Reviews - The Reformatory | The StoryGraph

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6.51k reviews for:

The Reformatory

Tananarive Due

4.56 AVERAGE

drfuriousstyles's review against another edition

4.0

dark 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: No

Creepy, chilling, and harrowing.

theshlee's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark tense medium-paced

likethe309's review against another edition

5.0

wow. infuriating. horrifying. just gripping.

kaylasuewho's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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: No

jo_b_books's review against another edition

4.0

4.5 ⭐️
I enjoyed this book way more than I thought I would. It feels to me very much like historical fiction but with a touch of paranormal elements. I could actually see the events in this book happening with the way segregation of colour was back in the day. I really loved the characters and their development throughout the story and felt like I really knew them by the end of the book.
I felt so sorry for Robert and what he had to go through after such a small act caused him to be sent to the reformatory and at such a young age.
There was definitely a rollercoaster of emotions through this book where I felt happy, sad and angry which I love in the book.
Overall, I think this is a book that so many readers from different genres can read and enjoy.

livlosiewicz's review against another edition

5.0

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: Complicated

Pros:

I absolutely adored the characters!! Gloria and Robbie were both so instantly lovable, and I was so invested in everything that happened to them. I also liked the complex side characters like Miss Anne, Redbone, and Crutcher
I was so enraptured by the story, which was a well-crafted eery ghost story that also had some larger things to say about racism and the institutions and people who uphold it

Recommendation: Highly recommend to fans of literary and historical fiction, especially if you are open to a supernatural or spooky element. While horror and fantasy are not my typical genres, this felt like more of a literary novel with elements of the other genres, so I had no trouble adjusting at all. Basically this ticked all the boxes for me: great characters, well-crafted and suspenseful story, strong but engaging writing, and a wider thematic purpose. I will be thinking about this one for a long time!! Some content warnings: death, racism, child abuse, sexual assault. Most of the violence is not too detailed but be aware this is not a sunshiney book. Avoid if you’re looking for something that is primarily about supernatural elements or super fast-paced.