Tananarive Due’s The Reformatory (2023) is a hauntingly beautiful masterpiece of historical fiction that lingers in your soul long after the final page. Set against the backdrop of a racially segregated South in 1930s Florida, the novel is both a riveting exploration of systemic injustice and a hallucinatory journey into the supernatural. Due masterfully blends history with elements of horror, crafting a story that is as chilling as it is poignant. The young protagonist’s fight to survive the dark horrors of a boys’ reformatory reveals the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable cruelty. The Reformatory is not just a novel—it’s a powerful reckoning with history and a testament to the enduring strength of hope.