This book takes place in Florida during Jim Crow.

Trigger Warnings: Racism, child abuse, massive amounts of racial slurs, severe violence, sexual abuse

Read this if you like:
Horror
Thrillers
Psych thrillers
History
Ghosts

This book is why I love horror historical fiction! There’s always a message in a jaw dropping way.

There were many times I wanted to put the book down because of the horrible treatment of the children, but the ending gave me peace! 🙌🏾

This book triggered me in so many ways. I went through a wave of emotions. I grabbed my chest a few times. 😅😩 I felt like I was watching a horror movie. I could see it all.

Although this book is not based on a true story it is loosely based on The Dozier School of boys in Marianna, Florida.

I appreciated how the author turned this sad story into an engaging horror. It has encouraged me to research the schools history.

I found myself wincing at Warden Haddock everytime he spoke. I did not like him at all. All of the adults at The Reformatory School were cowards. They irked me.

This story is a reflection of today’s system of mass incarceration and many other things.

The Authors note was very powerful. The author stated, “ not one person can be blamed for our nation’s current nightmare of mass incarceration.”

On a lighter note if I can call it that, 😅
I enjoyed reading little
Robbie’s interactions with the Haints. It was exciting!

Reader Beware!
Read it but it isn’t for the weak!!!

Happy Black History Month! We have come a long way but have so many other issues to conquer!

#thereformatory #horror #psychthriller #thriller #reformatory #school #fiction #jimcrow #blackhistory

I'm a huge horror fan and I loved the idea of this, especially with the author reclaiming the events related to her own ancestor. However, this is only the second book I've tried to read by this author and I find that, for me, her writing just drags. In this case, maybe it would have helped me if there was more focus on the kid instead of his relatives. I still recommend this book, though, because it's important to know about the history of these events.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

Tragic, infuriating and tender, this novel was utterly sublime. Steeped in southern history, the power of spirits and the love of family, The Reformatory is one of the best books of 2023.

All Robbie did was stick up for his sister. But in Gracetown, Florida, a black boy standing up to not only a white boy, but the son of the biggest landowner, is a recipe for trouble. Combine the fact that Robbie’s father is a wanted man in Gracetown and you just know things aren’t going to end well for Robbie. The judge says he’s being lenient, sending 12 year old Robbie to the Reformatory for ‘only 6 months,’ but for Robbie and the other boys there, that is an absolute lifetime; for his sister as well. What follows is a searing account of what Robbie and Gloria go through: the degradations and abuse at the Reformatory, the treatment of Gloria in a Jim Crow south.

While this was an incredibly heartbreaking novel, there was a thread of hope throughout which I clung to.

June 1950; Gracetown, Florida. After an altercation with a white boy, twelve year old Robert Stevens Jr. is sentenced for six months to a reformatory school for troubled boys; a haunted institution known for its vengeful spirits and the horrific treatment towards the residents by the staff. Robbie’s family is so desperate to get him home that they reach out to a NAACP lawyer for assistance, hoping for an early release. Set deep in the Jim Crow south, this tragic tale is loosely inspired by true events and is perfect for fans of THE NICKEL BOYS by Colson Whitehead.

I really enjoyed this novel. Wonderful characters, harrowing situations, a touch of the supernatural and an excellent plot highlight this novel. It took me awhile to finish but not because it was slow but because I was savoring the writing. Highly recommended.

Set in Florida during Jim Crow, The Reformatory begins in 1950 Gracetown with 12-year-old Robbie Stephens Jr and his sister Gloria.

One day, Robbie and his sister are walking with Lyle McCormick, the son of a powerful, wealthy landowner. Lyle makes advances toward Gloria and Robbie, wanting to protect his sister in the way only little brothers do, and kicks Lyle. This innocent action leads to Robbie’s arrest. The judge overseeing Robbie’s case, among many others in Gracetown, uses Robbie to get at his father, who is on the run from bogus charges himself. Robbie receives a sentence of six months at a segregated reform school, The Graceland School for Boys.

Robbie has a unique ability to see ghosts or haints, which has been a comfort to him since the death of his mother. Yet, at The Reformatory, his connection with the spirit world instead exposes him to all the atrocities committed at the school. The child haints tortured and killed at The Reformatory surround Robbie, and soon, so are real-life abuses. The Reformatory is a terrifying place where residents are never safe—the slightest step out of line results in beatings, additional incarceration time, and worse. Robbie, along with his two friends, Redbone and Blue, spend every moment just trying to survive.

Due’s approach to exposing the horrors of the Jim Crow South is visceral. She paints a picture so vivid it’s hard to stomach that underneath her historical fiction ghost story is an authentic account of racism and abuse. The Reformatory is a powerful portrait of America’s vitriol and its lasting wounds. I highly recommend this haunting book and delving into the real-life tragedy of so many at the infamous Dozier School for Boys, on which the book is based.

This started off as an enjoyable read. I was like "is this really horror?" I was a good bit into it until... BAM: the twist! I was not expecting it. I had to pause and then sit there to collect my thoughts to continue reading. Then I understood. I read this book weeks ago and still think about it often (the injustices and the haints! LOL.) I kept putting off reading it because of the length but I quickly became engrossed and devoured it in a few days. I already know this will remain a favorite of mine this year. Due has found herself a new fan!

"The Reformatory" by Tananarive Due is a gripping and haunting tale set in the summer of 1950 in a children's prison in Florida. Marketed as a horror story, the novel goes beyond mere scares, delving into the intricate web of relationships that define the lives of its characters. The narrative skillfully explores the bonds between siblings, friends, and the complex dynamics between children and the adults tasked with their safety.

What sets "The Reformatory" apart is its basis in real-life events, a revelation that adds a chilling layer of authenticity to the narrative. Tananarive Due masterfully weaves horror fantasy elements into this historically rooted story, creating a unique blend of the supernatural and the tangible. The author's ability to navigate the delicate balance between horror and heart, all while drawing inspiration from actual events, makes "The Reformatory" a compelling and thought-provoking read. It is a testament to Due's storytelling prowess that she can seamlessly meld the otherworldly with the stark reality of a haunted reformatory, making this book a truly unforgettable experience.

This was such a haunting novel in more than just the supernatural sense. The horrors that these boys endured and the way this story was told will stay with me.

I was hesitant to start this book, because I thought that it was going to make me angry while I was reading it, but it turned out to just be a very good book that was well written, and the total great story

The fact that the author drew on personal family experiences makes this story even more frightening. In true Tananarive Due style, the story starts out simple enough and layers in the complexities of race, history and injustice. I read this in one sitting because I had to know what happened next. Due perfectly balances ways for the reader to feel anger, despair, and hope all with the turn of a page. I have been in love with her writing since reading My Soul to Keep which only deepened with The Living Blood. The Reformatory is a must read.

Wow…this book was powerful. I now need to read everything Tananarive Due has ever written. I don’t give out 5 stars easily but this book is definitely a 5 star read.

There were a lot of hard to read moments in this story and I felt for the main character, Robert, and the other boys in the reformatory.

This was such a moving read and I was immersed in the story from the beginning. There were supernatural elements in this that I loved and I thought the ending was excellent.

I definitely recommend reading The Reformatory. I can’t wait to read Due’s other books.

*eARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review. I also bought a copy because I loved this so much.

This book was quite honestly amazing. It was heartbreaking and also gave you hope. Their family was just full of badasses who weren’t going to take racism lying down. This was one of my favorite reads of 2023. The atmosphere and paranormal aspects were top notch. Highly recommend this book to everyone and anyone

While I maintain that this book is entirely too long, I plodded along until about 20% when I decided to switch to audio and then the narration really made it fly by for me and I finished it in a single day. This story was compelling after a point, but the setup (first hundred or so pages) was excessive. We could have gotten right into the story and everyone would be better for it.

This was not an easy read for me and I had to take breaks in between. That being said, this was a masterful work of historical fiction. The story of Robert Stephens Jr. and his sister Gloria Stephens was masterfully crafted by Ms. Due. Before hearing if this book I was unaware of The Dozier School for Boys that existed in Florida. I was also largely unaware that “schools” like this even existed. But I was not surprised.

There were times when reading this story that the characters thoughts, feelings and actions felt extremely visceral. I could picture myself and my family living this same nightmare. Knowing that this nightmare was true for many Black people, made it all the more poignant.

While this story is not what many would traditionally label as “horror,” I believe that it is very much a horror story. The Reformatory reveals the horror of a society the dehumanizes its citizens. It depicts the horror of living in a world where the injustices and the atrocities committed against you, are not only seen as “normal” but also seen as being justified and a sport. There was no escape but death. It is a sobering thought.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Even though it is a hard read and depicts a time in our history we don’t like to think about, it is a story that needed to be told.

I want to thank NetGally and Gallery Books for the advanced copy.

This is my first horror book but not my last. The Reformatory was well written definately a page turner. It was mind-blowing, emotional, exciting. Picture being placed in a school for boys that everyone knew as a Horror house. The way the author tied in historical history and personnel within the book was amazing. This book deserves all the awards.

This is a powerful work of historical fiction set in 1950 Jim Crow Florida. It is often described as a horror novel, which is more than justified by the presence of ghosts, but the action is plenty horrific without the supernatural element. The real horror comes from the grinding injustices that affect all of the Black characters to varying degrees.

The defining event happens early, when twelve-year-old Robbie Stephens, Jr., is sentenced to six months at the Gracetown School for Boys (the titular reformatory), for kicking the son of the largest landowner in town in defense of his older sister, Gloria. Unfortunately, that impulsive act was witnessed by the landowner, which quickly led to Robbie's incarceration. None of the authorities has any interest in hearing the boy's version of events (or his sister's).

The reformatory has a reputation for being a cruel place: many boys have entered its gates and never seen the outside world again. Robbie has a talent for seeing ghosts (called haints by most of the characters here, at least the ones who believe in their existence). That sensitivity quickly begins showing him horrors far worse than even the floggings that occur in the perversely named Fun House.

As Robbie is learning how to survive in this horrible place Gloria marshals all of the sympathetic agencies and family members in Florida to get him out before it is too late. For much of the book the narrative switches between them. Gloria's story is largely one of frustration (until she and the family decide to take things into their own hands), while Robbie is pressed into service as a ghost hunter. Even that relatively privileged role does not protect him from flogging and constant fear, culminating in the murder of his friend Redbone.

The conclusion is a breathless dash, as all of the key characters (both human and spectral) meet in a final clash. It's quite a climax, followed by a lovely coda providing a satisfying closure. It is too bad that the rest of the book does not share more of that pacing. It's very well-written but could have been shorter.

Thanks to NetGalley for the Advance Readers Copy.

This historical fiction novel is based on the Dozier School for Boys, located in Marianna, Florida, from 1900 until 2011. It had a reputation for all types of abuse. This story focuses on Robbie's experiences there and his sister's plan to get him out. Emotional, suspenseful, thrilling- would definitely recommend!

THE REFORMATORY
Tananarive Due

It’s not so easy to differentiate between what is real, what is psychological, and what is paranormal. That muddy water is where I swam during the duration of reading Due’s, THE REFORMATORY.

In THE REFORMATORY we are back in 1950, in a small Florida town divided by race, class, and power. We are following a young boy named Robert who was sentenced to serve time in a reformatory for boys for kicking another young boy’s leg.

THE REFORMATORY is an otherworldly place to serve time and soon we find just how horrifying the place truly is. Will Robert make it to the end of his six months?

THE REFORMATORY is as horrifying as history with characters reminiscent of Stephen King with a world just as big and with monsters so real they’ll haunt your waking hours. For the most part, I enjoyed my time reading. I was interested in the material for most of the time.

I do feel it is entirely too long. At almost 600 pages I felt it was unnecessarily repetitive and Due had a habit of toiling and lingering, perhaps staying too long in one specific area. Other than that, I enjoyed my time reading and recommend it to those willing to commit to living in the horrifying reality of our shared history.

Thanks to Netgalley, Gallery Books, and Gallery / Saga Press for the advanced copy!

THE REFORMATORY…⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book. This is one of those paramount books. The ones you know will stick with you for a long time. The ones that pull you into the lives of the characters so completely you feel truly invested in their wellbeing. This genre bending masterpiece is easily one of my favorites for the year.
Narrating a book such as this one can’t be an easy task but Joniece Abbott-Pratt gave an Oscar worthy performance. There are so many emotions, many of them bleak, and you can hear each of them clearly in Joniece’s delivery. Not only is this book going to be in my favorites this year but so is the audio.
WHAT IT’S ABOUT:
It’s 1950 in Jim Crow Florida and twelve-year-old African American Robbie Stephens Jr. is on his way to the Reformatory for six months. Why? Because he kicked a white boy in defense of his sister, Gloria. The Reformatory is no regular “school” for boys. It’s a prison full of hidden horrors. Beatings and punishments are normal and doled out for any reason. Many boys have died but their spirits remain. Robbie can see and sense the haints which makes him a target for the warden. While Robbie is trying to survive, Gloria is doing everything she can from the outside to get Robbie released before something terrible happens to him.
WHY I LOVE IT:
Tananarive Due takes a deep dive into Jim Crow Florida and gives us the tiniest glimpse of how awful life was for blacks in that area during that time. She based one of the characters on the real life of one of her relatives and his time at a boy’s school that actually existed. Even through all of the horror the characters face, Due is able to provide a constant beam of hope in the absolute tenacity of Gloria and her family. No matter the obstacle, you can always make it through with the support and love of those you call family.