The Reformatory

A Novel

By: Tananarive Due

Narrated by: Joniece Abbott-Pratt

Length: 20 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

A gripping 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.

©2023 Tananarive Due (P)2023 Simon & Schuster Audio

Critic reviews

A New York Times Notable Book

“You’re in for a treat. The Reformatory is one of those books you can’t put down. Tananarive Due hit it out of the park.” —Stephen King

Amazing storyline

It’s so good, truly pulls you into a different time. Teaches you about Jim Crow south and has good haunts. Loved it.

Storytelling at its best.

A unique telling that could only have come from Tananarive Due. I will be haunted for days by this story and the characters within it.

Innocence Family Love Truth

Horrific, yet beautiful. The world needs more stories like this one. Thank you, Tananarive Due.

Excellent horror/historical fiction!

This story is marvelous! Extraordinary writing, plot, and horror through a black lens while also incorporating historical fiction.

I love that this story shows that horror to a black person in America- now and especially at this time during the violent and sadistic Jim Crow south of Florida was racism. In addition to white folks who got to have their way with them as much and as often as they wanted.

Tananarive Due does an amazing job of drawing a tale of just how depraved and cruel America can be to a a black child in a place that seeks to “reform wayward youth”

Immersive, Well told, Perfection

This book was awesome. Tens across the board! I don’t usually listed to stories of the Jim Crow south. But this is beyond that. This is a whole world that you are immersed in. The author t really transports you back in time. The story was long but that is a good thing in this case. She really took her time in telling an important story. The characters were well developed and the story was captivating. It took you through every emotion. Very memorable. One of my best reads. The reader was the perfect choice.

Enthralling!

The story is emotional, and the characters are truly realistic. It's another breathtaking masterpiece by Mrs. Due!
The Reformatory may be fictional; however, it serves as a reminder that monsters are real.

Characters not found anywhere else

This was a wonderful audible presentation. The characters and story line - although unsettling- were beautifully developed. The combination of stories within the main story enriched the readers understanding and although not for the faint of heart this creation is worth time as a creative composition and historical perspective piece .

AMAZING!!!!

I am in awe by the writing style, narration, character development, story lines… just everything!

Impressed

I loved it!!! This was very well written narration was awesome all around great book

The narrator was amazing!

All of the emotions! 4 stars only because it took me a bit to get into the story, but once it took off I was hooked. This book was horrific, sad, and triumphant all at the same time. I feel so informed and grateful to have read this book. What these characters had to endure is so heavy. Some of these mental images will haunt me forever.