The Yellow Marble is a well-researched history book written in verse; it is part of the creative non-fiction genre. Stories from the lives of people who lived in the USA before the Civil War make up part one. Part two introduces readers and listeners to some of the people who supported John Brown and his mission to end slavery. Part three reveals the fates of the men who made up the Provisional Army.
The Yellow Marble pauses at a dramatic time in the history of the United States. It was a period filled with chaos and trauma yet met with hope and perseverance. Who were the people that lived before the Civil War? What were their lives like? Different groups vied for power, some abiding by few if any rules. How were a diverse group of individuals able to unite for a common cause? What were the results? Where does it leave us today?