Oof this was a good one! It had a slower start for me but it really picked up near the middle. I enjoyed the ghost part of it and the different povs you get from Gloria, Robbie and even the warden. It’s definitely heavy, but idk if I would consider it horror like some reviews say. One downside is definitely the length, unsure if it really needed to be as long as it was but that’s just me. I still highly recommend!

Holy god. This was an absolute powerhouse of a book. The storytelling, the writing, it grabbed me and just never let me go

The Reformatory isn’t just a ghost story—it throws you right into the brutal realities of the Jim Crow era, where racism and injustice are just as terrifying as the ghosts haunting the “school.” The author did an amazing job blending real history with supernatural horror which made everything feel even more intense. It was a bit longer than I usually like and I felt like the pacing was off at times with the dual POV, but the tension and storytelling had me completely invested in these characters. Their resilience was both heartbreaking and inspiring, and their journey will be impossible for me to forget.

This one was especially hard for me to get through. I started back in February and had to take a few breaks. It is beautifully written but the subject was tough. I read very fictional, extreme scenarios, but this one seemed so real. I was finding myself really thinking this happened because it very well could have. It broke my heart what these kids had to go through and endure especially at such a young age. The narrator, Joniece Abbott-Pratt, did a phenomenal job bringing Gloria to life. I felt that I was with her every step of the way, walking alongside her trying to give her any ounce of strength I could. She was living a nightmare and had the world against her. I have never wanted to reach into a book and give a character a hug so badly.

I was highlighting so many parts of this book that really stood out to me. Some of the things I am hearing today, and that is completely unacceptable. I believe that to be why this book was difficult to take in because these things should have never happened and even more so should not be happening in today's society. We need to be learning not repeating! I feel I am still thinking about this book and trying to digest the information as best I can. I owe it to these characters and the author. Even writing this review I am crying again.

Robert had to grow up way too fast. As a mom of three my heart felt like it was being ripped from my chest. I loved the aspects and other level the haints brought to the story. I didn't want to finish because I was so nervous how this would end.

The dedication being to her Great Uncle who had died at a boys school at the young age of 15 was what made this even harder to bare. My heart truly feels for the author and the characters in her book. I don't know how she did it, but she nailed it.

~Quotes~

“If you’re smart, you’ll learn enough to get out and stay out. That place pays the county a good sum for every boy sent there, so you’ve just been sold. Never forget that. They don’t want to send you home. They want any excuse to keep you. Any special problems, any special talents, will mean trouble for you. Try to be invisible.”

Sometimes the children are only seven or eight. He’ll keep them ten, twelve years. I’ve seen it. And the governor has the same answer: ‘discretion of the superintendent.’

Haints don’t say goodbye, except when they visit your dreams.

Historical fiction at its most gut-wrenching. This is a tough read, but so good. The immersive details bring the Reformatory to life in all its horrific realities. Even as the story weaves in supernatural elements of haints and hoodoo, the truth behind those details elevate the experience and give it weight. Robert’s is a story of survival; Gloria’s one of perseverance and bravery. Haddock and his guards warn us of the evil in some men’s hearts and the ease with which they can get others to do things against their better judgment when the scales of power are so obviously out of balance. #TheReformatory #NetGalley

Thank you to the publisher Saga Press and @netgalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

It's no surprise this is a 5 star read. I got it from Saga after the pub date, but this was impactful, heartwrenching, relevant.

PSA: this book is stunning!! The Reformatory mixes two of my favorite genres, historical fiction and horror. The result is absolutely haunting.

The story involves black siblings who are supporting themselves due to Jim Crow era racism in Florida. When one makes a mistake, he learns firsthand that justice isn’t colorblind. We then get two POVs, the brother’s while at a very disturbing school for boys and his older sister’s efforts trying to get him released. This ghost story really juxtaposed the ghosts themselves and the humans that the siblings interacted with— leading to the question of which were scarier? Certainly the humans were more monstrous than the ghosts.

The older sister’s story, to me, moved a bit more slowly, but I think it was hugely important to the overall story. What does one do when dealing with humans like this, and when justice is no where to be found? I predicted some of the twists, but generally thought this book was just pure perfection from start to finish. The ending had me crying and was chef’s kiss 🧑‍🍳.

It’s not too gory, but definitely do check trigger warnings. Highly recommend this one to all. It was such an important and enjoyable read.

This book is a gem. I knew that I was going to enjoy it. This is the perfect southern gothic novel.
Robbie’s only crime is defending his sister, yet in 1950s Florida, that is enough to land a Black boy in the nightmarish Gracetown School for Boys. The so-called reformatory is nothing more than a chamber of abuse and forced labor, where boys disappear without explanation and cruelty is routine. Robbie, however, possesses the ability to see ghosts—haints—who bear witness to the school’s darkest secrets. As he fights for survival alongside his friends Redbone and Blue, his sister Gloria desperately works to secure his release before the reformatory claims him forever.
Due’s storytelling is deeply immersive, her prose charged with both horror and sorrow. She does not shy away from depicting the dehumanization Black boys endured, yet she also weaves in moments of hope, resistance, and love.

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due is a haunting blend of historical horror and supernatural elements, set against the brutal reality of a segregated reform school in the Jim Crow South. With powerful storytelling and deeply emotional themes, Due crafts a gripping, atmospheric narrative that is both chilling and heartbreaking. A must-read for those who appreciate horror with a strong historical and social foundation.

I haven't stopped thinking about The Reformatory by Tananarive Due ever since I finished it. What a beautifully-written, horrifying, and heartbreaking novel. The most horrifying part is that reformatory schools like this one really did happen. The worst of the horror is real.

The characters in the novel are so lovable and real, you can't help but root for them. I loved the depiction of sibling love and community care. I thought the portrayal of grief and spirits was beautiful and thoughtful. I just really adored this book. It's a painful but beautiful story, and I am so glad I finally read it.

Thank you to @sagapressbooks for gifting me a finished review copy.

TLDR; just read this one. Fast paced and riveting; a perfect blend of multi-genre, whether you like thrillers, ghost stories, or historical fiction. Based upon the true story of the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys, where many atrocities took place.

This book, like Vampires of Del Norte, was nominated for GoodReads best Horror of 2023, which honestly made me put off reading either of them until 2024. And like Vampires, after reading it, The Reformatory is not one I would have classified as horror. I’m having to rethink what is categorized as horror and where the line is between horror and thriller and “just a story that has spirits, ghosts, or other paranormal types”. But I digress.

Set in post-antebellum Florida, being “free” is only a generation removed from slavery. Freedom does not mean equality under the Jim Crow laws where segregation is pervasive. In a town where children can still hear whispers of spirits from the past, Robbie (“Robert Stephen Jones Jr.) is shipped off to a reform school for juvenile delinquents after kicking a white boy who assaulted his sister. The Graceland School for Boys is a chamber of terrors and injustice for boys of all colors, but especially his. I laughed and I cried and was fully engrossed for the whole read until the very end. This gets my highest rating.

TW: Child Abuse, Racism, Death, Rape (off page), Murder, Assault, Arson

I’m here to tell you nothing that you haven’t seen before about this book. It’s quite honestly one of the best horror books I’ve ever read because of the way it blends the genre into something so real. The way it’s a ghost story and the ghosts aren’t even the scariest part. The way my chest was tight in anticipation and fear for such a large part of this book. I’m really looking forward to discussing this with my book club next week, but SO glad I get to chat about my thoughts on this one.

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you Saga Press Books and NetGalley for this early read!

My heart was beating out of my chest the entire time I was reading this– I literally had to stop and take deep breaths multiple times. What blows me away in the worst way is that a story based on 1950’s U.S. history is so terrifying that it inspires horror novels. Based on the true story of the Dozier School for Boys, the author paints a graphic picture of life in the Jim Crow south.

The horror lies in humanity, or lack thereof in this case. The historical horrors blend well with the paranormal aspects– and although I’m not always a fan of the paranormal, it felt fitting in a school with a horrific history in the 1950’s south. This is a challenging and brutal read in many ways but I love when a story can teach the reader while also being engaging. The characters are great, and the bond between siblings Robbie and Gloria is particularly memorable. I felt like I experienced their journey with them which created a totally propulsive read. My only minor qualm is that I wanted a few more details in the end. If you haven’t read this one yet (unlikely!) I would highly recommend it. Can’t wait to read more from Tananarive Due.

**Thank you to Saga Press and NetGalley for the digital download of this book!!**

I have downloaded this ARC to accompany the physical copy that I plan on reading as different formats help me with longer books.

Review to come!!

This book hooked me from the very beginning. It was so well written and I felt like she really thought these characters through because I felt my heart break for them all. This one is dark. It takes place in the 1950s in Jim Crow days in Florida. It involves children so it’s a pretty depressing read. This is my first by this author and I don’t think it will be my last. I would classify this more historical fiction than horror but there is a supernatural element to add the horror and also the horrors of what Black people had to suffer through in that era. I did feel like the book was very long and could have been shorter but other than that it was an amazing read !
Thank you @netgalley and @sagapressbooks for the opportunity to read this arc!

This book STRESSED ME TF OUT. I think knowing it was inspired by true events and the real Jim Crow south made it even more scary. This was one where reality was even scarier than the paranormal. I had heart palpitations for the last 20% of this story. I got mad at and was screaming at the characters to just. Stay. Alive. If you can get me so immersed into a book that I want to throw up from anxiety, it’s a five-star book.

This has been on my radar for quite some time after seeing it pop up on booktok and ig every so often. I honestly don't even know if I have the words to describe my feelings after this book. I literally felt so sick to my stomach sometimes but also hopeful. This truly is a heartbreaking and horrifying book that will make you want to shield your eyes from the cruelty. I truly forget how bad things could be back then and I just wanted to reach in and give Robbie a hug so many times.

This may not be for everyone, but I absolutely loved this book. It was captivating, heartbreaking, and emotional. It is not for the faint of heart but if you feel like this is something you can get through, it is one hell of book to pick up and experience!

If you've read or seen The Nickel Boys, you know about the Dozier School. It was a "reformatory school" in Florida that was the setting for countless atrocities and many child deaths that were pushed under the rug. Gracetown is a thinly disguised and fictionalized version of Dozier.

In this book, in 1960's Florida Robbie Stephens ends up in Gracetown after trying to defend his older sister Gloria from the unwelcome attentions of a white boy. Robbie and Gloria are Black and they are mostly on their own since their father, an important figure in the civil rights movement, has had to leave for the North after it became clear that Jim Crow was closing in on him. His two children remained behind and became vulnerable to the racists who see them as a lever to get their father back in the South where he can be dealt with.

The book has two main storylines. One is Gloria, trying her best to get Robbie out of Gracetown by hook or by crook. She becomes more and more disillusioned about the systemic means open to her and also more enlightened about how systemic racism will have its way by abusing the system that is meant for White people, not Black people. Gracetown takes (and abuses) both White and Black boys, the Jim Crow South makes sure that the mostly poor and uninfluential families of these boys never has any recourse for any outrages committed by the school.

Meanwhile, Robbie tries to learn the ropes and survive at Gracetown. This was the more compelling of the storylines for me. Robbie is only twelve. His ability to see the dead becomes more powerful at Dozier because there are a lot of unquiet dead at the school. However, the most dangerous presence at the school is the superindendant. Like so many institutions, Gracetown has become a haven for a sadistic predator.

Robbie becomes caught between his loyalties to the friends he makes at Gracetown, the spirits who want him to do something for them, and the superindendant himself. He's in an impossible situation.

Tananarive Due ratchets up the tension to a high degree. These children were constantly on dangerous ground. The adults of their community who cared for them were in constant danger as well. The racism and injustice built into the society of the Jim Crow South is illustrated clearly and so is the peril to any Black people living there.

As with so many horror stories, the true horror is us, just normal people. Humans can outdo angry spirits any day with regard to atrocity.

Amazon and Barnes & Noble reviews submitted, pending their system approvals
Blog post goes up Feb 21st
Imgur link goes to Instagram graphic scheduled for Feb 6th
Will be covered in upcoming Youtube wrapup


**TL;DR**: If you want to make yourself terrified read this! I was affected for days.
**Source**: NetGalley, thank so much to Saga Press!

**Plot**: Ultimately this one is just about survival. Gloria is attempting to help her brother, and fighting against racism while her brother is just trying to survive the Reformatory and it’s ghosts.
**Characters**: I both loved and hated these characters in equal measure.
**Setting**: There isn’t a much scarier place then Jim Crow Florida. But the Reformatory itself as a place was horrifying.
**Horror:** This one had the most incredible social horror along with a deeply scary paranormal/ghost horror.

**Thoughts**:

This one is so unsettling and horrifying that I had to look up spoilers. I couldn’t keep going in it because I was so worried. The Reformatory is about Gloria and Robbie. Robbie defends Gloria from a white boy who is being pushy by kicking him in the shin. Of course an adult sees this and Robbie is sent to the Reformatory, a ‘school’ for troubled boys. Gloria fights tooth and nail to try and save him, as he’s only 12 and the kick was nothing more than a bonk on the leg.

This is one of those unique stories where the real life historical setting, with the Jim Crow South and racism is as and often more scary than the actual paranormal things happening. Gloria faces most the racism (not all) while trying to help Robbie. She’s nearly assaulted, she is in fear of her life constantly. There was a scene of her riding in a car with Lottie that is seared into my memory. Nothing happened, but the threat of the cop in the car behind her? It was a lot. Meanwhile Robbie is dealing with the darkness at the Reformatory in the form of haints, abusive people in power, and even the other kids.

If you’re not at all prepared to deal with all that - skip this one for now. I do recommend giving it a read just to see the real horrors of the time and age and also because Tananarive Due is an amazing writer. It is very heavy and hits hard with the horror, something that I think everyone needs to know going in. I doubt I’ll read a scarier book this year.

My review is within the link below.

This one was DNF’d at 50% of the way! I am saddened by this because I really thought I was going to enjoy it. Of course I didn’t enjoy the racism, but it was well done to portray the POV of those who lived through it during those times.

Gloria’s POV is what made me DNF this book. Her story really slowed down the book and I was just over it.


2024 is also about me not being afraid to DNF a book and in return hoping to start something that is worth my while.

Review UPDATE: as I said before I did DNF this one, not because of it ya plot or writing, I just mentally can’t stand to hear such language towards a human being. Especially with its not deserved. That’s how life was back then, and history is hard to sit and listen to, but it overwhelmed me. I well try it again in the future.