Book Review: The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Genre: Horror

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Gallery/Saga Press (October 31, 2023)

Length: 576

Author Information: Website

Tananarive Due’s The Reformatory is a chilling, thought-provoking novel that was at times an uncomfortable read, not just because it was a ghostly tale of horror but also because of the way it portrays the brutal realities of 1950’s Jim Crow.

In this story, we follow the harrowing journey of Robbie Stephens, Jr., a twelve-year-old black boy from Florida who receives a six-month sentence at the Gracetown School for Boys, a reformatory. His crime? Defending his older sister, Gloria, from the unwanted advances of Lyle McCormick, son of the town’s most influential landowner. Never mind that the younger, smaller Robbie was hardly in a position to seriously harm Lyle, his act of kicking a white boy was an offense that could not be overlooked by either Red McCormick or the town’s judge.

But Gloria, older and wiser, knows there is more to the situation. Her and Robbie’s father, Robert Stephens Sr., had run away to Chicago after being falsely accused of raping a white woman when it became clear there was no chance at a fair trial. By locking up his son, the authorities are sending a message to Robert Sr. while trying to destroy his family. Realizing this, Gloria tirelessly mobilizes every contact and resource she has to fight for her little brother’s freedom before the horrors of the reformatory can swallow him up.

Meanwhile, Robbie begins his nightmarish ordeal at the Gracetown School and discovers, quite traumatically, that he also possesses a unique gift—the ability to see ghosts. Guided by the new friendships he makes with the other ill-fated boys at the institution, he learns about the harsh rules and the draconian ways of Warden Haddock, as well as the tragic, violent history of the school. Many deaths have occurred here over the years, including twenty-five boys who perished three decades ago in a great fire. Now Robbie is seeing their spirits, or haints, who seem determined to communicate with him, to tell him how to bring them peace.

In the author’s note at the end of the novel, Tananarive Due talks about how The Reformatory was based on Florida’s Dozier School for Boys, a reform school that has been the inspiration for many a horror story because of the very real accounts of terrible abuse, violence, and death that occurred there. These have left an indelible mark, not only on the pages of history, but on the pages of this work of fiction as well. While Due admits to taking plenty of artistic liberties, the disturbing authenticity that lingers from knowing such an awful place actually existed certainly makes this novel feel even more unsettling.

The narrative is told through alternating between Robbie and Gloria’s points of view, depicting their parallel struggles. Admittedly, I was a little less enthusiastic about Gloria’s chapters at first, because her role was so heavily involved in the legal aspects of trying to rescue her brother from the reformatory, diverting the story away from the horror elements. But gradually, as Gloria’s efforts take her into increasingly riskier territory, she encounters pushback and adversaries who pose a significant threat of their own.

But on the whole, The Reformatory is primarily focused on Robbie’s experiences within Gracetown, and his chapters are both riveting and terrifying. Life is grim, whether you are black or white, but because of Robbie’s special ability, he has drawn the attention of Warden Haddock, one of the nastiest villains you’ll ever meet. Robbie is put in a very difficult position, fighting to survive against the cruelty of Haddock’s men as well as the frightening demands of the restless haints.

Throughout the book, Due also weaves a chilling depiction of the racism during the Jim Crow era. These themes, infused with the supernatural elements of a haunted reform school, make it much more than just a brilliant horror novel, as it is also a poignant look into the enduring traumas of the past. If you’re looking for a mix of horror and history that will linger with you, I highly recommend The Reformatory.