Staff Picks: The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

 

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

Racial injustice undermines every aspect of life for African Americans living in Gracetown, Florida in 1950 and spirits, visible only to children often linger long after passings in the form of “haints”.  

When his mother passes away from cancer and his civil right activist father flees the state amid accusations and threats, twelve-year-old Robbie Stevens is left in the care of his older sister, Gloria. Defending his sister from the son of a powerful landowner earns Robbie a six-month sentence at the Gracetown School for Boys where his ability to see haints reveals a disturbing history. 

The Reformatoy is a spellbinding historical fiction novel based on the true story of the infamous Dozier School for Boys which operated from 1900 to 2011 in Marianna, Florida. Despite the dark subject matter, I really enjoyed this multi-layered and suspenseful story. 

Alicia Cavitt

Information Specialist

Staff Picks Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian

Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian 

Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian tells the story of Bostonian Mary Deerfield who discovers a fork buried in her yard in 1662. The utensil is viewed by many as a Devil’s Tine and a symbol of witchcraft. Mary suspects she’s being targeted by persons unknown but has a more pressing matter to deal with – divorcing her abusive husband. The details of Mary’s petition for divorce offer a fascinating look at Colonial laws and customs. The second half of the book is packed with suspense as accusations of witchcraft arise and Mary tries to figure out who wishes her harm and who - if anyone - she can trust.

Chris Bohjalian weaves historical details about Puritan customs and beliefs and the status of women in Colonial New England into an insightful and mesmerizing historical legal thriller. Fans of historical fiction and suspense novels will enjoy this fascinating story.  

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist
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OverBOOKed to Read: The Second Mrs. Hockaday by Susan Rivers

The Second Mrs. Hockaday by Susan Rivers

August 10, 1865

"... what I cannot excise from my mind is the conviction that I am guided by Destiny - or, what you would call Providence - at the most harrowing intersections of my life. What I can state without prevarication is that my current destiny was charted over the course of two short days in April '63."

Placidia is seventeen years old when she meets Major Gryffth Hockaday. Inexplicably drawn to each other in spite of their age difference, they marry the next day. Two days after that, the major is called back to duty with the Confederate army and Placidia, still more a child than an adult, is left to run a farm and mother her husband's young son. Two years later, the major returns to find that rumors about his wife have spread throughout the town, gossip that claims she bore a child and buried it on the land. Placidia does not deny the accusations, but she won't talk, bound to protect some nameless individual even as she is imprisoned and brought to trial.

Told through letters, court documents, and journal entries, this story spans two generations as characters and reader alike try to piece together what really happened while Major Hockaday was away at war.

Join the overBOOKed book club for a discussion of this title on Thursday, August 19 at 10:00 a.m. at the Cumming library. OverBOOKed meets at 10:00 a.m. every third Thursday of the month.

The eBook and eAudiobook versions of The Second Mrs. Hockaday are available through OverDrive. Anyone with a Forsyth County Library card can sign up for a free OverDrive account. Sign up for a free card today to start enjoying FCPL's digital catalog from wherever you are!

Melissa

Information Specialist

Cumming Library

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