Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

71 reviews

the_liberalafrican16's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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? No

5.0

“The Reformatory has a central villain, but the actual villain is a system of dehumanisation” 
I have read LOTS of books in my lifetime and not a single one has ever made me cry…until now. What a gut wrenching ride this was. This book made me feel hopeless, horrified and heartbroken. And whilst it’s labelled as a paranormal horror, those aspects aren’t what make it terrifying. No. The reality of the characters’ situation- Robert and Gloria - depicts more horror than any ghosts or paranormal events do. Due is masterful in her storytelling and character development and you really see how our protagonist transforms from a scared little teenage into a traumatised but resolved character who sheds his fears despite the hell he’s been sentenced to endure. I cried multiple times and had to take many moments just to breathe, but I couldn’t put this book down. Considering it’s inspired by the real events at Dozier School for boys (a truly dreadful place), this is an emotive combination of fiction and real history that everyone should read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Torture, Forced institutionalization, and Grief

mackenzienoelle's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? No

4.0

Listened to the audiobook which I think helped it not drag as much. Loved the ending, thought the last half was well paced. It’s a horror story about a children’s reformatory for boys in the Jim Crow south, so yeah it’s very upsetting in general. Check content warnings

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Terminal illness, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Blood, and Police brutality

faithemt's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

important look at Florida in the horrible jim crow days......and a particular school....

full review is here:

https://goldintheclouds-faith.blogspot.com/2024/08/2024-book-review-34the-reformatory.html

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Classism

kurumipanda's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Confinement, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Rape, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism

leahcatching's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

nikki_saulnier's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Torture, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

alyssatuininga's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative 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? No

4.0

 This book is a rough read- racism, child sexual abuse, torture death, and extreme graphic descriptions of child physical abuse. I struggled getting through this book because every time I picked it up this dread washed over me and I had a pit in my stomach. It is eloquently written- raw and heartbreaking. The characters feel realistic, deep, and honest. I learned a great deal about justice and the NAACP in Florida in the 1950s.  In the long run, I am glad that I read it but it was a rough ride. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

randeerebecca's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

jaedia's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Cancer, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Classism

rachaelcandoit's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

This book was devastating and haunting. Beautifully written. I loved both Robbie and Gloria's narratives throughout. I think that everything with the haints was incredibly well done. 

This book definitely kept me in my toes. I started this book as part of my Summerween and it was the only book I read that had me feeling genuinely tense and on the edge of my seat. I really liked how it ended + I don't think there could've been a better way to wrap up everything. 

I'm glad I picked this book up! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail