Reviews tagging 'Torture'

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

82 reviews

lyndsay_bibliophile's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

"The Reformatory" is a powerful and important read. It's a book that will stay with you, urging reflection and action. Highly recommended, but be prepared for the emotional wringer. Set just 74 years ago, a blink in history, it's a brutal reminder of the horrors inflicted under Jim Crow and the dehumanizing systems that still linger today. This is a story that feels alarmingly relevant, its weight settling like an ache in my chest.

Due's incredible storytelling weaves suspense, sadness, and even glimmers of humor, creating characters so real they stay with you long after the final page. This book confronts uncomfortable truths, challenging us to examine our own responses to systemic injustice.

The author's note is essential and the suggested reading list is great to consider adding to your TBR. This book isn't just a compelling read; it's a catalyst for understanding, action, and dismantling the remnants of those same dehumanizing systems that continue to cast long shadows.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Rape, Child death, Police brutality, Child abuse, Murder, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Racism, and Religious bigotry

ktdakotareads's review

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Grief, Body horror, Racism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Murder, Gore, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Death, Bullying, Gun violence, and Torture

Minor: Sexual assault

clemmatine's review

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Torture, Murder, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Violence, Hate crime, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Racial slurs, and Physical abuse

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Gun violence, and Pedophilia

callunavulgaris's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-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? No

5.0

I wish I was in a book club to discuss all the imagery & themes. Truly, Tananarive Due’s work should be required high school reading. Will likely be one of my favorite reads this year.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Blood, Death, Kidnapping, Murder, Racial slurs, Rape, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Hate crime, Racism, Xenophobia, and Police brutality

pocketbook's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective 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? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Religious bigotry, Forced institutionalization, Racism, Slavery, Child abuse, Trafficking, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Torture

Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Rape

blacksphinx's review

challenging dark 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

If this book doesn't win the 2023 Stoker, I will riot. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Grief, Racism, Torture, Child death, Cancer, Terminal illness, Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, and Death of parent

Moderate: Gun violence, Confinement, Vomit, Sexual assault, Slavery, Sexism, Homophobia, Pedophilia, and Bullying

Minor: War and Antisemitism

gloomypanda's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Racism, Grief, Child abuse, Violence, Physical abuse, and Torture

Moderate: Murder, Sexual harassment, Cursing, Misogyny, Bullying, Hate crime, Racism, Slavery, Fire/Fire injury, Police brutality, Sexism, Classism, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, and Rape

kathykat's review

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense slow-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? No

0.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Racism, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Child death, Murder, and Emotional abuse

Historical fiction about post-slavery work/labor camp in which mostly black children were held against their will in a de facto continuation of slavery.

brandilovesbooks's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

This book is beautifully written.   It's a story that is going to stick with you.   Although entirely fiction,  the story opens your eyes to the unfairness of the past.

Robbie is sent to a segregated boys reformatory school after he kicks a white boy who had been making inappropriate comments about his sister. 

Just asking about kids who have tried to escape gets Robbie sent to the Fun House, a place for punishment.  

Robbie and Gloria are the main points of view.

Occasionally the warden has a turn with his point of view.   Due does an amazing job creating an evil character who leaves the reader with incredibly visceral reactions. 

I recommend this book to people of every color who need to know what Jim Crow was like.   I also recommend it for people who believe in haints (ghosts).  It is a wonderful story of friendship, sibling relationship,  and family. 

I do have some content warnings-  very detailed description of fire and dying in a fire,  very disturbing look into the thoughts of a sociopath, multiple forms of abuse, violence,  guns and gun violence,  rape,  racial slurs, cursing, death.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Religious bigotry, Bullying, Child abuse, Racism, Child death, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Rape, Pedophilia, Cursing, Death, Physical abuse, Murder, Violence, Classism, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Gun violence, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, and Sexual harassment

kitten_nuisance's review

adventurous dark emotional 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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Torture, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Animal death

Minor: Rape and Slavery