The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom is a nonfiction memoir that traces the history of New Orleans through three generations of Broom's family, focusing on her childhood home, "The Yellow House." Starting with her mother purchasing the house in 1961, Broom recounts family struggles, the impact of Hurricane Betsy and Katrina, and her own journey of self-discovery and reconciliation with her family's past.

Sarah M. Broom's The Yellow House offers a poignant memoir blending family history, personal narrative, and the impact of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans. Praised for its vivid storytelling and depth, it sometimes meanders and can be dense. However, its rich detail and emotional honesty resonate strongly with readers.

Readers who appreciate deeply personal memoirs like Jesmyn Ward’s Men We Reaped or Ta-Nehisi Coates's Between the World and Me will find Sarah M. Broom's The Yellow House compelling. This book appeals to those interested in family histories, socio-economic challenges, and the resilience of New Orleans' residents.

Melancholic / Contemplative / Nostalgic / Emotional / Inspirational

- The Yellow House won the 2019 National Book Award for Nonfiction, marking Sarah M. Broom's first major literary award.
- The book weaves in elements of memoir and social history, providing a deeply personal exploration of Broom's family and their home in New Orleans East.
- The Yellow House was named one of the Top Ten Books of 2019 by both The New York Times Book Review and Time magazine.

Sarah M. Broom

Adult

Autobiography / Memoir

Nonfiction

Guide

Study Guide

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore The Yellow House and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

The Yellow House Summary and Study Guide

chapter

chapterType

section

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Movement 1: “The World Before Me”

Map-Movement 1, Chapter 3

The Yellow House Map-Movement 1, Chapter 3 Summary & Analysis

Movement 1, Chapters 4-7

The Yellow House Movement 1, Chapters 4-7 Summary & Analysis

Movement 2: “The Grieving House”

Movement 2, Chapters 1-5

The Yellow House Movement 2, Chapters 1-5 Summary & Analysis

Movement 2, Chapters 6-10

The Yellow House Movement 2, Chapters 6-10 Summary & Analysis

Movement 3: “Water”

Movement 3, Chapters 1-4

The Yellow House Movement 3, Chapters 1-4 Summary & Analysis

Movement 3, Chapters 5-8

The Yellow House Movement 3, Chapters 5-8 Summary & Analysis

Movement 4: “Do You Know What It Means? Investigations”

Movement 4, Chapters 1-5

The Yellow House Movement 4, Chapters 1-5 Summary & Analysis

Movement 4, Chapter 6-After

The Yellow House Movement 4, Chapter 6-After Summary & Analysis

keyFigure

Key Figures

The Yellow House Key Figures

theme

Themes

The Yellow House Themes

Index of Terms

The Yellow House Index of Terms

quote

citation

character

Important Quotes

The Yellow House Important Quotes

primaryCharacter

Essay Topics

The Yellow House Essay Topics

The Yellow House

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read The Yellow House?

Reading Age

Book Details