dennisfischman 's review for:

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

3.75

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

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 This book compares favorably with The Nickel Boys, which was so widely read and justly praised. Tananarive Due writes so well, and she makes teen and preteen characters come to life. As compared to the other book, we not only get the point of view of the Black boy in a "reformatory" that's actually a challenge just to survive: we also hear from his sister, trying desperately to work within the white-dominated system to get him out.

But it was so slow. It lingered over dreadful scenes, and then it came back to them again and again. I understand that was the rhythm of real life, but I don't think it was necessary or helpful for the novel.

The supernatural element is integral to the book, and it does nothing for me, so that might have kept me from appreciating it even more.