Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

45 reviews

mamaofperfectpayton'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

4.25

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. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Police brutality, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Bullying, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Child death, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Sexual assault

fina44's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, Death of parent, Cancer, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Grief, Classism, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Murder, Police brutality, Forced institutionalization, Pedophilia, Rape, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Torture, Confinement, Racism, Violence, Vomit, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Gun violence

readerworm's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Torture, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Slavery, Physical abuse, Hate crime, Racism, Grief, Child death, and Bullying

wylovat's review against another edition

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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Bullying, Child death, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Confinement, Hate crime, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Racial slurs, Police brutality, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Death of parent, Rape, Sexism, and War

lyndsay_bibliophile's review against another edition

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.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Rape, Child death, Police brutality, Child abuse, Murder, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Racism, and Religious bigotry

ktdakotareads's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Grief, Body horror, Racism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Murder, Gore, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Death, Bullying, Gun violence, and Torture

Minor: Sexual assault

blacksphinx's review against another edition

challenging 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? It's complicated

5.0

If this book doesn't win the 2023 Stoker, I will riot. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Grief, Racism, Torture, Child death, Cancer, Terminal illness, Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, and Death of parent

Moderate: Gun violence, Confinement, Vomit, Sexual assault, Slavery, Sexism, Homophobia, Pedophilia, and Bullying

Minor: War and Antisemitism

gloomypanda's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Racism, Grief, Child abuse, Violence, Physical abuse, and Torture

Moderate: Murder, Sexual harassment, Cursing, Misogyny, Bullying, Hate crime, Racism, Slavery, Fire/Fire injury, Police brutality, Sexism, Classism, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, and Rape

brandilovesbooks's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.25

This book is beautifully written.   It's a story that is going to stick with you.   Although entirely fiction,  the story opens your eyes to the unfairness of the past.

Robbie is sent to a segregated boys reformatory school after he kicks a white boy who had been making inappropriate comments about his sister. 

Just asking about kids who have tried to escape gets Robbie sent to the Fun House, a place for punishment.  

Robbie and Gloria are the main points of view.

Occasionally the warden has a turn with his point of view.   Due does an amazing job creating an evil character who leaves the reader with incredibly visceral reactions. 

I recommend this book to people of every color who need to know what Jim Crow was like.   I also recommend it for people who believe in haints (ghosts).  It is a wonderful story of friendship, sibling relationship,  and family. 

I do have some content warnings-  very detailed description of fire and dying in a fire,  very disturbing look into the thoughts of a sociopath, multiple forms of abuse, violence,  guns and gun violence,  rape,  racial slurs, cursing, death.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Religious bigotry, Bullying, Child abuse, Racism, Child death, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Rape, Pedophilia, Cursing, Death, Physical abuse, Murder, Violence, Classism, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Gun violence, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, and Sexual harassment

sarahc_98's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Bullying, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Confinement, Racial slurs, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death, Physical abuse, and Racism