Reviews tagging 'Classism'

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

31 reviews

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

littledottie's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

Guessed some of the big twists but an honest and brutal representation of the racist young offenders system. With ghosts. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Racism, 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

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

flying_monkeys's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Blood, Antisemitism, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Animal death, Alcohol, and War

mitchell_1's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Classism

Minor: Cancer and Death of parent

fakeppy's review against another edition

challenging dark sad 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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

archaicrobin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

The Reformatory is one of the best books I’ve read this year and one of Due’s best, which is hard tos ay because all of her books are phenomenal. 

 Steeped in history and her own personal family trauma is a tale of a young boy in the south sent to a horrific “school” for boys and his journey to find freedom with help from the spirits who refuse to leave without justice.

This story is heart wrenching and horrifying, made all the more painful because it’s based on a real place where real boys were tortured, raped, abused and murdered. I highly recommend looking at triggers before starting this one just to be safe, because it’s brutal. While spirits and the supernatural are paramount to this story, the true terror is in the lack of humanity and completely disgusting and historically true displays of racism. 

This story was phenomenal but so hard to get through, there were several times I had to put this down and just decompress because it weighed so heavy on my heart. Books like this are some of the most importantly literature in my eyes, especially at a time right now where racism and bigotry are being paraded around as political candidates. 

10/10 everyone should read if you can handle it.  I will be thinking about Robert, his family, the boys left behind, and the message of this novel for a very long time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

comfymaeve's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Murder, and Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail