I just finished The Reformatory by Tananarive Due. I can't stop thinking about it and need something to follow up with, and goodreads suggestions do not look promising.
Things I liked about it:
– historic fiction with real events/people sprinkled in
– strong emotional characters
– scary but slow burn worse and worse
– not a completely hopeless ending
Don't necessarily need supernatural elements but not against it. No romance is ideal.
by bonefarmer
3 Comments
All The Broken Places by John Boyne may fit the bill? I don’t know know what you meant by point three, but i think it ticks the other boxes?
Alias Grace by Atwood
Oooo I have a few!! These are also some of my favorite books.
**”The Nickel Boys” by Colson Whitehead** – Pulitzer Prize winner; based on the real-life horrors of a reform school in Florida. It’s historical fiction with strong emotional depth, a slow-burn narrative, and a focus on systemic injustice, similar to the reformatory.
**”Kindred” by Octavia Butler** – A mix of historical fiction and speculative elements, this follows a black woman who time-travels to the Antebellum South. It’s emotionally gripping, with strong characters and a narrative that builds tension throughout.
**”Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi** – Historical fiction that follows the parallel paths of two half-sisters and their descendants. The book spans generations, dealing with the legacy of slavery and colonialism, with rich character development and emotional depth.