The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

Synopsis:

The Reformatory is a gripping, page-turning novel set in Jim Crow Florida that follows Robert Stephens Jr. as he’s 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 Robbie’s 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 it’s too late.

The Reformatory is a haunting work of historical fiction written as only American Book Award–winning 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.

Awards/Nominations

• Bram Stoker Award Nominee for Best Novel (2023)
• RUSA CODES Reading List Nominee for Horror (2024)
• Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Best Horror (2023)

Trigger Warnings:

Edition:

Digital ARC provided by Net Galley

My Thoughts:

The Reformatory occupies a space in my mind that was previously only occupied by Stephen Graham Jones’ The Only Good Indians – i.e. a space for books that were so gut-wrenching and so intense that it physically ached.

First off, it is worth noting that The Reformatory is based upon true events. Specifically the Dozier School for Boys in Mariana, FL. If you’re unfamiliar with the name, I envy you. Don’t click that hyperlink unless you’re up for learning some truly horrific shit. The level of evil that school is wrapped up in is truly terrifying. It is important that we not ignore the horrors of reality in order to hopefully arm ourselves to recognize the signs in future, but for real – if you’re not in a headspace for it, I totally understand. Just know that their horrific legacy is still being dealt with to this day. The school remained open until 2011 – despite over 100 years of abuse and wrongful death allegations. To date, we know of nearly 100 deaths that took place at the school. They had their own fucking burial gound…

“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.”

Sorry for the tangent, but for obvious reasons, it is applicable. The Reformatory gives us a glimpse at how horrific that school/schools like it were. This story is set in 1950 in the fictional town of Gracetown, Florida, and specifically within the Gracetown School for Boys. Robbie’s journey is heartwrenching. He goes from sweet little boy who definitely did not deserve to get into any kind of real trouble for his supposed “crime,” to a haunted child who was forced to reckon with things that even most grown folks couldn’t fathom.

And lest I forget, Robbie’s sister Gloria serves as our second POV in The Reformatory. I know some people struggle to engage with dual narrative stories (sometimes I’m one of you), but I promise – this one is exceptionally well done. They don’t compete at all. I can almost guarantee that you will be equally invested in both sides of the narrative.

“…killing is the work of man, not the devil. And if there’s any such thing as evil on this earth, Gloria, it’s here in Gracetown. In the soil, hear? Gracetown soil remembers. It’s like a mirror that shines yo’ ugly back at you.”

Gloria’s tale revolves around her attempts to free Robbie from the Gracetown School for Boys. She begins by trying to work within the confines of the system (because they truly are both good kids). When that fails, her measures begin to become more desperate and less concerned with working within a system that definitely does not have the best interest of her or any other Black person at heart. She is a good sister to Robbie, a good person in general, and she is wonderfully tenacious.

And Robbie needs her help. The terrors of Gracetown School for Boys are seemingly never-ending. Not only does Robbie have to contend with the horrific abuses visited upon his person by those employed by the school, but he also has to deal with terrible acts committed by the other boys in an attempt to lighten their own “punishments” (I bunny-eared because these are not punishments – they are atrocities. They are straight up dehumanizing brutalities). And to top that all off, the place is (understandably) haunted by the many, many boys who were murdered over the years.

“Even standing side by side with Redbone, Robert felt miles away from him. He had never felt that way about a friend. And wasn’t Redbone Blue’s friend too? This new, harder kind of friendship cut through his skin like Haddock’s whip.”

Essentially, what you get with The Reformatory is much, much more than the incredible emotional mantle you are required to to carry while reading it. Although it is without a doubt a challenging read, it is absolutely worth it. Because beyond the ghastly circumstances of the story, it is much more than the story of a boy forced to endure a literal house of horrors. It is a story about resilience, love, friendship, strength of character, and retribution. In it’s own way, The Reformatory is absolutely beautiful. Heartbreaking, yes – but also extremely powerful. Tananarive Due is an incredibly talented writer.

Rating:

Is The Reformatory a masterpiece? I don’t know. I’m just some dork who loves books. But I wouldn’t be surprised to find that in the future, it has become required reading somewhere. Maybe in literature or writing courses? Horror studies? Black History courses? American History courses? I dunno. Like I said, I’m no expert. But it still wouldn’t surprise me to see it pop up in some academic settings.

I think it would be valuable in a creative writing course as well – the plotting and pacing are perfection, and as I’ve mentioned, the story is incredibly powerful. We could all learn several important lessons from The Reformatory both in terms of content and of execution.

The Reformatory
By: Tananarive Due
S&S/Saga Press
Published: October 31, 2023
ISBN: 9781982188344
Hardcover, Paperback, E-book, Audiobook
576 Pages