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A review by sandro_reads
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
The Reformatory tells the story of Robert Stephens Jr. who is unjustly sent to the Gracetown School for Boys and his sister, Gloria, who is desperately trying to get him out.
The school is full of ‘haints’ or ghosts but the true horror is the action of men in the Jim Crow-era south. Tananarive Due has created a fully realized world that will infuriate and shock but ultimately stands as a testament to the perseverance of the human spirit.
And, although a work of fiction, it is based on Due’s own connection to the very real horrors that took place at the Dozier School for Boys - which adds another layer while reading.
The school is full of ‘haints’ or ghosts but the true horror is the action of men in the Jim Crow-era south. Tananarive Due has created a fully realized world that will infuriate and shock but ultimately stands as a testament to the perseverance of the human spirit.
And, although a work of fiction, it is based on Due’s own connection to the very real horrors that took place at the Dozier School for Boys - which adds another layer while reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Racial slurs, and Racism