This book is based on historical facts from the 1930s-1950s in Jim Crow Florida. The author had a great uncle whom she based this story around and who, sadly, died in the 1930s at the famous Dozier School for Boys. This is a plot loosely based on that school. The author does say it's totally fiction and none of the names are the same except for her uncle's.
STORY SUMMARY
Robbie Stephans, Jr is just 12 years old when he is sentenced to spend 6 months in the Gracetown, Florida's Reformatory school for boys all for just kicking the son of a wealthy while landowner. Robbie was just defending his older sister Gloria who was being bullied/sexually harassed by Lyle McCormack, the son.
Soon he learns about the horrors of the Reformatory. But..he also has a "gift" for seeing "haints"....ghosts...of dead people. What was once a comfort to him (seeing his Mama after she died of cancer) is now a glimpse into the truth of what actually happened in the 1920s at the Refomatory, and what currently happens.
All boys, whether poor white or black, are forced to work to remediate their so-called crimes....and some have gone missing. They do have classes, but in the afternoons, some have to pick corn, work in the kitchen or butcher hogs, etc. There are many rules in the Reformatory and boys dare not break them.
Robbie makes two friends: Redbone (real name is August Montgomery) and Blue (real name is Kendall Sweeting). They help him learn the rules and survive.
Meanwhile, Gloria is trying to get help for Robbie and get his sentenced reduced. she contacts a NAACP lawyer but she doesn't get much help from him. Finally, she and Miz Lottie, her godmother, decide to take matters into their own hands, and along with Waymon and June, Miz Lottie's two adult sons, make a plan for Robbie to escape.
Will their plan work??
MY THOUGHTS
This is a deep book on a very important topic: racism and life in the South during the Jim Crow movement. I was disgusted at how this went on for so many years! Shame on the people who knew about this school and did nothing. Makes me thankful that I've only ever lived in the Northeast. (not that we don't have racism here....but definitely wasn't nearly as bad as in the South!).
This book has rich characters and you begin to cheer on these brave boys who rise up and take a stand against the Superintendent of the school.
The book is very well developed in character, plot, and setting. I found myself becoming so frustrated that certain white people couldn't see the blatant hatred they had for anyone different from them.
The book reaches its climax in the last 3 chapters and it's a "can't put this down now" until you reach the end. Reach for the tissues because this book is emotional: there's humor, mystery, drama, hate, abuse, angst, terror, anger, and love all wrapped up in this story.
The book is divided into sections:
- McCormack Road
- The Reformatory
- The FunHouse
- The Courthouse
- Haint Catcher
- Lower Spruce
- Boot Hill
- The Hunt
plus author's notes.
In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 17 and older, due to mature content.
On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the the highest, I rate this a 10.
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