Living in the rural Southern USA and with generations of family being from the area near the Dozier School, the events that occurred there are even more vivid to me. The reality of the mistreatment, abuses, torture, enslavement, and murder, is difficult to fully comprehend due to its horrific nature. The author did an incredible job creating a fictitious Black boy, Robbie and his sister Gloria. They are living in a rural Florida panhandle town in abject poverty after the death of their mother. Their father had to flee the area because the powerful white townspeople were accusing him of crimes he did not commit in order to justify imprisoning him or lynching him. Robbie and Gloria headed into town and unfortunately encounter their wealthy and well-connected white neighbor. The siblings are wary of any interaction with the white boy (think large farmland and big house, or plantation land) but when this boy tries to hit on Gloria, Robbie intervenes. One thing leads to another and Robbie kicks the kid and the kick is witnessed by the kid's father. What should have been a spat between children turns into a call to the local law enforcement and judge and within a day, Robbie is hauled off the "The Reformatory". It is labeled a school but is well known as essentially a juvenile prison. Awful things happen there and there have been many unexplained deaths over the years.
This story is a tale of the historical events of the Dozier School where evidence of atrocities were discovered, including an unmarked cemetery. But more than historical fiction, this story incorporates the good and the bad people who work at a place like this as well as a supernatural component that adds an interesting technique for bringing to life the historic events.
This is a challenging read due to the real life atrocities that occurred at this facility. I know it is a difficult subject and it should be so. But, with that said, reading what feels like someone's lived experience with the School/Reformatory really gives a rich understanding of how terrible it was. These sorts of histories are important so that our society doesn't return to this sort of place again.
Highly recommend.

#TheReformatory #NetGalley #GalleryBooks #SagaPress

If this wasn't the best book I read this year, it's definitely on the short list.

The description I read of this book made it sound like a horror novel and while there are elements of horror, it's so much more than that. This book is such an interesting and powerful mix of fiction and history, supernatural horror and human horror, and our ability to be terrible to each other and also save each other. The brother and sister at the center of the story are really well-detailed and believable. I thought about this book when I wasn't reading it, I stayed up late multiple nights with it, and it's definitely one that will stick with me. Just a really great book.

Well it is time to call it. I have found my favorite book of 2023 and it is THE REFORMATORY by @tananarivedue. Thank you the author, @netgalley and the publisher @sagapressbooks /@gallerybooks for the e-ARC.

🍁🍁🍁

In Jim Crow Gracetown, Florida, Robbie Stephens has been sentenced to 6 months at the Gracetown Reformatory for Boys after kicking a white boy, Lyle McCormack for making advances on Robbie's sister Gloria. Beyond the corporal punishment Lyle's intimidating patriarch Red, who breaths racism and spite, particularly toward Robbie's father who was recently run outta town for being a well-known black union organizer but under the lie of him having beat and raped a white woman. Like the majority of the other white men in the county, Red wants to see Robbie's dad hang, so he makes sure Robbie is sent to the Gracetown School for Boys. Now his sister and other loved ones must fight for his release, and likely his life as many boys were known to not return from the school.

This juvenile prison disguised as a reform school was based on the historical Dozier School for Boys in Marianna, FL where Due's own great uncle fell victim. I can only imagine the emotions and generational trauma that had to be sorted to bring this book to life.

The palpable, constant anxiety of being under the scrutiny of a powerful, brutal and unforgiving eye - not just for Robbie at the Reformatory but for all the black characters as they went about their daily lives in the Jim Crow South. This book has plenty of scary haints and happenings, but the real villains are, of course, the humans that perpetrate violence on their fellow humans.

This is a powerful, haunting, healing story rooted in history, heart and place. Chapter 33 absolutely gutted me - it has been a minute since I cried from a book but I was sobbing here.

I am continually amazed by Due and the spellbinding tales she spins. This has been on shelves since October 31 so go get it and gobble it up now with your turkey!

This one will boost your anxiety, make you cry, keep you turning pages and have you sitting with the loss of too many children to violence perpetrated by those who are sworn to protect them.

💚SMASHBOT💚

Tananarive Due is back and her pen is STILL wicked. The Reformatory is a horror novel that is not just about jump scares and things that go bump in the night. It is a horror novel about the horrors of Jim Crow and racism, the horrors of an institution allowed to exist despite its sordid history, the horrors of a cruel man allowed to visit his depravity among the defenseless, and the horrors of a world that allows all of these things to happen. And then there’s the haints to contend with. The Reformatory is also about looking fear in the face and saying “Ain’t gonna let no-body…turn me ‘round…” and pressing forward for love and justice. Our main protagonists, Robbie and Gloria, look fear in the face and do just that. 12-year old, Robbie, imprisoned in the Reformatory for defending his sister against unwanted advances from a local white boy, has to learn how to survive in a place designed to crush his spirit and his life. Gloria is determined, by any means necessary, to get her baby brother away from the evils of the reformatory and bring him back home.
Ms. Due has given us a true horror masterpiece. While it is fiction, it is rooted in truth and history (look up the Dozier School for Boys and literature dealing with the oppression of Black folks since our forced removal and arrival to the Americas in 1619), Ms.Due does not skimp on the supernatural horror elements that she is known for. This is one of my favs of the year and it is definitely a 5-star read.

One of the best haunting books I have read in quite some time. Not enough people mention Due when discussing the best modern horror writers. I hope she gets noticed by the masses soon.

The issues discussed—tangibly and heartbreakingly—made this a difficult read. It’s a stellar book with so much heart and history, with a dash of speculative done in such a clever and emotional way. This is a book that changes you as you read, and you’re both forever broken, but better for it.

Growing up in Lake County, hearing whispers of the Groveland Four, I knew what I was getting into reading this book. It was worse than I imagined. The reality of racism in Florida—and the south—is something that has been painted over for decades. It’s a rot that seeps underneath the flesh. This novel so hauntingly painted a picture of the reality of 1950s Florida. The pace is breakneck, but beautifully written. Because of my privilege, I’ll never know what it would feel like to live like this, but I’m so thankful this story exists. I got a glimpse of the experience, and I won’t soon forget. This novel belongs on everyone’s bookshelves.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced e-copy of the novel. Opinions are entirely my own.

I’m usually good at writing reviews, especially for books that I loved. In the case of this book, I HAVE NO WORDS!!!

Let’s be clear- this book was a tough read. Reading about the horrors that Robbie faced had me in tears! However the authors writing is so poignant and touching - I ate this book up. Read this book - you won't be disappointed!

This book is well-deserved the hype it's been given. A ghost/horror story set at a Dozier-like reformatory school in Florida. Will be recommending this to others.

What a fantastic read- it's the perfect combination of social horror and historical fiction. These characters will stay with me for a long time- Robert, Gloria, Redbone, and Blue are unforgettable <3. What's more scary is that this was loosely based on the author's real family member during his time in a reform school. Great, heartbreaking story.

I enjoy a lot of what I read, however, every so often I come across a read that raises my standards for what I choose to read moving forward. Books that raise the bar for me and change the way I rate them. The Reformatory is one of those books.

Robert (Robbie) Stephens has the gift of seeing ghosts. When he is sent to Gracetown School for Boys for six months, his new friends and the haints that haunt the premises help him to unravel the dark truths of the reformatory. In the meantime, his sister Gloria is trying her hardest to get him out because she knows the fate that awaits him if he stays.

This is a tale of resilience, justice, standing against oppression and making sure that all voices, dead and alive are heard.

I felt a wide range of emotions reading this story and at times, I was moved to tears. I fell in love with some of the characters and deeply hated others. I felt genuinely scared and on edge at times. I was completely immersed. I wish I could read this book for the first time again. And again.

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to review The Reformatory.

The Reformatory is an extremely thought provoking story about a 12 year old boy named Robert “Robbie” Stephens. Robbie lives with his 16 year old sister, Gloria now that his mother passed away from cancer and his father was driven out of town for his civil rights work.

After a scuffle with a white boy who made an advance on Gloria, Robbie is sentenced to a six month term at Gracetown School for Boys. Once there Robbie sees firsthand the horrors the prisoners within face.

I was very moved by this book. It’s absolutely going in my top ten of the year. Tananarive Due took a horrific sliver of American history and wrote a fictional story that sticks to your bones about sibling love, friendship and justice (or the lack thereof). It’s a touch horror (both real and supernatural), suspenseful and it had me on the edge of my seat for the last 100 pages. (OMG, the last 100 pages!!!!!!) If you pick this book up, you won’t be able to put it down.

I would like to thank Gallery Books, Saga Press, the author and NetGalley for giving me an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I am a long time fan of Tananarive Due and could not wait to get my hands on this book!

After a provocation from a white man, 12-year-old Robert is sent to a reform school for a six month punishment. There he quickly learns that he has the ability to see the haints haunting the reformatory and vows to expose the school and its leader for the horrors contained on the grounds.

Inspired by true events, this novel is haunting, deep, horrific and i still enjoyed it so so much. This was so so well done and worth the wait.

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc. All opinions are my own.

After a provocation from a white man, 12-year-old Robert is sent to a reform school for a six month punishment. There he quickly learns that he has the ability to see the haints haunting the reformatory and vows to expose the school and its leader for the horrors contained on the grounds.

I don’t quite know what I was expecting from this book, but wow! It was heartbreaking and yet there was so much hope. The supernatural elements were fantastic! I really enjoyed the fact that we heard from Robbie's perspective at the reformatory and all of the things that his sister, Gracie, was going through to try and get him home. Highly recommend.

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: The Between, Ghost Summer, The Good House, The Wishing Pool

Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/9781982188344

Release Date: October 31, 2023

General Genre: Historical Fiction, Horror

Sub-Genre/Themes: coming-of-age, racism, social injustice, African Americans, trauma, siblings, family, ghosts (haints), hoodoo magic, segregation, small-town

Writing Style: Multiple POVs, Character-Driven, Suspenseful, Child narrator,

What You Need to Know: This book is inspired by true events (The Dozier School for Boys) “...grief is the reason it has taken me this long to write this book. But grief is also the reason it exists.”
Be prepared, emotionally, for a harrowing, heart-wrenching journey.

My Reading Experience: In the tradition of King’s Derry or Castle Rock, Due’s novel is set in Gracetown, her fictional small town in Florida that shows up in most of her novels and short stories. It’s 1950, Jim Crow-era. A young white man from an influential, prominent family puts hands on twelve-year-old Robert Stevens’ sister Gloria so he kicks him in the shin.
This action ultimately sends Robbie to The Reformatory, a “school” for boys that everyone knows is a prison sentence because of the school’s reputation. Some boys sent there never come home.

The book alternates between Robbie’s experience at the Reformatory and Gloria’s mission to advocate for her brother by any means necessary.

I’ve never read anything like it and I likely never will again. It is one of the most memorable reading experiences I’ve ever had.
I kept marveling at how the story was perfectly plotted and paced. Due hits every beat. Sometimes, the danger in a story having two timelines is that there’s usually a stronger one that I will invest in more, emotionally, so every time there’s a switch back to the weaker of the two, I feel a little disappointed.

Robbie’s experiences at The Reformatory are more intense and suspenseful, but Gloria’s journey to advocate for her brother is equally compelling. The characters that come alongside her or against her are vibrant and memorable. Both Robbie and Gloria run up against dangerous adversaries that drive up the stakes and they both find powerful allies that make your reader’s heart burn with complex emotions.
My heart felt like a wood-burning stove and every chapter fueled that fire until it was burning so hot, there were times I almost couldn’t read anymore–I was genuinely terrified to turn the page. The different sections have titles and some of the titles are like a neon sign of what’s to come–the danger that awaits.
I was thankful for my friend who already read it so I could message her during all the intense scenes–my emotions all flared up and tears in my eyes.
Books this good don’t come around all the time.
Not only is this the best Horror book of 2023, but it’s also one of the best books of all time, period. In any genre.


Final Recommendation: As soon as I read several chapters I knew it was special. A masterpiece. It’s perfect in every way imaginable leaving nothing to be desired. Crafted with a remarkable gift of storytelling perfected over time and Due’s personal connection to the story, The Reformatory stands with the best of the best–right next to King’s IT as iconic coming-of-age horror.
Quintessential horror not to be missed.


Comps: The Nickle Boys by Colson Whitehead (I haven’t read this one yet), The Bone Weaver’s Orchard by Sarah Read, When the Reckoning Comes by LaTanya McQueen, These Bones by Kayla Chenault (on my TBR)

Atmospheric and expertly crafted. A recommended purchase for collections where gothic horror is popular.

Tananarive Due's latest novel, The Reformatory, takes us back to the Jim Crow South and the horrors of the Gracetown School for Boys. The protagonist, Robbie Stephens, Jr., is sentenced to this reformatory for a crime he committed in defense of his sister. This gripping novel not only tells a story of survival but also unravels the tragedy and atrocities committed.

The story of Robbie Stephens, Jr. is a powerful one. The narrative begins with his sentencing to the Gracetown School for Boys. The institution proves to be a dark and dangerous place, where boys are forced to work and suffer physical and emotional abuse. What sets Robbie apart is his ability to see ghosts, which at first provided him with comfort but as he discovers the true nature of the reformatory, this window to the other world becomes a source of terror.

The author deftly weaves the historical context of the Jim Crow South into the narrative. The racial discrimination, segregation, and violence faced by African Americans are palpable throughout the story. But what stands out is the resilience and strength exhibited by the characters, especially Robbie and his sister Gloria. The latter rallies her family and friends to devise a plan to get Robbie out of the reformatory before it's too late.

As Robbie navigates his way through the reformatory and learns the rules of survival, he befriends Redbone and Blue. The author's portrayal of their bond and humor amidst the dire circumstances is heartwarming and adds a layer of humanity to the story. However, the darker reality soon surfaces as boys go missing, and Robbie's gift of seeing ghosts uncovers even more horrifying truths.

The pace of the novel is well-crafted, with each chapter urging us to keep reading. The prose is hauntingly beautiful and evokes a sense of foreboding that stays with the reader. The author has done an excellent job of piecing together the life of a family member never spoken of and bringing his tragedy and those of many others to light.

The Reformatory is a haunting story of survival and tragedy that leaves a lasting impact on us. Tananarive Due has written a remarkable work of historical fiction that not only educates but also engages its readers. The characters are well-drawn, and their struggles and triumphs evoke empathy and admiration. The novel highlights the horrors of the Jim Crow South and the atrocities committed in the name of so-called reform. This novel may be considered the best book from the talented Tananarive Due.

5+ stars

Holy cow. What a book. This book took my breath away on so many different occasions. When I went in to this I went in pretty blind, just thinking it was historical horror. This is so much better so much deeper than anything I could have imagined. Every character was so real, the horrors in this book were so real. Due writes so beautifully about such pain and hurt. This book is an instant classic and rightfully so.
I can’t say more on this, as I think you should just pick it up and experience it for yourself.

After reading The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead, which tackles the Dozier School for Boys as historical fiction, I remember looking into the history of that “school,” and I use the term at its very loosest. What I learned shocked and disgusted me, and I was curious to see what Due was planning with this story, to make an already horrifying story more so.

To start with, the story is a slow paced one. It allows Due to really develop the characters, the setting, and the plot, and this is definitely an atmospheric story, with all of the elements inextricably linked together. Living in a small town in northern Florida where everyone knows everyone else’s business isn’t always a good thing, especially when you have family business you’d rather keep hidden. The Stephens family is a Black family living in the deep South during the 1950s, in the heart of the Jim Crow laws. And when Robert Stephens Sr.’s unionizing activities start jeopardizing his family, he leaves town and heads north, abandoning his older daughter, Grace, to take care of her younger brother, Robbie Jr.

Robbie and Grace live in poverty, barely getting by, and relying on the assistance of an older friend of the family, Miss Lottie. When an older white boy makes an unwelcome advance towards Gloria and pushes Robbie, Robbie kicks him in retaliation. But all that matters is that a Black boy kicked a white boy. That event leads to Robbie gets sentenced to six months at a reform school, The Reformatory, which was the judge going lenient on him.

When it turns out that Robbie Jr.’s sentencing, and how he would be treated at The Reformatory might be retaliation for the actions of his father, Gloria is spurred to do whatever she can to ensure that she gets her brother out of there as soon as possible. At the same time, Robbie is getting acclimated to his new surroundings, which is full of haints (ghosts), some of whom it is clear were murdered. It makes it more difficult for him to get adjusted, and he quickly discovers some of the horrors in store for him at The Reformatory.

The horror aspect of the story changes quite a bit from the early parts to the later parts. Initially, the horror is the human one, that did exist in real life. Where poor, often Black, boys were viewed as disposable, and sent to places like this for disproportionately long periods for minor offenses. But in the second half, the haints play a significantly larger role in the story, and it all gets a lot creepier.

Overall, this story was done so well. I was rooting for Robbie the whole time, although I logically knew that he wasn’t going to be able to avoid any issues. The connection between Gloria and Robbie was wonderful to see, and how hard they fought to be able to reach each other. There are a lot of trigger warnings involved in the story, including death of a parent, racism, antisemitism, violence towards children, mention of child rape, and mention of murder of children to name the big ones. But it also tells the story, although taking some creative license, of a horrific period in American history, and an institution that should never have existed, but needs to be talked about to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again. This one is well worth the read.

This book was not for me. It was a bit too long, and I thought the pacing was slow for me, so it was hard for me to get invested. I think it was a unique story, I’m rating it 5 stars because indoor think it was a bad story, just wasn’t for me.

My first time reading Tananarive Due and I'm a FAN!

I knew this book was going to be ROUGH because of the synopsis but whew this took me through millions of emotions. This book was filled with horror, but not the kind that comes from ghost stories, but the horror from Jim Crow and its racial trauma and systemic racism.

In this we are following the Stephens family as they attempt to navigate the Jim Crow south in Gracetown, Florida in 1950. Gloria and Robbie are forced to navigate life alone after their father was accused of raping a white woman. When Robbie attempts to protect Gloria from the advances of a white man, he is sentenced to spend six months at the local reformatory, Gracetown School for Boys. Upon his arrival at the school Robbie begins to see haints - ghosts of former Gracetown attendees and the horrors that led them to becoming haints. From there the story follows Gloria in her attempts to seek justice for Robbie and Robbie's attempt to avoid the wrath of Jim Crow and stay alive.

Despite this being a little longer than I like my historical fictions to be - this clocked in at 565 pages - I appreciated the historical nuggets that are tucked within its pages. This book was amazing!