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A review by ashtheaudiomancer
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.5
This is my first Tananarive Due book, and everything I've heard about her writing has, if anything, been underplayed. This is about a "reform school" that is a thinly veiled death camp where boys are sent for minor and/or imagined infractions, and many never get out. It's also haunted, and young Robbie's ability to communicate with ghosts might be his only chance of escaping. Not for the faint of heart, but essential reading for understanding one of the most unforgivable avenues of racism.
Graphic: Child death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Police brutality, and Abandonment
Minor: Terminal illness
Most of the content warnings you can infer from the description, but just be aware they are very much part of the story and you will not be able to skim over them.