Joniece Abbott-Pratt masterfully re-creates a 1950s Florida reformatory in this story based on a relative of author Tananarive Due and other actual people and events. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this painful but essential story. Listeners meet 12-year-old Robbie Stephens, Jr. after he’s arrested for defending his sister Gloria from a white boy. While in the segregated reform school, Robbie experiences and witnesses unfathomable punishment. Abbott-Pratt expertly portrays the story’s crushing atmosphere, as well as fearless Gloria fighting to rescue Robbie, terrified boys, and, most movingly, the “haints”—ghosts of dead boys—who assist Robbie with his escape.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/239837/

Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com https://audiofilemagazine.com/

This episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. From the author of The Last Mona Lisa comes a thrilling story of masterpieces, masterminds, and mystery. Alternating between a perilous search and the history of stolen art and lives, listen at audible.com/TheLostVanGogh

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