Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - The Reformatory

Wow. What a book. It was hard for me to read the first 250 because I have difficulty reading books about injustices during the Jim Crow era. I could only read a few pages at a time for about 4 weeks. But starting around chapter 20… BABY WHEW… the story took a turn and I was on the edge of my seat. The last 50 pages or so felt so real that it seemed like I was there while reading. There is an extremely long list of content warnings, so please beware. This is a story that will stay with me for a long time.

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banditaki's review against another edition

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dark medium-paced

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

3.5

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morethanmylupus's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective 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

This is such a heavy book. It's based around a real juvenile reformatory school (the Dozier School for Boys) in Florida. This true history is highlighted in the traumas detailed in the book, which makes this book even more painful to read. Due underscores this history with magical realism elements. Sometimes, I find these to detract from the story but here they serve to further highlight the atrocities these poor children were subjected to over the years. It's a real-world example of the conclusions of the Stanford Prison Experiments.

Please check the trigger warnings on this one, there are a number of disturbing scenes.

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wylovat's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

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lyndsay_bibliophile's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

"The Reformatory" is a powerful and important read. It's a book that will stay with you, urging reflection and action. Highly recommended, but be prepared for the emotional wringer. Set just 74 years ago, a blink in history, it's a brutal reminder of the horrors inflicted under Jim Crow and the dehumanizing systems that still linger today. This is a story that feels alarmingly relevant, its weight settling like an ache in my chest.

Due's incredible storytelling weaves suspense, sadness, and even glimmers of humor, creating characters so real they stay with you long after the final page. This book confronts uncomfortable truths, challenging us to examine our own responses to systemic injustice.

The author's note is essential and the suggested reading list is great to consider adding to your TBR. This book isn't just a compelling read; it's a catalyst for understanding, action, and dismantling the remnants of those same dehumanizing systems that continue to cast long shadows.

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