6.58k reviews for:

The Reformatory

Tananarive Due

4.56 AVERAGE

nevaehtucker4's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional hopeful informative tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

laurelsholly's review against another edition

3.5

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

shyster's review against another edition

4.0

dark sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

natspotts222's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Racism

Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence

geothedude's review against another edition

5.0

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4.5 Stars.

I very nearly stopped reading by about chapter 9. When some of the supernatural elements took hold, it made things less "real" for me (but be not confused: this is a very raw/intense story) which made it easier for me to read. This is a tough book and I imagine that many people simply will not have the emotional fortitude to get all the way through and that's okay. For those that do, this is a fantastic story. On all the particulars, there are plenty of smart people who have reviewed this book better than me. Read this book if you have the stomach for it.

karasu13's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

reading_with_lungi's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional tense medium-paced

jocie_roller's review against another edition

4.0

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Yes, yes, yes. I love when a thriller takes on relevant social commentary in a compelling way. It takes a lot for the thriller genre to completely blow my mind hence the 4-star rating, but this was satisfying, interesting, page-turning, and appropriately grim for the subject matter. A good pairing with the movie Sinners for a summer of Black, Southern Gothic, supernatural thrillers.

This is my version of a beach read.

caitlinj9238's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional medium-paced

radiantt_rachel's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Really loved this book and the way the characters were written.