A review by catalienubbins
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

Set in 1950's Florida, 12 year old Robbie Stephens, Jr. is sentenced to a segregated reform school known as 'The Reformatory' for defending his older sister, Gloria, against the son of the town's most affluent white family. Boys seldom leave the Reformatory, dead or alive. Whispers of abuse, torture, rape and even murder at The Reformatory become all too real as Robbie is forced into his sentence. The whole town knows Robbie is the son of the famous Robert Stephens, who fled Gracetown after being (falsely) accused of the rape of a white woman, and the sinsiter Warden Haddock won't let him forget it. While his sister, Gloria, makes every attempt she can in the Jim Crow South to get Robbie out of The Reformatory before his ultimate demise, Robbie discovers that he and the other boys aren't the only ones trapped in this horrible place - there are dead boys, too. And he can SEE them. This gift will send Robbie on a journey of sacrifice, friendship, redemption and horrors beyond his comprehension as he seeks to understand what happens there, why it happens and how to escape it. What makes this story even more gripping is it's inspiration from true events and a real place: the infamous Dozier School for Boys. Due's characters piece together the life of a family member who was never able to have their story told - until now. This novel was difficult to read; I took several breaks due to the graphic nature of the abuse and torture.  Due doesn't pull any punches when it comes to the very real racism and injustices that face both the living and the dead. But this story demands to be heard and will keep you turning pages until the very end.
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