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The Reformatory: A Novel

*Los Angeles Times Book Prize Winner * New York Times Notable Book * Locus Award Finalist * Winner of the Bram Stoker Award and the Shirley Jackson Award *
âYouâre in for a treat...one of those books you canât put down...Due hit it out of the park.â âStephen King
A gripping, page-turning âmasterpieceâ (Joe Hill, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Fireman) set in Jim Crow Florida that follows Robert Stephens Jr. as heâs sent to a segregated reform school that is a chamber of terrors where he sees the horrors of racism and injustice, for the living, and the dead.
Gracetown, Florida
June 1950
Twelve-year-old Robbie Stephens, Jr., is sentenced to six months at the Gracetown School for Boys, a reformatory, for kicking the son of the largest landowner in town in defense of his older sister, Gloria. So begins Robbieâs journey further into the terrors of the Jim Crow South and the very real horror of the school they call The Reformatory.
Robbie has a talent for seeing ghosts, or haints. But what was once a comfort to him after the loss of his mother has become a window to the truth of what happens at the reformatory. Boys forced to work to remediate their so-called crimes have gone missing, but the haints Robbie sees hint at worse things. Through his friends Redbone and Blue, Robbie is learning not just the rules but how to survive. Meanwhile, Gloria is rallying every family member and connection in Florida to find a way to get Robbie out before itâs too late.
The Reformatory is a haunting work of historical fiction written as only American Book Awardâwinning author Tananarive Due could, by piecing together the life of the relative her family never spoke of and bringing his tragedy and those of so many others at the infamous Dozier School for Boys to the light in this riveting novel.
âYouâre in for a treat...one of those books you canât put down...Due hit it out of the park.â âStephen King
A gripping, page-turning âmasterpieceâ (Joe Hill, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Fireman) set in Jim Crow Florida that follows Robert Stephens Jr. as heâs sent to a segregated reform school that is a chamber of terrors where he sees the horrors of racism and injustice, for the living, and the dead.
Gracetown, Florida
June 1950
Twelve-year-old Robbie Stephens, Jr., is sentenced to six months at the Gracetown School for Boys, a reformatory, for kicking the son of the largest landowner in town in defense of his older sister, Gloria. So begins Robbieâs journey further into the terrors of the Jim Crow South and the very real horror of the school they call The Reformatory.
Robbie has a talent for seeing ghosts, or haints. But what was once a comfort to him after the loss of his mother has become a window to the truth of what happens at the reformatory. Boys forced to work to remediate their so-called crimes have gone missing, but the haints Robbie sees hint at worse things. Through his friends Redbone and Blue, Robbie is learning not just the rules but how to survive. Meanwhile, Gloria is rallying every family member and connection in Florida to find a way to get Robbie out before itâs too late.
The Reformatory is a haunting work of historical fiction written as only American Book Awardâwinning author Tananarive Due could, by piecing together the life of the relative her family never spoke of and bringing his tragedy and those of so many others at the infamous Dozier School for Boys to the light in this riveting novel.
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Community Reviews
Best book Iâve read in a while! T. Due is an amazing author. Her ability to bring words to life is top tier. This story was a heart wrenching thriller and historical fiction novel. You wonât want to stop reading once you start.
A very interesting story, depicting extremities of many things - of unfathomable cruelty, evil, injustice and inhumanity against man, just for the color of skin. This was a fictionalized account of the real life Dozier School for young boys in Florida. While the author had a great uncle who died at the school in the 1930âs, and did not escape, the story cast a more positive outcome - almost as a âwhat ifâ depiction of her great uncleâs plight. And with this story, justice is finally served. A solid â10â from this reader.
I was skeptical when I first started this book, but I absolutely loved it! It starts a little slow with introducing the characters and the world of Gracetown, then of course the Reformatory itself. However, the last 150 pages had me GAGGED - I couldnât put it down!
Although the story depicts fictional characters, I found this book incredibly difficult to read. Itâs hard to face the world as itâs been (and letâs be real, it still can be) and see how the main characters were treated. From the disrespectful and inappropriate stares/advances that Gloria received, the unfair system that locked Robbie away, and the ultimate reason behind everything - their fatherâs attempts to create freedom for African Americans. I found myself increasingly frustrated for them and wishing I could do something to help.
In the beginning, it was hard to distinguish between what was real and what wasnât. There is a lot of depictions of haints/ghosts and I found it a little overwhelming while reading. However, it plays into Robbieâs development - it became clearer as the story went on because Robbie understood more of what was happening. But be aware that ghosts are a huge part of this story!!
Overall, I was extremely impressed. This isnât my go to genre and yet I was so captivated by the story that I stayed up till midnight to finish it. 10/10 recommend!!
*spoilers ahead*
Both of our main characters, Gloria and Robbie, showed incredible character development. I loved getting both of their POVs!
Gloria went from maintaining the peace, trying not to cause trouble and do things the âright wayâ to fighting for her family and doing whatever it took in order to save her brother. And she did it alone, pushing through every obstacle and moving forward despite every set back. Every person that tried to help her ultimately couldnât (Dorsey, Chan, even Miss Anne and Miz Lottie). Gloria took all those parts of each person and got one step closer and kept pushing despite losing her family, her home, and everything sheâd ever known.
Robbie started as this terrified kid that literally pissed his pants. He made friends and found a way to find joy and friendship, even when surrounded by nightmares. He navigated and survived the abuse because of his faith - specifically in his mom. The Robbie that fought to save himself and do what he needed to was brave and courageous. I was cheering for him the moment he decided to run.
It was truly the happy ending that did it for me. Gloria and Robbie making it to the train and to Chicago and then finding their dad brought the biggest smile to my face. Despite the atrocities they just faced, they won. They were saved and got out. I was so sad they had to leave Miz Lottie and her adopted kids, but seeing this family reunited after losing so much was beautiful and the perfect ending in my opinion. And seeing a vision of her mama? *chefs kiss*
Cannot say enough good things about this book!!!
Robbie and his journey through his time at the reformatory. The story is a telling of hope, commitment and courage during a time when he is only considered as black and being black in a time and place where you didnât even exist to white folk. Being raised by his sister and coming into himself as a young black boy in the south. Life has dealt him a hand of cards and he has no choice but to play his hand, this game of survival in the dirty south. Evil is all around and for a boy who is left to figure things out on his own Robbie has to grow up faster than what his family would like. Robbie has a family that is determined to get justice for him. Gloria, Mizz Lottie, and uncle June but sometimes thatâs just not enough, you have to get it for yourself. Thatâs the only way Robbie can make it out the Reformatory but he has to leave the 12yr old boy who first went in behind. He is has to fight against the devil himself and only one of them can win this fight.
Haunting, and terrible children juvenile detentions for children. Although its fiction, it was based on true stories of children who were mistreated and killed. And the injustice and unfairness between the law and african american people in florida 60 years ago.
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