Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

73 reviews

rainbownarwhal's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Police brutality

iheartchickenss's review against another edition

tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

jomerl's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

burnourhistory's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Abandonment

Minor: Alcoholism, Vomit, and Antisemitism

pages_with_a_preoccupied_prin's review against another edition

dark hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Wow. This book is something else. I couldn't put it down and will have a book hangover, for sure! If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would!
The story telling from the off was well paced and immense. The characters were so well developed that if you told me they were real people, I would believe you. The story itself is harrowing but needs to be told. There is the perfect mix of historic relevance, horror elements, and intense stress. 
Gloria, Robbie and Miz Lottie were so loveable as characters that you want the best for them throughout.  Tananarive does an incredible job of focusing on the main characters, whilst introducing plenty of important side characters, but doesn't draw the story or focus to them too much. 
The books pacing was perfection. I could read this book over and over again and not get bored. It made me cry, had me on the edge of my seat, and so stressed I couldn't concentrate on anything else, and I frequently gasped aloud on my commute. 
The fact that this is based on pieces of real history is so sad and it made me so angry that we live in a world where at some point in history this level of horrific treatment of humans was acceptable, and what is more terrifying is that you can still see aspects of it today.
Tananarive Due has an incredible piece here, and I would recommend it to absolutely anyone and everyone.

I'm gutted it's over to be honest. What. A. Book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

mintii's review against another edition

challenging dark informative inspiring mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This book is a powerful read set in 1950s Jim Crow Florida, masterfully portraying the harsh realities faced by Black Americans. The narrative is both dark and deeply emotional, drawing you in as if you’re watching a film. Robbie and Gloria, the main characters, are vividly written, embodying the innocence and complexities of childhood. Robbie’s observations reflect a childlike wonder, while Gloria’s fierce protectiveness and impulsiveness keep you on edge. The author captures their perspectives beautifully, creating a compelling and haunting story that resonates long after the last page. Highly recommended for those who appreciate profound storytelling.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Sexual violence, Slavery, and Classism

becinneverland's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racism, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

kain47's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

This is a horror story with humans as absolute monsters. So if you’re expecting gore, slasher type, depictions of horror - this isn’t it. The horror is disturbing because of how real it feels, and given the historical context this is based on, the monsters in this story were likely real. 

It’s an engaging and fast paced read that dials up the dread as the story unfolds. It’s unsettling and tense throughout, like you’re walking on eggshells wondering what the next chapter will unleash. A satisfying but emotionally difficult book. Not sure I’d read it again but I will be recommending it to everyone I know. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Police brutality, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

joymargot's review against another edition

5.0

I chose this for my October reading list because of the ghosts but it’s so much more than a ghost story and horrifying in a totally different - and tragically accurate - way. It’s a long and brutal read, but an important one. I was utterly gripped and stayed up late to finish it as I couldn’t sleep not knowing how it ended!

Great characters and such a powerful story but check those content warnings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

cilicia_1's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

A beautiful story of how slavery defined the Jim Crow era and all of the lives impacted by the flaws of emancipation

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Forced institutionalization, and Death of parent

Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence