The Reformatory: A Novel

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of racism, child abuse, physical abuse, death, and emotional abuse.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your initial reaction to Tananarive Due’s portrayal of supernatural elements (haints) alongside the historical realities of the Jim Crow South? How effectively did this blending of horror and historical fiction convey the novel’s themes?

2. The Reformatory draws inspiration from the real-life Dozier School for Boys. How did knowing this factual basis affect your reading experience? Does fiction based on historical injustice impact you differently than purely fictional narratives?

3. Both The Reformatory and Colson Whitehead’s The Nickel Boys explore the trauma of reformatory schools and institutional racism in the American South. If you’ve read both, how do their approaches to similar subject matter differ? What makes Due’s use of supernatural elements effective (or ineffective) compared to Whitehead’s strictly realistic approach?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Robbie develops the ability to see haints, allowing him to communicate with those who’ve been silenced. When have you witnessed the importance of acknowledging and giving voice to suppressed histories or experiences?

2. Throughout the novel, Gloria exhausts every possible avenue to free her brother, from legal channels to community support and finally direct action. Reflect on a time when you had to persist to overcome an obstacle. What kept you motivated?

3. Trust is a complex theme in the novel, with characters like Blue and Redbone requiring Robbie to evaluate where to place his faith. How do you determine who to trust, particularly in situations where the consequences of misplaced trust are significant?

4. The bond between Robbie and Gloria demonstrates how family can be a source of strength during crises. How have your family relationships, whether biological or chosen, supported you through difficult times?

5. Miz Lottie maintains her faith despite witnessing terrible injustice. How do you reconcile your own belief systems with the knowledge of injustice in the world? What sustains your hope in challenging circumstances?

6. The novel presents characters who must make morally complex choices under extreme duress. Have you ever been in a situation where you had to make a difficult ethical decision when all available options seemed flawed? How did you navigate this experience?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. How does The Reformatory illuminate the relationship between racism and the criminal justice system in America, both historically and in the present day? What parallels do you see between the novel’s depiction and contemporary issues?

2. The novel features historical figures like Harry T. Moore and Ruby McCollum through Gloria’s premonitions. How does Due’s integration of real historical figures enhance your understanding of the civil rights struggle beyond what you might learn from history books?

3. The Reformatory’s beautiful exterior masks the brutality within its walls. What other institutions, historical or contemporary, present a similar dichotomy between appearance and reality? How does this masking affect society’s ability to address systemic problems?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Due alternates between Robbie’s and Gloria’s perspectives throughout the novel. How does this narrative structure enhance your understanding of the story’s themes? What insights do readers gain from having both viewpoints?

2. The supernatural elements in The Reformatory function as more than just horror devices. How do the haints serve as metaphors for historical trauma and memory? What does Blue’s character arc suggest about the importance of confronting historical injustice?

3. Analyze the symbolism of Robbie’s boots throughout the novel. How does this motif track his journey and development?

4. The novel uses the trapping of haints in dust as a central plot element. How does this motif relate to the theme of preserving versus erasing history? What commentary might the author be making about historical memory?

5. Several characters act as allies to Robbie and Gloria, from Miss Anne to Mrs. Hamilton. How does the novel portray allyship across racial lines? What qualities distinguish effective allies from ineffective ones?

6. Warden Haddock’s character embodies institutional evil, similar to characters like Nurse Ratched in Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. How do these types of antagonists, who work within systems rather than outside them, create unique forms of horror? What makes Haddock’s particular brand of villainy effective?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.



1. What scene from The Reformatory would you most want to see adapted for film, and why would this particular moment be visually powerful?

2. The novel ends with Robbie finally seeing his mother’s ghost. Write an alternative epilogue from the perspective of one of the haints watching Robbie’s escape and new life.

3. Gloria has premonitions of both tragedy and hope throughout the novel. Which character from The Reformatory would you most want to follow into their future beyond the timeline of the novel, and what path do you envision for them?

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