Reviews tagging 'Rape'

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

110 reviews

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.

---

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

mariakureads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

This is a book that is going to stay with me long after today.

Due wrote an amazingly haunting, gripping and atmospheric tale full of history, and rich with characters to tell this tale of a young black boy in the 1950's, Jim Crow era, who in protecting his sister from a white boy's unwanted advances, is sent to "the Reformatory", a "school" for boys that runs more like a sweatshop/prison in which everyone is aware of but truly have no idea of the real going ons within.

I am speechless with how much I want to talk about this but also aware I don't have all the words I need to use to express how amazing this book really is. At moments, I was left breathless, hair raised and goosebumps all over from the tension and fear radiating from the pages and in some moments just held in suspense at what I was hearing as Joniece Abbott-Pratt narrated this book. 

Her narration had me enthralled and pulled me in further as she read in different tones and voices for every character making it easy for me to keep pace with who was who but also her use of tone helped drive key moments in the story as her voices lowers, whispers, breaks and holds the tension in the heavier scenes while bringing in warmth and love for others.

This may be the first time I'm introduced to either , but this won't be my last hopefully. Highly recommend this just be aware that this has some triggering moments so  check the content warnings.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, and Bullying

raelasoul's review

adventurous dark hopeful inspiring reflective 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? N/A

5.0

If I could give this book 10 stars I would. The way that this book is so beautifully written plays out perfectly in my head.. almost like a movie or a series like Lovecraft Country. Tananarive Due brought me back to the first book I ever stumbled upon, My Soul To Keep. Wow! Wow! Wow!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Torture, Murder, and Child death

Moderate: Rape

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. 

---

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

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 

---

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

mldavis_2015's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Child abuse, and Racism

Minor: Animal death, Alcoholism, Rape, Vomit, and Sexual assault

firedoor11's review

challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

Wonderfully written. It's a dense, heavy novel, but it kept my attention throughout. The suspense at the climax had me physically anxious, even when the characters were literally doing nothing! Brilliantly written!

It is also a social commentary on imprisoning our children, "reform" schools in general, and how systemic racism plays a role in and even drives it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Murder

Minor: Rape

bookscatcoffee's review

adventurous challenging dark informative sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Haunting, both literally and in the true tales related about a horrific place (Dozier), this book is a reckoning.  The writing is clear and the plot moves, but it’s not so fast that the lessons that need to be told about racism, sexism, homophobia, and the million other ways that white supremacy has screwed up America fade.  It is stark and visceral and a great story about terrible things.  Definitely worth reading!  4.5 stars

Historical horror with Black characters

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Racism, Torture, Child abuse, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Rape, Violence, Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Murder, and Bullying

courtneyadh's review

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I loved this book and truly could not put it down. But it is very intense. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Racism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Slavery, Toxic friendship, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Bullying

Minor: Classism, Rape, Pedophilia, and Vomit

melle_bello's review

dark emotional informative 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Slavery, Child abuse, Death of parent, Death, Hate crime, Racism, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Rape, Pedophilia, and Sexual harassment