The Reformatory

This book is truly exceptional. I couldn't put it and will undoubtedly experience a book hangover. The storytelling from the beginning was well-paced and immense. The characters were so well-developed that if you told they were real people, I would believe you. The story itself is harrowing but necessary to tell. There is a perfect mix of historical relevance, horror elements, intense stress.

Gloria Robbie, Miz L were so lovable as characters that you want the best for them throughout. Tananarive does an incredible job of focusing on the main characters while introducing plenty of important side characters without drawing the story or focus to them excessively.

The book's pacing was perfection. I could read this book repeatedly and get bored. It made me cry, had me on the edge of my, and so stressed I couldn't concentrate on anything else, and I frequently gasped aloud my commute.

The fact that this is based on pieces of real history is profoundly sad and it made me so angry that we live in a world where, at some point in, this level of horrific treatment of humans was acceptable. What is more terrifying is that one can still see aspects of it today.

Tananarive Due has an incredible piece, and I would recommend it to absolutely anyone and everyone.