A review by grifjo06
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

Tananarive Due is an expert of the genre who continues to outdo herself with every new book. This is her magnum opus, and is worth all of the praise it continues to receive. 

The Reformatory is a heart wrenching yet optimistic tale of real life horror. Due has always excelled as a storyteller, and she is particularly strong at balancing the horrors of the real world with the fictional horror elements she masterfully incorporates into her stories. What was so powerful about this book is that it is easily the real world horrors that are more frightening. 

The characters in this book are particularly well-written. I found myself instantly falling in love with Robert, Gloria, and their family, while the villain of the book is arguably one of the most wretched I have encountered in a while. 

I strongly recommend this book to anyone willing to wrestle with a dark spot in American history, but I would particularly encourage fans of literary and historical fiction to give this book a read, even if horror is not your cup of tea. This is  a book I will not forget for a long time. I am grateful for Tananarive’s contributions to the world of horror, and I cannot wait to see what she does next
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