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rantsandreads 's review for:
The Reformatory
by Tananarive Due
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Listening to The Reformatory by Tananarive Due was haunting, unsettling, and unforgettable. Set in the Jim Crow-era South, this historical horror fiction follows young Robbie’s terrifying reality at a reformatory where his ability to see ghosts—known as “haints”—adds a chilling layer to an already brutal environment. The haints were vividly described and felt disturbingly real, but it was Robbie and Gloria’s mother’s spiritual presence that truly touched me. As a parent, I felt her love and guidance deeply, even if I couldn’t connect personally to their experiences.
Warden Haddock was incredibly well-developed and a chilling embodiment of the systemic cruelty designed to crush and exterminate young spirits within his facility, yet the solidarity and courage of Robbie’s allies—both living and ghostly—offered a glimmer of hope in the darkest circumstances.
The writing was raw and stunning, pulling me through each moment of Robbie’s fight to survive. The narrator’s performance was absolutely outstanding and award-worthy, bringing every line to life. Her narration for the character Blue was beyond the best I’ve ever heard.
By the final 20%, I was desperate for some hope, feeling both rattled and moved by the storytelling, the racial injustice and systemic violence. I’ll be buying a physical copy and probably reading everything in her bibliography—this story deserves a spot on my shelf.
Warden Haddock was incredibly well-developed and a chilling embodiment of the systemic cruelty designed to crush and exterminate young spirits within his facility, yet the solidarity and courage of Robbie’s allies—both living and ghostly—offered a glimmer of hope in the darkest circumstances.
The writing was raw and stunning, pulling me through each moment of Robbie’s fight to survive. The narrator’s performance was absolutely outstanding and award-worthy, bringing every line to life. Her narration for the character Blue was beyond the best I’ve ever heard.
By the final 20%, I was desperate for some hope, feeling both rattled and moved by the storytelling, the racial injustice and systemic violence. I’ll be buying a physical copy and probably reading everything in her bibliography—this story deserves a spot on my shelf.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Murder