Reviews tagging 'Pedophilia'

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

94 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.

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Content Warnings

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

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

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

shamelessbibliophile41's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Racism, and Blood

Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

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

bookscatcoffee's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

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

courtneyadh's review against another edition

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. 

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Content Warnings

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

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

Minor: Pedophilia, Rape, Vomit, and Classism

melle_bello's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

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

streberkatze's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

This book was a gripping read from the first page all the way to the end. It was challenging at times because of the cruelty and brutality the protagonists had to endure, especially knowing that similar things took place in over many places across the U.S. Both the character development and the way the haints shaped the story were done brilliantly.

Although the question what happened to the caught haints after Robbie freed them sadly remained unaddressed.

The only thing that kept me from giving this book five stars is the at times very slow pace of the story, which has more to do with my own reading preferences and less with the book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Terminal illness, Torture, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Slavery

thrillofthepage's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

hughesie's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Death, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Gun violence, Sexual assault, Slavery, Antisemitism, and Sexual harassment

heartfelthullabaloo'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

4.0

It was good but I’m glad it’s over. I was on pins and needles the whole time bracing for something terrible to happen and I’m glad that the author didn’t choose to be more explicit in her descriptions. Unlike any magical realism I’ve read, that aspect did lend an intriguing hand to the storyline. I have heard nothing but glowing recommendations of this book and that was the only thing that gave me the courage to read it after reading the description. Anyone who says we haven’t come far from times like these is crazy. I feel extremely blessed to live in this day and age.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, and Rape