Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

62 reviews

ripxreads's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Racial slurs, Racism, and Torture

Moderate: Gun violence, Rape, and Violence

Minor: Antisemitism

becandbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

5.0

 An incredibly personal, gut-wrenching, and transportative story inspired by the real-life horrors of Dozier School for Boys, The Reformatory drew me in from the beginning. Going into it, I knew I was settling into a disturbing tale. Still, I wasn't prepared to become so deeply invested in the narrative—not just the story of Robert and Grace but also the tale of the institution itself.

Rooted in a time after the abolition of slavery, when ingrained racism was rampant in the lives of Americans in the South, The Reformatory begins with this racism landing young Robert Jr in the Gracetown School for Boys. It is a place where every day is a fight for survival, and the trauma of the past does not stay buried in the ground. The plot then unfolds into a rich and encompassing story, lingering with ghosts and a fierce fight for justice.

The knowledge that these ghosts, whether real or not, have a place in history is chilling. The incorporation of subtle glimpses of possible story paths through the paranormal is done beautifully. Tananarive Due has crafted a story that will both grip and haunt readers from beginning to end.

Readers considering this story should be aware that it is by absolutely no means a light read. Review the trigger warnings if you are not comfortable with graphic and disturbing content. However, beneath all the horrendous aspects is a brilliantly written story that deserves immense praise. 

 

becandbooks.com ‧ the storygraph ‧ trigger warning database ‧ more links

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Torture, Forced institutionalization, and Murder

Moderate: Bullying, Gun violence, Sexism, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Slavery, Vomit, and Sexual harassment

→ trigger warnings: racism (including slurs & racial profiling), slavery mentioned, lynching mentioned, hate crimes, fire, incarceration (main theme), toxic masculinity, misogyny, bullying, child abuse, child death & murder, rape discussed, blood & injury depiction, sexual harassment, lashings, emesis/vomiting, stabbing & knife violence recounted, death from dog attack discussed, dead bodies discussed, gun violence

ktdakotareads's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

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

Minor: Sexual assault

clemmatine's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

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

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

blacksphinx's review against another edition

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. 

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Content Warnings

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

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

Minor: Antisemitism and War

gloomypanda's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

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

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

yrsbrn's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Gun violence, Rape, and Sexual violence

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.

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Content Warnings

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

leslielikesthings's review against another edition

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

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

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

kellyung's review against another edition

challenging 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault