Her mother does tell her though that if she were ever to see a chance to gain freedom, she must be brave and take it. Many years hence Ona decides to take that chance – and that is how the book actually starts.

The writing is very good, and the situations and incidents extremely realistic. The circumstances around slavery and the thinking around the times is described very well. This is one of those books which is quite slow. I am quite comfortable with slow pace, but there are sections in the middle which lack energy and are somewhat listless. The last sections of the book are beautiful with the lessons for Tessa and Brandon from Ona’s life coming across. There is touch of charm in the last section in the narration from Ona Judge’s point of view which I did not expect.

A lovely and inspiring story.

Having loved Suzette Harrison’s The Girl at the Back of the Bus, I was excited to read My Name is Ona Judge. Harrison has again proved that she is a master storyteller! I devoured this story of Ona who was a slave for Martha Washington. I was emotionally invested in her story. I felt like I was at Mt. Vernon as an observer. This book had a second story set in present day Cape Charles. We were introduced to fictional character Tessa Lorraine Scott who owns an interior design business. She was involved in an abusive relationship. The book alternates chapters between these two stories. Tessa found Ona’s journal buried under a brick in front of a fireplace in an old home on Chincoteague which is owned by Mama Calloway the grandmother of Brandon (B.C.) Calloway, Tessa’s old boyfriend.
It did not take me long to read this book as I felt like I was a fly on the wall for both stories. I laughed. I cried. I got angry. I definitely wanted to have a conversation with President Washington and his wife. This book would make an excellent choice for book clubs who love historical fiction. So much to discuss. My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.