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swiftpool's review
- 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
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Murder, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Slavery, Grief, Blood, Physical abuse, Racism, Torture, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Racial slurs, and Violence
Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, and Dementia
crisscrossedshelves's review
- 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
Graphic: Death and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Racism, Sexual harassment, and Racial slurs
jkar7's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Racism, Forced institutionalization, Torture, Hate crime, Slavery, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Death of parent
vegan5533's review
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Gore, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Rape, Blood, Bullying, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Vomit, Sexual harassment, Torture, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Classism, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Child death, and Gaslighting
ellislawreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Gore, Racism, Child death, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Racial slurs
bookended's review
4.5
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.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Racism, Child abuse, Child death, Hate crime, Death of parent, and Sexual assault
mariakureads's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, and Bullying
racheltheripper's review against another edition
- 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
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
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, and Racial slurs
kaiyakaiyo's review against another edition
- 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
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
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