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4.56 AVERAGE
4.56 AVERAGE
Honestly so good, but the beginning was slow. It felt like the book could have shorter. It was atmospheric enough without being pensive, so it would have been better a little "zippier" or faster paced from the start. Or not even the start really. If the book was in quarters, then it was the second quarter that dragged.
This book is set in Jim Crow Florida, focusing on young siblings, Gloria and Robbie. Robbie gets in a fight with a white boy, and so Robbie is sent to The Reformatory, a school/prison with a violent reputation. The chapters switch between the perspective of Robbie in custody and Gloria trying to help from the outside. This book is so heartbreakingly sad and often difficult to read. There are many real-life horrors throughout the book, a lot of violence towards children, racism, and some supernatural horror. The stakes are high, and I felt stressed, scared, and sad for the characters in the book while reading. I cried a few times. I felt like this book could have been a little shorter and there were parts around the beginning and middle that dragged a bit, but the book had such an emotional impact on me that I can’t bring myself to rate it lower than 5 stars. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy historical and supernatural horror, if you’re interested in reading about Black experiences, and if you’re in the mood to read an emotional, difficult, and dark book.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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:
Complicated
This book was so hard to read. Very dark and heartbreaking. But it’s a wild ride and I’ve never felt so immersed in a story. Incredible writing that will tear you apart and put you back together. I’ll never be the same!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Rape
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
tense
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
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
tense
slow-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
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really enjoyed this one. Great mix of history and ghost story. Only reason it wasn’t 5 stars is it felt 100 pages too long. The parts with Gloria were too slow and didn’t feel necessary. That aside, I’d definitely recommend this one.