Reviews tagging 'Police brutality'

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

43 reviews

fina44's review

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, Death of parent, Cancer, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Grief, Classism, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Murder, Police brutality, Forced institutionalization, Pedophilia, Rape, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Torture, Confinement, Racism, Violence, Vomit, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Gun violence

wylovat's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Bullying, Child death, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Confinement, Hate crime, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Racial slurs, Police brutality, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Death of parent, Rape, Sexism, and War

hestapleton's review

dark emotional sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Torture, Racial slurs, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, and Police brutality

Minor: Rape

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.

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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

randilefevre12's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Child death, and Child abuse

Moderate: Rape, War, and Sexual harassment

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.

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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

gloomypanda's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

3.0

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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

brittniebeeman's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Police brutality, Hate crime, Violence, Racism, Murder, and Slavery

leslielikesthings's review

dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racism, Child abuse, Violence, Child death, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Torture, Death of parent, and Hate crime

Minor: Lesbophobia, Antisemitism, Bullying, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Rape

sarahc_98's review against another edition

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Bullying, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Confinement, Racial slurs, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death, Physical abuse, and Racism