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science_nerd_reads_books's review
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
misspearch's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
erika_kostamo's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
heatherrenee1325's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
cpeters2384's review
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
I keep thinking about how to even start this review.
Readers get to experience a thousand lives....
Readers get to walk in the shoes of characters....
No matter what, this book gives you an experience so raw and deep. Immersive is the first word that comes to mind. I caution you to be ready for an experience Due gives you that will reach for your soul and rip it from its comfortable place. She sets a remarkable tone with characters you will hold on to for dear life and send you reeling time and again through their encounters with the other characters an the world around them. Also, read her authors note to deepen that feeling even more.
Right from the beginning, before the spooky horrors even begin, the reader is introduced to the existence of colored/Negros during the Jim Crow era. Step in to the shoes of a young Robert all of 12 years and a young Gloria only a few years older, as they try to exist in that era without their mother or their father (who is in Chicago for his own situation, which causes it's own problems for the children). They don't have much for themselves and for their characters among whites, they constantly adjust themselves to appear less threatening, more subservient and humble to appease the white folk. Each interaction is taxing and can come with grave consequences for their livelihood. Layering on top of this extreme one sided environment these children work so hard to exist in, something happens to Gloria and her young brother comes to her aid. Of course the law sides with the wealthy white, regardless of who initiated and did the actual wrong doing, leaving young Robert to a sentence at The Reformatory.
Now the horrors layered on horrors,....on horrors begin. We've already established the era which the characters are trying to survive, but now weigh it down more with a prison, um I mean school, run by a sadistic man with a horrible, haunting secret. There are some white kids in the school too which adds to sad power plays even in this trying environment. There are such tight rules for the kids that most are terrified to even laugh in the safety of their bunks at night. Then we are also introduced to haints/ghosts. Can you trust a haint? The Reformatory is filled with awful secrets the haints show you, let you experience to a degree. During Robert's time here, friends are made and promises are broken and the punishment is the fun house. There's also the hole and a few other sick contrived punishments for the kids, should they misbehave. Robert is eventually pushed to the limit after a terrible thing occurs and makes a deal with a haint. Should he have trusted them? Will he ever see Gloria again?
Red McCormack boxed Robert's ear so hard that he and his sister screamed. -p. 13
Florida's soil is soaked with so much blood, it's a wonder the droplets don't seep between your toes with every step. -p. 16
The only Negros in the courthouse were the accused and their families, with whispers up and down Lower Spruce when so-and-so was arrested or about to go on trial. -p. 22
"here's what the sign really says in plain English: as an officer of the state, I will beat you bloody and sleep like a babe at night because it will make you a better man..." -p. 60
"A Negro child who'll kick a white man will grow up to poison society and his own race. If he grows up..." -p. 61
....'Cuz, see, colored folks fighting for what's theirs is like a virus to white folks-and they kill a virus so it don't spread. That killing is the work of man, not the devil. -p. 108
'Gimmie your shirt," Crutcher said. Robert hesitated just long enough for him to add, "You don't want to wear it. Fabric gets in the skin." For the first time Robert thought of his skin breaking; not bruises, not welts, but slashed-open flesh. As if he were no different that the dead side of beef hanging in the freezer. -p. 157
See this tree? When I was a boy it was a hanging tree. We had to walk past it to go to school, even if a man was still swinging. -p.190
"....They saw Willie's father's statement saying they made him watch at gunpoint while they forced a child with hands and feet bound to jump from the bridge, and still couldn't get an indictment. .." -p. 225
Also, for all this has achieved for my experience...this is my BOOK OF THE YEAR
Readers get to experience a thousand lives....
Readers get to walk in the shoes of characters....
No matter what, this book gives you an experience so raw and deep. Immersive is the first word that comes to mind. I caution you to be ready for an experience Due gives you that will reach for your soul and rip it from its comfortable place. She sets a remarkable tone with characters you will hold on to for dear life and send you reeling time and again through their encounters with the other characters an the world around them. Also, read her authors note to deepen that feeling even more.
Right from the beginning, before the spooky horrors even begin, the reader is introduced to the existence of colored/Negros during the Jim Crow era. Step in to the shoes of a young Robert all of 12 years and a young Gloria only a few years older, as they try to exist in that era without their mother or their father (who is in Chicago for his own situation, which causes it's own problems for the children). They don't have much for themselves and for their characters among whites, they constantly adjust themselves to appear less threatening, more subservient and humble to appease the white folk. Each interaction is taxing and can come with grave consequences for their livelihood. Layering on top of this extreme one sided environment these children work so hard to exist in, something happens to Gloria and her young brother comes to her aid. Of course the law sides with the wealthy white, regardless of who initiated and did the actual wrong doing, leaving young Robert to a sentence at The Reformatory.
Now the horrors layered on horrors,....on horrors begin. We've already established the era which the characters are trying to survive, but now weigh it down more with a prison, um I mean school, run by a sadistic man with a horrible, haunting secret. There are some white kids in the school too which adds to sad power plays even in this trying environment. There are such tight rules for the kids that most are terrified to even laugh in the safety of their bunks at night. Then we are also introduced to haints/ghosts. Can you trust a haint? The Reformatory is filled with awful secrets the haints show you, let you experience to a degree. During Robert's time here, friends are made and promises are broken and the punishment is the fun house. There's also the hole and a few other sick contrived punishments for the kids, should they misbehave. Robert is eventually pushed to the limit after a terrible thing occurs and makes a deal with a haint. Should he have trusted them? Will he ever see Gloria again?
Red McCormack boxed Robert's ear so hard that he and his sister screamed. -p. 13
Florida's soil is soaked with so much blood, it's a wonder the droplets don't seep between your toes with every step. -p. 16
The only Negros in the courthouse were the accused and their families, with whispers up and down Lower Spruce when so-and-so was arrested or about to go on trial. -p. 22
"here's what the sign really says in plain English: as an officer of the state, I will beat you bloody and sleep like a babe at night because it will make you a better man..." -p. 60
"A Negro child who'll kick a white man will grow up to poison society and his own race. If he grows up..." -p. 61
....'Cuz, see, colored folks fighting for what's theirs is like a virus to white folks-and they kill a virus so it don't spread. That killing is the work of man, not the devil. -p. 108
'Gimmie your shirt," Crutcher said. Robert hesitated just long enough for him to add, "You don't want to wear it. Fabric gets in the skin." For the first time Robert thought of his skin breaking; not bruises, not welts, but slashed-open flesh. As if he were no different that the dead side of beef hanging in the freezer. -p. 157
See this tree? When I was a boy it was a hanging tree. We had to walk past it to go to school, even if a man was still swinging. -p.190
"....They saw Willie's father's statement saying they made him watch at gunpoint while they forced a child with hands and feet bound to jump from the bridge, and still couldn't get an indictment. .." -p. 225
Also, for all this has achieved for my experience...this is my BOOK OF THE YEAR
mila_conway's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
leesamudio's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
kamisha's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
4.0