Racism, racist slurs, misogyny, sexual harassment, sexual assault, graphic abuse, pedophilia, rape, death, murder, imprisonment, breakdown of the justice system, cancer and grief.
Set against the backdrop of Gim crow era Florida, 1950. The book follows two black siblings — Gloria and Roobert Stephen Jnr. Both 16and 14 respectively. The siblings were walking one day and they met Lyle McCormack the son of one of the most powerful men in Florida. The guy made some advances toward Gloria and Robert stepped in to defend her sister by subtly kicking him. Robert is then dragged before a judge and sentence to 6 months at the Reformatory. The Reformatory exists on the outskirts of their small town, under a dark shadow of rumors of severe abuse and inhumane treatment. Gloria makes decides to fight for her brother and free him. The reformatory is hunted by the spirit of the boys who died there are not resting and out for blood. Robert had the ability to see ghost.
Even though Gloria is just sixteen, she has been charged with caring for Robert. Their father is in Chicago, having fled Florida due to him been accused of raping a white woman (lies generated to thwart his leadership of those interested in unionizing). Their had recently died of cancer. The two was suppose to stay with Miss. Lottie, an elderly woman and Godmother to the children. Gloria, however grew tired of her cluster and returned home, which brought the children into proximity with McCormack’s. For this reason, Gloria blames herself for Robert’s incarceration.
We are later introduced to Warden Haddock. He is a devilish and wicked man who dishes out sever and inhume punishments for simple infractions like losing a tie, talking about running away, or just because he feels like it. The evil he embodies felt and unfortunately, is reaI system of power that treats others like beneath the feet of those who presumes superiority.
“The reformatory was a Hell from Pastor Jerkins sermon, hidden then edge of Grace town while people drove their cars and played with their children and ate ice cream comes on the main street”.
Based on the story of Dozier School for Boys, this book set in Florida and partially details the event that went on there that resulted in the death of dozen upon dozens boy, and young men. Boys beaten to death, buried in the dead of night. And so on.
Tanana takes all of this horrible truth and weaves into it a type of Ghost story. Several ghost story I mean. Just imagine several ghost stories in such place. Gloria’s effort to free her brother end up compelling. Her efforts end up drawing attention to their family, even more attention than fact than her accused father’s situation. Glorias family isn’t loved by the rich whites and businessmen of the area and these people make that fact known. Over and over again. This was a heavy one but absolutely phenomenal. The true horrors are what happens in the various institution.
