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.

What an amazing story of resilience and strength. Ona never imagined the affections of the owner’s granddaughter would cause her to lose more than she gained. I loved this story. Ona’s story traveled generations to Tessa whose life was changed by the words of a woman she could never possibly meet but would never forget. Author Suzette D. Harrison did an excellent job of expertly weaving the past and present together in a harmonious literary melody. Well done. Thank you #NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

. I would like to thank Ms. Harrison for telling such an important story in America’s history. Without this book I would not have heard of Ona Judge. This was a wonderfully told story about Ona Judge who was a slave to Martha Washington. Although this book was a dual time line, weaving together two lives from the past and present I really was intrigued by Ona’s story and felt that it would have been just as valuable as a stand alone.
That being said I throughly enjoyed the characters on both sides of the timeline from Mama Calloway to Miss Eliza, each character was so vividly depicted that I felt as if I was a part of the household.

I definitely recommend you read Ona’s journey and personally anticipate reading more from this author.

Thank you to Bookouture and Net Galley for the advanced copy.

For many years I’ve read most things fact or fiction about the Washingtons, which included the story of Ona Judge. I was thrilled to be approved for this historical fiction based on her story.
Harrison does a good job giving Judge a voice and realistically depicting the events, conversations, and feelings of her characters.
It’s a powerful read. While the split time frame works, I think Ona”s story was strong enough to stand on its own, but the contemporary time frame molds nicely into the 18th century frame.
It’s a book that is not to be missed.

MY NAME IS ONA JUDGE-Suzette D. Harrison

I received this to my Kindle for the purpose of review. It is considered historical novel. In that description I can read and enjoy the story. Ona Judge was a slave for George and Martha Washington prior to him becoming President. She has been a slave since birth and is considered property.

Ona went from learning to sew and being with Mom all day every day. The niece of Martha loved "Oney" and so Oney moved to the main house to stay and be available to the niece who was really the same age as Ona. In the years that followed Ona went from being the playmate to being the personal maid to Martha.

Ona was well cared for by the Washingtons......however, she began to rethink what sbeing a slave meant. She missed her family terribly as unable to see them except on Sundays. She developed an overwhelming desire to run away after she witnessed the beating of some friends. After attending multiple freedom meetings she began plotting her plan to run.

Having being sent to Ona's home by Ona's great grandson to see how to renovate the home, Tessa happens upon a journal which had been hidden by Ona. As Tessa incorporates the journal into her daily thought processes. Tessa/Ona becomes a fast friendship drawn from the journal and Tessa's own challenges in relationships that were not healthy.

I felt the writing was good. The story was well written and quite interesting. I did feel the underlying theme was an effort to discredit George Washington. Some of the details she gave about the Washington family was in direct opposition to what I had learned and studied about George Washington.
#My name is Ona Judge #Net Galley

My Name is Ona Judge is a dual timeline historical fiction novel based on a true story. In present day, Tessa discovers a mysterious journal in the house of a family friend in Chincoteague, MD. The journal was written by Ona Judge, who was an escaped slave from George Washington's household. The stories of growing up in that household were completely horrific, and you will change your opinion of the nation's first president when you read this. Ona is a really strong character who survives a seemingly impossible childhood.

In modern day, Tessa is figuring out who she is, personally and professionally. Ona's journal puts things in perspective for her, and brings her closer to her family and friends.

This book has some tough parts, but it's worth reading.

My Name is Ona Judge by Suzette D. Harrison was such a great historical fiction book. As I have mentioned many times, I love the genre but get so burnt out on World War II which tends to be the setting of so many historical fiction books. I want more from the Civil War era and before! When I saw this book, I knew I needed to read it and I’m glad I did.

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…”

Chincoteague, Virginia, present day. Rain soaks Tessa Scott as she runs from her car to the old, vine-covered property she has been called to survey. She’s too busy to accept a new job, but doing this favor for the grandmother of her childhood sweetheart delays a painful decision she must make about a future with her controlling boyfriend.

But when Tessa finds a tattered journal carefully hidden inside the house’s ancient fireplace, the tragic story of how Ona was ripped from her mother’s arms to live and work in the palatial Mount Vernon, and the heart-shattering betrayal that led her to risk her life and run, has Tessa spellbound. Could discovering this forgotten scandal at the heart of her nation’s history force her to confront her own story? As she races to reach the final page, will anything prepare her for the desperate moment when Ona’s captors find her again? Will it inspire Tessa to take ownership of her own life and set herself free?

My favorite chapters were the ones about Ona, I just loved learning about her. Don’t miss this book when it comes out in September!

September 6.

Typically I am the one to recommend books for my mom, but she recently read The Girl at the Back of the Bus by Suzette D. Harrison, and couldn’t stop gushing about it! So, when I saw My Name is Ona Judge by the same author on NetGalley, I quickly requested it!

The book is written from two perspectives, Ona Judge, who lived as a dower slave to Martha Washington, and Tessa, a close family friend of Ona’s descendants. When Tessa accidentally finds Ona’s diary, she gets a glimpse into a life she could never imagine, and learns some life lessons herself.

Perhaps my favorite thing about this book is that it is based off of a true story! Ona Judge Staines was one of Martha Washington’s slaves, and escaped to live in freedom for the rest of her life. Prior to reading this novel, I had never heard of Ona, and I loved that Harrison took the time to share such an important part of history. Hopefully Ona Judge will be a household name like Harrison mentions in the novel.

Additionally, I felt as though Harrison told both Ona’s and Tessa’s stories in such an eloquent way. While there are many books about slavery, I don’t think I’ve ever read one from the perspective of a child, so that truly made this book stand out. Similarly, I thought it was important that the novel addressed significant issues, such as colorism and the belief that slaves working in the house had it easier. Ona’s story dispelled the common belief that all slaves working in the fields had more difficult lives, and encouraged readers to recognize that all slaves faced different types of adversity.

Furthermore, Tessa’s story amplified the power in Ona’s story, but also stood on its own. The fact that Tessa found bravery through reading Ona’s diary was inspiring, and I liked that she did not compare her experience to Ona’s, but was still able to find the wisdom in Ona’s story and her own.

Overall, I will certainly be checking out Suzette D. Harrison’s other books! My Name is Ona Judge was a wonderful novel that speaks on both past and current issues in our society!

My Name is Ona Judge is a fascinating read about Ona Judge the personal maid to Martha Washington.

The story is told in dual time line which works exceptionally well.

Tess is an interior designer who is on site at her ex boyfriends property at the request of his Grandmother.

It is here she discovers the diary of Ona Judge.

The story is so well told (in both time lines) that for me to describe it would never do the book justice.

I cheered for Ona and Tess, cried for them both and could not help but admire there tenacity and strength.

This is one book that will stay with me for a very long time.

Put My Name is Ona Judge on the top of your TBR pile. You will be thankful you did.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a fascinating and unforgettable read.

I liked the dual timelines here. I liked see Ona's story and how everything played out for her.
I liked that Tessa learned more about herself and her relationships as she learned more about Ona.
I think this one is really well done in bringing parts of the past into the future. We can all learn from where we come from.

Thanks NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC!

Wow!!! This was definitely a page turner that sent me on an emotional journey. I enjoyed the dual timeline as well as the characters. This was an informative and thought provoking story and I recommend it.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a masterful piece of writing! This story will blow you away! I know it’s Historical Fiction,, but deep down inside I came away with the feeling that there was a lot of truth attached to the conflicts, characters and scenes. That’s the mark of a great writer, and author Suzette D. Harrison is that writer!

You will be pulled in from the first lines of the Prologue as you meet Ona Judge, the historical heroine. Chapter One introduces us to the present day heroine, Tessa Scott. Ms Harrison flawlessly delivers this story over two distinct time periods: the late 1700’s and current day. By the end of this riveting story, we find ourselves at the one setting that ties everything and everyone together.. This will all make sense when you read this “gripping historical novel.”

The characters are perfect! Tessa and her ancestor, Ona, both come to grips with abusive situations. The side characters are instrumental in adding to the intrigue of the storyline.. I couldn’t help wondering Is present-day Dominic that much different from historical George Washington in the treatment of people? Yes, fans, that George Washington, the so called Father of this country. is front and center in this story. Please, don’t just take my word for it. You have got to read this book! It is insightful, educational, entertaining, and thought-provoking. You can thank me later.

Excellent dual-timeline book with strong female characters. First person point of view alternating between Ona Judge, a slave to “Mistress” Martha Washington and Tessa, an interior designer who uncovers a connection to Ona while surveying a property. Very engaging and absolutely held my attention. I live about half an hour away from Mount Vernon, and this book brought new perspectives vs. what I learned as a girl on school field trips.

Thank you to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest feedback.

Great story told in two perspectives and two time periods. I enjoyed both stories but found the slaves held by George Washington more interesting and informative. Both stories have similar themes but I found it hard to compare the devastating lives of slaves with the working and dating world of today. Both stories are tied together nicely and found the characters to be well developed. I recommend this book and found myself easily drawn into both time periods.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

If you like historical fiction and enjoy dual timelines then this is the book for you! Well written and absolutely captivating.

This is a dual timeline story...one that is set in our present day and one that is set in 1796 when we first come upon Ona. As a bondswoman/slave in President George Washington's Mt. Vernon home, she is given to Martha Washington as a gift she inherited from her first husband's estate. While Ona was "property" there is a difference between the fact that she was inherited as opposed to being bought. Present day, we find Tessa Scott who is helping out the grandmother of her childhood sweetheart. It's in that house that Tessa finds a diary written by Ona detailing Ona's separation from her mother and sisters, as well as her escape from the President's home. The diary gives us details about slave life, the treatment of these people...their brutality by those who owned them and their overseers wasn't just sad, it was just plain inhumane.

For me, even though I know that the present day story was there as a stepping stone to Ona's history, it was one I could do without. To be honest, it was those parts of the book I skimmed over. Ms. Harrison's novel brought an extremely interesting to her readers, actually amazing in its telling. As I read along, the internet helped me learn more about Ona Judge and her life.

My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love how the story intertwines generations apart and while both are strong minded capable women, their lives are dominated by men and it was worse for Ona who was at the mercy of her captors. A five star riveting story that I’d have no hesitation in recommending this to read.