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!

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.