Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

138 reviews

melodyseestrees's review against another edition

Library had long wait list. Will have to wait 22 weeks before I can finish.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Blood, Racism, Vomit, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Animal death and Slavery

ellislawreads's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Gore, Racism, Child death, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Racial slurs

kaitlynbarrett's review

dark emotional 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Racism, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Sexual assault

amberpants's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

There came a point, about a quarter of the way into this book, that I put it down and wasn't sure if I would be able to pick it back up. The moment in the story was overwhelming for me and, though I felt like I owed it to the characters to go on the journey with them, I wasn't sure that my heart could take it. The story is engaging, believable - it is based on things that have happened - and immersive, the last not exactly a positive when dealing with such tragic subject matter, though perhaps necessary. In the end, I did finish the book, completed the journey, and am glad that I did.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Violence, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Racism, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Blood, Rape, Child death, Abandonment, and Pedophilia

Minor: Bullying, Child death, Animal death, and Sexual violence

mrscorytee's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Murder, Racism, and Racial slurs

bookended's review

dark emotional

4.5

4.5/5
Thank you to Saga Press, an Imprint of Simon & Schuster, for the free e-copy of this book!

Please be warned the triggers in this read include: racial slurs, abuse, extreme violence , racism.. 

The storytelling in this read was beyond words and left me speechless from start to end. The Reformatory takes place in 1950's Gracetown, Florida, following both Gloria and Robert (Robbie) Stephens, when Robert found himself being sent to a Boy's School (which is led by THE MOST disgusting man) after an incident with his neighbor. 

This was a horrific, heart-dropping, stomach-turning read, that was written so well. And knowing that this read was inspired by true events from Tananarive Due's family history made it that much more memorable.  Historical Fiction at its finest.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Racism, Child abuse, Child death, Hate crime, Death of parent, and Sexual assault

kyrstin_p1989's review

challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

4.5

Hauntingly beautiful prose yet still direct and plain enough for everyone to access. This book is equal parts historical fiction, horror, and thriller. The paranormal aspect made the story more compelling and without it, it would’ve been just another story about the Jim Crow south and the horrors that occurred there. The characters are brave and heroic and hopeful even when they have no reason to be. This book has the potential to become a classic and should be read widely. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Vomit, Slavery, Child death, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Confinement, Cancer, Alcoholism, Dementia, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Murder, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Stalking, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture

racheltheripper's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Murder, Hate crime, Torture, Child death, Body horror, Blood, Grief, Gore, Racism, Racial slurs, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, and Death of parent

queenpashon's review against another edition

Racial Trauma

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Torture, and Violence

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, and Racial slurs

kaiyakaiyo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative 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? No

4.0

this is one of those books I can’t call “enjoyable” because  frfr it had me sweating and my stomach in knots the whole time. that being said, it was a gripping, sad, informative read. the pacing is surprisingly fast for a book this large, and the plot was very neat.

the speculative and horror elements wove well with the historical fiction aspects, and I really enjoyed how we got a glimpse into so many minds, even if they weren’t always good minds to be in. the way the narrative flowed from one brain to the other was so smooth and satisfying. gloria and robbie were lovely, if tragic :( such sweet, empathetic children in a world where they can sense even more harm than usual due to their clairvoyance. heartbreaking

I also love love love that the author included books in the authors note that tell the true story of the school this novel is based on; it’s clear that she did a lot of careful, tactful research for this book, and wants us to do the same. this is not a light read by any means, but it is a good one 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Racial slurs, Forced institutionalization, Racism, Child abuse, Grief, Torture, Hate crime, and Gun violence

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Child death, Death of parent, and Child abuse

Minor: Cancer and Terminal illness