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!

The Reformatory is historical fiction, set in 1950, in Florida, and is the story of a family - a fairly typical family for the time. Robert Stephens Sr. is on the run, having been accused of raping a white woman who needed to blame someone other than her boyfriend for her injuries. His children - Gloria, 16, and Robbie (Robert Jr.), 12, are living with a family friend, because their mother died of cancer, and their father couldn't take them with him when he ran. Gloria and Robbie were walking home one day when Lyle McCormack, the son of the richest man in town, accosted them and tried to take advantage of Gloria. Trying to protect his sister, Robbie kicked Lyle, and was sentenced to six months in the Reformatory - a facility typical of the times, where boys were sent to perform hard labor to punish them for their errors, although the claim was that they were being taught skills to have jobs and get along in the world later in life. Once there, Robbie begins seeing haints (ghosts), and finds out that the superintendent of the facility wants to find all the ghosts and banish them. All of this was fairly normal for the time. What wasn't normal was Superintendent Haddock's other activities - activities he wants very much to both continue and keep secret.

This book, like most well-researched historical fiction, reveals the hard truths of mistreatment of a particular group - in this case, African Americans, who were treated very much as second-class citizens (if they were treated that well), and who were fighting for equal rights at the time. Robbie was one of far too many African American boys and young men who was given an incredibly over-harsh punishment in an attempt to "teach him his place"; that the Reformatory was even worse than most facilities of its type only adds to the horror he experienced. Superstition ran rampant at the Reformatory, as is common with people who are uneducated and afraid, as well as with those who have something to hide and want to blame that something on someone else. This is a story that will draw you in and keep you reading, even when it horrifies you. Recommended for readers high school to adult because of the subject matter.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"Florida's soil is soaked with so much blood, it's a wonder the droplets don't seep between your toes with every step, Mama used to say."

Where to begin with this one….. it is scary, brutal, heartbreaking, disturbing and brilliant. It delivers chills in a way only Tananarive Due can.

Wow, I could not put this book down. Even at 600 pages I flew through it. Yes, this is a horror book. It is also historical fiction based on the real Dozier School for boys where dozens of boys died. There are ghosts or haints in this book, but that is not where the real terror comes from. It comes from the systemic racism and the Jim Crow laws of the Deep South that allowed it to flourish and terrorize and ultimately kill.

This book is dark- I imagine it will be too much for some people. What humans can do to each other can be incomprehensible. But stories like this should never be forgotten. What Due has written is a treatise on the horrors perpetrated in the name of race in our not so distance past and a warning for our current times. This books is scary and it will haunt you. It will also break your heart and infuriate you. You will feel in a powerful way. All the stars for this one. Thank you to @netgalley and @gallerybooks for this arc.

This is a story about a haunting journey into the deep South of 1950, where 12-year-old Robbie confronts the horrors of racial injustice and the supernatural. Set in Florida, this story grips your heart as Robbie is unjustly sentenced to the Gracetown Reformatory School for Boys, revealing a stark reality mirrored in the history of the Dozier School for Boys.

Told through the alternating perspectives of Robbie and his older sister, Gloria, the narrative unfolds with relentless tension. Robbie's ability to see spirits adds a chilling layer as he navigates the brutality of the reformatory. The ghosts of tortured boys, known as "haints," become his allies and enemies in a perilous dance orchestrated by the sadistic Warden Haddock.

With Tananarive Due's masterful storytelling, a tale is crafted that goes beyond the supernatural. It delves into the systemic racism of the Jim Crow era, where even a child like Robbie faces a relentless struggle for survival. The connection to the real history of the Dozier School lends a raw authenticity to the narrative, making it not just a ghost story but a poignant reflection on America's haunting racial trauma.

This book, though emotionally intense, is a testament to Due's ability to weave horror with social commentary. I feel this is not just a ghostly tale; it's a stark reminder of the persistent ghosts of the past that continue to shape our present.

I just finished and I’m such a high that I can’t really write a review. But thank you soo much netgalley for my first e-arc!! This is the first book I've read by Ms Due and it’s amazing!!
Black horror is horror!!! I love history but I don’t love our history. (You feel me?) As a Black American, Black American history has and will always have a place in my heart & soul.
Read this book!!!

Easily one of the best books I have ever read! Gripping from the first page. History and fiction woven seamlessly together in a nail biting, harrowing tale.

I’m so conflicted about this one because I wanted to love it so much and there were parts that I definitely did. From the moment I saw the cover and read the synopsis I was so looking forward to reading it. The setting is impeccably crafted. And I really enjoyed the supernatural elements. It’s quite an emotional read, as the characters and community have so many injustices and travesties to overcome. My biggest issue with this story is the pacing. It is a long book (576 pages) and I just didn’t feel like it really needed to be. I enjoyed Robbie’s storyline much more so than Gloria’s. Honestly, for the majority of the book Gloria’s parts felt really unnecessary to the plot as a whole. I think if the majority of her chapters had been cut from the book, it would have greatly improved my reading experience. The things that Robbie and the other boys have endured and are still enduring are truly terrible and heart-wrenching. But much of this book really dragged for me, it was very slow. I just think the story would have been a much more impactful read for me if I hadn’t felt as bogged down and bored for so much of it.

I have quickly become a horror fan! Tananarive Due knows how to write a harrowing story that is engaging. I love Robbie and Gloria so much. I had to take this book in small doses because of the suspense. WOW!

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due is phenomenal. Yes, the story has ghosts but the real horror is centered around racism and injustice in the Jim Crow south.

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due was powerful, horrifying, and not at all easy to read. Also very necessary. At 54 I am well aware of the gaps in my knowledge of history, and that the history I was taught is NOT comprehensive in any way. I honestly did NOT want to read this book because it is easier not to know, but that is a dangerous space to live in.

I read a lot of books and forget most. This one will not be one I forget.

Recommended.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for an ARC of The Reformatory in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first story by Tananarive Due and it won't be my last! This story really pulled at my emotions in a way I wasn't expecting. I thought this would just be a story about some ghosts at an old school but it was so much more than that. Yes this had a creep factor that involved ghosts (in this story they're referred to as haints), but it went so much deeper than that. We follow Robert who was sent to the reformatory and his sister Gloria that is trying desperately to save him from that awful place. This is story about a bond between brother and sister. Both of these characters had to show true determination, Gloria for trying to free her brother and Robert for trying to survive in that horrid place. They are both taking on the troubles their father left them during his escape to Chicago. The horrors that are seen at the reformatory are not only those of the haints, but the people who run the place and how horribly they treat young black boys. In this book that takes place in 1950's Florida we see racism and segregation. There is mention of rape, sexual assault and we see child abuse. I did enjoy this but there were points in the story where it just felt long and the pacing slowed it down in certain parts. Overall this was a fantastic story and I'm looking forward to reading more from the author.

I really loved this outlook on racism during Jim Crow. It was an incredible “haunting” that I just took as your actions will always come back to haunt you.

This story covers a family who is trying to get through the judicial system in Florida in the 1950s after 12 year old robert Stephan kicks his white neighbor Lyle McCormick after he made a pass at his 16 year old sister Gloria. Robert’s punishment is to go to a school for boys called the reformatory where he runs into some boys dead and alive. Whether they’re living or not they have a story to tell and how they may have succumbed to death. Haddock who is in charge of the school is desperately trying to get rid of these ghost and I wonder why.

I am now a Due fan. This book was AMAZING! Yes, I did get chills and had to put the book down often because as a Black person, I know my not so distant ancestors went through what Robbie went through as well as Gloria, and it’s hard to read, but I pushed through. Needless to say, I was terrified every time I turned the page, and that’s a good thing. Due’s writing is vivid and the imagery is immaculate to someone who has a full motion picture in their head as they read.

It was almost impossible to put this book down. The words haunting, devastating, and horrifying kept coming to mind. I would stay up late to finish chapters, so invested in and connected to these characters that I had to know what would happen, despite understanding it would undoubtedly be some new, fresh brutality — the ever present threat of serious physical harm and death never leaving my mind.

The Reformatory is a work of fiction, but it’s also inspired by real life experiences. Black kids were disproportionately sent to “reform schools”, Indigenous kids were sent to “residential schools” — it was impossible to read this and not be horrified knowing that hundreds of thousands of kids experienced similar atrocities for no other reason than the color of their skin. That’s also part of what makes it a must read. It’s important, unflinching, and so well written. It transcends genres — don’t let the horror label deter you — and exemplifies everything I love in a great book.

This story will stick with me for a long time.

Thank you to Galley/Saga Press for the arc!

The Reformatory is a brutal, heartbreaking story set in the old South in the days when good old boys would not think twice about lynching a Black man or child for looking at a white woman.
When 12 year old Robbie defends his sister from inappropriate advances he gets sent off to reform school. More than just a punishment for Robbie, this is a plot intended to make his father come out of hiding.
Robbie's father was accused of a crime he didn't commit and skipped town before they could murder him, leaving his children behind with an elderly woman.

This reformatory is more a prison than a school, where the living inmates barely outnumber the dead. Many boys never left after not surviving their sentence thanks to the brutal treatment by the sadistic warden who relished any chance to torture the boys for any slight or made up infraction of his rules. The warden and the children are often plagued by ghosts.

If this sounds familiar, you may have seen the real life news stories about the human remains found at the now closed Dozier School, where it should be noted that the author had a relative who did not survive.

The writing depicts the language of those days. If child abuse and racism require trigger warnings for you then you may not be able to handle this book so proceed with caution.

The pacing was a little slow at times but by the final third, I was nearly sick with worry over whether or not Robbie would survive.

4 out of 5 stars
My thanks to Gallery / Saga Press