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Americans struggle without SNAP benefits

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(Photo courtesy of Matt Rourke) “Americans wait in line for food assistance”

Olivia O’Sullivan

Connector Staff

In the wake of the government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it would run out of funding to operate SNAP – the federal food assistance program – by November. The Trump administration previously stated that it would not be subsidizing November’s SNAP benefits with emergency funds.  

Before the cuts took effect on November 1, U.S. District Judge John McConnell ordered the Trump administration to fund the program. In response, the DOJ agreed to provide 65% of the benefits through a contingency fund. Trump took to his social media to state that SNAP benefits would be withheld until Senate Democrats agreed to the Republican legislature and the shutdown ended. Despite this statement, Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt has stated that the administration does not plan to defy court orders.   

On the morning of November 7, Judge McConnell explicitly ordered the Trump administration to pay for SNAP benefits in full and suggested that the administration showed disregard for his previous order. He has accused Trump of using the hunger of Americans as a political tool, referring to his social media post that the gridlock must be ended for benefits to resume. Trump sought a federal appeals court to block McConnell’s ruling. On November 8, the Supreme Court allowed the administration to pause payments, leaving the future of SNAP during the government shutdown uncertain. 

While SNAP is widely regarded as a supplemental program, it serves as a primary source of food for millions in the United States. Food banks have been overwhelmed over the last week, and without federal support, local governments do not have the infrastructure to mitigate the effects of the cuts. The effects of SNAP cuts have demonstrated the sheer breadth of food insecurity in the United States. Should SNAP be inaccessible in the long-term, the effects will be felt by all. As an economic stabilizer it has a multiplier effect. According to data tables published by the USDA, every dollar in SNAP benefits generates $1.54 in economic activity. Many grocers and businesses in lower income communities also rely on SNAP dollars. With nearly 42 million Americans – over 12% of the U.S. population – receiving aid from the program, the lack of this economic stimulus will be apparent. 

Over a quarter of Lowell households depend on SNAP for sufficient access to food. The community has quickly come together and taken action to provide for one another. Family-owned business Nibbāna Cafe has stepped up to feed Lowell. The cafe began offering a SNAP breakfast program to provide breakfast to those impacted by the cuts, no questions asked. In addition, they are operating a communal food pantry open to all. To owner Romany Meas, food is not something that can be taken away. She states, “Breakfast is for everybody. Food is a basic human right. My family fled from war and as immigrants, food stamps are deeply rooted in our community to help us get on our feet. I was on food stamps for a very long time. I went to school, tried to educate myself, save money while my husband worked and we ended up opening a barbershop… because of (the program) it got my family here today, so it’s very personal. The goal is to do this forever. With the help of community donations, we can have it going for as long as we want, as long as we need to. Sometimes we all struggle regardless of if we’re on food stamps or not. Sometimes the bills are high. Sometimes the check comes late. No one should be hungry, and this little help goes a long way.” Donations for the breakfast program can be made at a link attached to the business’s Instagram page or in person, while donations for the food pantry can be brought to 122 Western Ave. 

When asked about the significance of SNAP benefits, UMass Lowell freshman Katie Merino said, “It helps assist people of lower income, and they already have to buy basic necessities, so if it’s being withheld, then that’s another thing they have to worry about paying for.” At UMass Lowell, the UML Strive Pantry also provides supplemental assistance through the generosity of community donations. Donations can be made online or at the donation bin located outside of Suite 140 in the Graduate and Professional Studies Center. 

“Wicked: For Good” may defy expectations

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(Image courtesy of IMDB. “Themes of choice define the story of ‘Wicked: For Good’.”)

Benjamin Heffner
Connector Editor

Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked: For Good,” the long-awaited sequel to the 2024 film “Wicked” and based on the hit Broadway musical of the same name, will open in two weeks as early reviews indicate another successful award season.

Whereas “Wicked” covered Act I of the stage production, “Wicked: For Good” covers Act II and follows Elphaba Thropp and Glinda Upland as they embrace their new identities, Elphaba as The Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda as Glinda the Good.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande reprise their roles as Elphaba and Glinda respectively, alongside Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero Tigelaar, Ethan Slater as Boq Woodsman, Marissa Bode as Nessarose Thropp, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible and Jeff Goldblum as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

All the Act II songs, such as “Thank Goodness,” “As Long as You’re Mine,” and the titular “For Good” will be featured in the film, including two new songs, “Girl in the Bubble” sung by Grande, and “There’s No Place Like Home” sung by Erivo. In addition, the movie soundtrack will include “The Wicked Witch of the East,” a number that was not included in the original Broadway cast recording.

Tickets went on sale on Oct. 8 and quickly became Fandango’s biggest first-day ticket pre-sellers of 2025. Jerramy Hainline, Fandango’s EVP, said “With last year’s Wicked breaking records and captivating audiences around the world, it is no surprise that fans are racing to get their tickets to Wicked: For Good. The first film became a true cultural phenomenon bringing new generations into the world of Wicked, and it’s clear that fans can’t wait to see how the story continues on the big screen.”

At the end of the first film, audiences saw Elphaba fly off from Emerald City and the Wizard’s regime, leaving Glinda behind as all of Oz labels Elphaba as the now infamous Wicked Witch of the West. Chu describes Wicked: For Good as being all about “choices.” He said, “Who do you become when the stories you’re told, the promises you’re given, shatter in front of you? Who are you when you make a choice and you realize that choice has consequences and their hard consequences? What happens when you look at your home and it’s no longer the home that you thought it was? And that your home isn’t even built for you. At what point do you still believe in the ideas that were given to you? And can those things coexist? I think for all of us, that’s the time we’re in.”

The stories of Elphaba and Glinda will quickly turn upside down when an unexpected person arrives in Oz seeking the Wizard’s help, a young Kansas farm girl named Dorothy Gale and her dog Toto.

While Dorothy has appeared in multiple of the film trailers, Chu said that her face will not be shown, calling Dorothy a “pawn” in the Wicked universe. He said, “I didn’t want to step on who you think Dorothy is in whatever story that you came into this with. This is, after all, still Elphaba and Glinda’s journey.”

Early screening reviews for the film are positive, with critics lauding Erivo and Grande’s performances, as well as the cinematography. Variety’s Jazz Tangcay wrote on X, previously known as Twitter, “Cynthia Erivo is magnificent and get ready for Ariana Grande as she takes this performance to the next level and is a tour de force.”

Chu concludes by cautioning that the finale of Wicked: For Good contains more emotional baggage than the first film, saying, “If Part 1 is about choices, Part 2 is about consequences. Choices are difficult to make, but when you do make those choices, sometimes the result isn’t what you expect it to be.”

Del Toro’s “Frankenstein” revitalizes horror

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(Image courtesy of IMDB. “Del Toro’s adaptation of ‘Frankenstein’ recontextualizes the pivotal novel.”)

Rosalie Pineda
Connector Staff

As Halloween was just around the corner, Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” began its limited theater release on October 17. Since it was also slated for a Netflix release on November 7, few theaters in Massachusetts were showing it. Those who did manage to secure a seat, however, were greeted with a gorgeous interpretation of Mary Shelley’s revolutionary novel.

In this movie, Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac) is a cold, calculating scientist obsessed with reanimating the dead. Influenced by the death of his mother and the indifference of his father, he eventually succeeds by creating the Creature (Jacob Elordi). Constructed entirely from parts of other corpses, the Creature becomes Victor’s greatest triumph, but also his worst nightmare, as he deals with the consequences of bringing life into a world full of cruelty and conflict.

Not only is Victor suddenly thrust into a parental role, but he also has to contend with the feelings he has for his younger brother William’s (Felix Kammerer) fiancée, Elizabeth (Mia Goth). The movie takes us through both Victor’s and the Creature’s journeys as they search for meaning to their existences, and who or what truly drives them to keep living.

There are few monsters more recognized in pop culture than that of the Creature, or Frankenstein’s monster. Perhaps the most famous depiction of the monster is from “Frankenstein” (1931), played by Boris Karloff with the help of makeup artist Jack Pierce. 

While certainly iconic, those who have read Mary Shelley’s novel acknowledge that this is far from the Creature’s original appearance. The screenplay was also heavily altered from the original story. Dozens of movie adaptations have been made since then, but none so far have truly captured most of the story beats from the novel.

This also goes for Del Toro’s “Frankenstein.” Del Toro takes his own artistic liberties with the source material in a way that some Shelley fans might find reductive. At the same time, it’s clear that Del Toro loves the original work, so the changes he’s made to the narrative are especially deliberate. Instead of a one-to-one retelling, he weaves a narrative that shone a brighter light on the themes of cyclical abuse, trauma, life, and death already present in Shelley’s work. 

The visuals are where the movie truly shines. The set design is heavy with atmosphere and symbolism. Every frame was shot with careful consideration, down to the color palette. The gore also packs a punch, perhaps startling for those who may be faint of heart. There’s a balance of horror, beauty, and melancholy 

Jacob Elordi’s portrayal of the Creature is particularly moving. His appearance is especially accurate to the book, albeit his experiences living under Victor and navigating the world on his own takes a very different turn. There’s an innocence and wonder to the Creature that is very seldom seen on the big screen. When the world is cruel to him, it tugs on your heartstrings. When it is kind to him, you cheer.

This may also be a downside to this movie. The writing at times can be quite on-the-nose, with characters stating the story’s themes in a way that feels unnecessary. The Creature can also be argued to have been written too sympathetically, while Victor was portrayed as the obvious villain. As such, novel fans who favor more of a morally gray Creature may not enjoy this version of the story.

The ending is also a point of contention. Without giving too much away, the end of this movie is much more hopeful than that of the original story. It’s up to the viewer to decide whether this is for the better or worse.

Overall, Del Toro’s “Frankenstein” is a beautifully refreshing adaptation with stellar performances. If fans can look past the changes and enjoy it for what it has to offer, this movie truly stands on its own legs.

Grade: A-

Empowerment Through Service: Club Spotlight

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Amy Lam
Connector Contributor

Empowerment Through Service (ETS) is a new student organization looking for volunteers to join them in giving back to the community through service in Lowell, founded by Yudaya Nanziri and Zainab Garelnabi. Their mission is “empowering our community through service work.” This club was founded on the idea that community fosters collaboration, support and networking. 

Nanziri is a public health major with a minor in nutrition. She said that she was always interested in community service. The club wouldn’t have been set up if she wasn’t in public health. In the summer, she worked with Garelnabi in a small profit organization as an intern, prompting them to come up with the idea that local organizations should benefit from receiving volunteers from UMass Lowell students and vice versa. Lowell is a place many call home and has a unique diverse population with distinct cultures and languages. However, there are noticeable issues in Lowell such as homelessness, substance use and low income. 

Garelnabi is a public health major with a minor in biomedical science. Similarly to Nanziri, she said she always had an interest in community services and believes that nonprofits needed support in resources to aid their mission because of low funding. It gives students a chance to bridge connections, build their resumes and feel good about giving back to the community. 

“It felt inevitable that the club had to happen,” Nanziri said. 

As ETS is starting out, they have been connected with a few organizations. These volunteer events are mainly based in Lowell for the accessibility of students that want to be involved. There will also be events on campus for students’ convenience. They are open to expanding volunteer services in Dracut and Chelmsford in the future as they grow as an organization which may take a long time because logistically, it would be difficult to plan. 

There have been two ETS events held on campus. Nanziri and Garelnabi were happy to see students from both North and South campus join in these events. A lot of students were applying to join the e-board, for which applications are now closed. Volunteering for organizations that require commitment can be difficult for students with their busy schedules. ETS allows students to have volunteer hours without the commitment to fit in with their schedules or do any paperwork. Last Wednesday, students came to participate in spring-cleaning on campus. 

Garelnabi mentioned, “You could make your own connections to the organizations if you volunteer with the club if you felt that the organization was the right fit for you and it was something that you would want to do in the future or hopefully do as some type of opportunity.” 

An advantage for those who join ETS is that they count the volunteer experiences for those who want to apply for the Community Engagement portion for the River Hawk Experience Distinction (RHED) that serves as a certification. 

The club meets on Wednesday at 5 p.m. every other week but, because of rescheduling events, the schedule hasn’t been consistent as the founders would’ve liked. Students can check out future events on Campus Groups as events will be emailed to members. ETS also has their own Instagram page @ets_uml. 

Some goals for the club are organizing community service events, creating sustainable relationships between our club and local organizations and launching a peer mentorship to inspire youth in Lowell. All opportunities that help students feel a sense of community in the city regardless of whether they lived here as everyone shares the identity as a UMass Lowell student. 

When asked about how they would define community, Nanziri said, “community is a place or a group of people who live in proximity to each other or work together with a mutual purpose.” 

“I’d also like to add, a community is where people support each other, making space for people to grow in.” Garelnabi added.  

Strategies for managing midterm stress

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Maxi France
Connector Staff

As the end of the semester approaches, anxiety is an issue that many UMass Lowell students contend with. According to the Winter 2025 Healthy Minds survey, 32% of UMass Lowell students reported having had an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. This information suggests that as midterms rolled around this October, UMass Lowell students may have experienced increased stress and anxiety.  

Additionally, a 2024 survey by MentalHealth.com revealed that 31% of college students identified finals and midterms as their top sources of stress.  

This statistic reflects the perspective of senior Margaleet Katzenblickstein, an English major. “I would say typically it does increase my stress levels,” she said of the midterm season. This displays how colleges must address ongoing test anxiety to improve overall well-being. As students juggle exams, projects and tight deadlines, the growing discussion around mental health has become central to campus life. 

Amy Lam, a senior public health major, also recognized the severity of the problem. “I don’t have that many midterms, so it’s not stressing me out too much,” she said. But she also mentioned that her perspective might not align with those who have more midterms.  

On the positive side, a 2024 Talkspace article recognized that some types of anxiety are situational, which can apply to midterm anxiety. And research has suggested that seeking help for anxiety can make a difference. In a 2022 study by the Center for Collegiate Mental Health (CCMH) at Penn State University on the effectiveness of college counseling centers, the researchers found that 52.6% of students showed improvement in at least one area of mental health, such as anxiety or depression after receiving counseling services.  

Both students recommended seeking out similar services on campus during the midterm season. Katzenblickstein said that UMass Lowell offers group therapy programs for students experiencing anxiety. Lam said that students could visit the Wellness Center, a calming on-campus resource located on the third floor of University Crossing. 

Additionally, communication with professors could help alleviate anxiety during midterms.  

“Make sure you’re telling your professors how you feel,” Lam said. “Shoot them an email, like, ‘I’m feeling unsure about the midterms. Could you clarify some questions?’” 

Katzenblickstein demonstrated why this is important, telling a story about the days before an exam. 

She said, “I just hadn’t been taking very good notes … so, because I was nervous about how I was progressing, I did make a specific office hour to meet with my professor and she helped me with making a good system for taking notes.” Her instructor emphasized using bullet points and subpoints for her notes. 

“I would say after that I definitely felt better in the class,” she said.  

In addition to counseling, both seniors shared practical study habits they rely on. Lam would practice spaced repetition and would study notes for five minutes and take a one hour break. Katzenblickstein would engage in active recall by making herself practice quizzes. Research has supported these methods: a 2014 study by Pastötter et al. found that recall testing reduces both test anxiety and the mental effort that students perceive during exams. 

For helping with anxiety about papers, Katzenblickstein said that she has shown her work to professors to identify problem areas while Lam said that students could meet the professor during office hours. 

When asked about how to help stop midterm anxiety from affecting students, Lam proposed a collaborative solution. She said, “I feel like open discussion can help. For public health classes, in one of the classes we held a debate … eventually people were having conversation and that kind of broke the ice … so having in-person discussions about anxiety in class, maybe forming a circle would help.”  

Katzenblickstein was confident that academic anxiety in students can improve over time.  

“I would say the more I’ve gotten used to it, the more I know what to expect. I don’t have much anxiety about tests at this point, especially compared to freshman year,” she said. 

All in all, anxiety during the midterm season can be challenging for students to deal with, but hope is not lost—with coping strategies and healthy habits, students can manage their stress and perform at their best. 

UMass Lowell students confront preachers

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(Photo courtesy of Benjamin Heffner) “Students gather outside the South Campus quad”

Makayala Mahoney

Connector Staff

On Thursday, October 30th, a UMass Lowell student threw a glass of milk at a religious demonstrator on south campus, resulting in his detainment by local law enforcement. The student was released on personal recognizance on Friday, October 31st, and is currently facing four criminal charges, including two counts of assault and battery on an officer (www.masscourts.org).

The religious demonstrator was part of a group which returns to campus for their yearly observance of Sin Awareness Day, wielding signs that read “evolution is a lie” and passing out evangelical cartoon tracts to students who passed. As the demonstration continued throughout the day, a large crowd of counter-protesters emerged, with a mix of students who engaged in debate, sang, or chanted satirical obscenities.

UMass Lowell student, Leo James, had been on south campus and observed the scene, “For the most part, the counter protesters were peaceful – besides for the milk incident, which I did witness – and sort of just verbally messing with the preachers.”

This organization of campus Christian preachers have made themselves known across the universities of New England. Naiela Suleiman, a campus correspondent for The Daily Campus at the University of Connecticut, wrote a story on the group in 2019. In the wake of their demonstrations on campus, she discovered the founder is retired veteran, Don Karns, whose ‘mission was to reconcile people to God’.

Apart from debating the validity of evolution and morality of abortion and homosexuality, the preachers also passed around cartoon tracts titled “who loves you?”. These tracts were made by Jack T. Chick (J.T.C. as the tract reads), a fundamentalist Christian and cartoonist. His website states, “Unsaved people simply won’t read tracts that are jam-packed with lots of tiny words. But the unsaved love Chick tracts and readily accept them” (chick.com).

The tract passed on Sin Awareness Day listed many sins on a page, including homosexuality, shacking, and hating parents.

Leo also added, “a lot of messages from the speakers were harmful and included anti-gay, trans, anti-evolution, and anti-abortion rhetoric.”

In fact, Jack T. Chick’s cartoon company, Chick Publications, has been deemed a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, as well as described as “equal parts hate literature and fire-and-brimstone sermonizing” by Los Angeles Magazine.

While students across New England continue to express annoyance with these preachers and their presence on the yearly Sin Awareness Day, the University of Massachusetts Lowell holds that “Freedom of expression is vital to our shared goal of pursuing knowledge. Such freedom comes with a responsibility to welcome and promote this freedom for all, even in disagreement or opposition” as described in their policy on campus demonstrations.

The university’s policy on demonstrations also protects the rights of counter protestors but warns, “Faculty, staff, students, contractors, and visitors of the University Community who engage in disruptive conduct will be subject to appropriate administrative actions, which may include disciplinary action as well as civil and/or criminal penalties.”

University campuses are a common hotspot for preachers to spread their word and recruit members to their cause. Their words, however, can be extreme and create a culture of hate which in turn breeds more hate and even acts of violence.

Voters rebuke Trump in 2025 elections

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(Photo courtesy of Yuki Iwamura) “Zohran Mamdani declares victory at watch party”

Benjamin Heffner

Connector Editor

On November 4, Americans headed to the polls to make their voices heard in state and local elections, marking the first test of President Donald Trump’s second administration, as the country grapples with the longest government shutdown in history. 

It was a strong evening for Democrats, who outperformed and exceeded expectations in several national high-profile races.  Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill were elected as the governors of Virginia and New Jersey respectively, with Spanberger becoming the first female governor of that state. 

In New York City, Zohran Mamdani was elected as the city’s first socialist and Muslim mayor, defeating Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa.  In his victory speech, Mamdani said, “In this moment of political darkness, New York will be the light. Here, we believe in standing up for those we love, whether you are an immigrant, a member of the trans community, one of the many Black women that Donald Trump has fired from a federal job, a single mom still waiting for the cost of groceries to go down, or anyone else with their back against the wall. Your struggle is ours, too.” 

Ben Rader, a biochemical engineering major and Deputy Political Affairs director of the College Democrats chapter, said that socialism has moved in a path that feels less intimidating. Rader said, “[Zohran] was really pushing forward these policies and these ideas that were resonating with people, even if they were technically called socialist, or if they were being attacked by conservatives as being unachievable.” 

Connor Malito, a double psychology and history major, feels that Zohran’s victory indicates that the country is moving in the right direction. Malito said, “You can tell the tide is changing as America and workers are growing more fed up with capitalism as crisis after crisis keeps us down.” 

In California, voters overwhelmingly voted to pass Proposition 50, which would redistrict the state’s congressional map to give Democrats at least five Republican-held seats.  The move came from Gov. Gavin Newsom after Trump urged Republicans to gerrymander Texas’ congressional map. 

Here in the city of Lowell some noteworthy races stood out.  

In District 7, representing The Acre, including South Campus, incumbent Paul Yem lost in an upset to challenger Sidney Liang. Yem said in a statement, “Together, we lifted important conversations about housing, safety, opportunity, and community pride in the Acre and throughout District 7. 

The race in District 3, representing Belvidere, is likely to enter a recount after unofficial returns showed Belinda Juran defeating Daniel Finn by just four votes. 

Other notable races included Sean McDonough defeating incumbent Wayne Jenness in District 4 and socialist candidate Marcus Candido narrowly losing to incumbent John Descoteaux in District 8. Rader, who had largely supported Candido’s campaign, said he felt “ruined.” 

National exit polls showed voter dissatisfaction with President Trump, differing views on the economy, and an overall dissatisfaction with both the Democratic and Republican parties.  Turnout varied from state to state. In New York City, over 2 million votes were cast marking the largest turnout in over 50 years. 

Max Kaplan, a sophomore physics major, said that the elections are showing that voters are rebuking against President Trump’s policies, but warned Democrats not to be complacent. Kaplan said, “With the shutdown, the Trump administration has attempted to push sole responsibility onto the Democrats, and the ballet boxes signal a strong mandate to continue their course of action. Overall, Democrats should be optimistic.” 

Christopher Jordan, a junior computer science major, feels that nothing much will come out of the elections. Jordan said, “Most of the time, Congress is in a deadlock on most policies, and most government intervention is by Supreme Court rulings or presidential vetoes/policies.” 

 

Horror meets history in “The Reformatory”

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(Image courtesy of Goodreads. “Terror and racial injustice soak the pages of ‘The Reformatory’.”)

Rick Dalton
Connector Staff

“The Reformatory” is a 2023 novel by Tananarive Due. The story is a tribute to her great-uncle, Robert Stephens, who was killed in 1937 at the Dozier School for Boys, located in the Florida Panhandle. Due combines horror and historical fiction to create a gripping novel about two siblings that battle racial injustice in a rural, segregated Southern town. 

The novel is set in the fictional town of Gracetown, Florida in 1950. It follows 12-year-old Robert and 17-year-old Gloria Stephens. Their mother recently died, and their father was chased out of town by false rape allegations after he helped black workers unionize and register to vote. Robert can sense his mother’s ghostly presence. Gloria had to drop out of school and work for a local family to support Robert and herself. The perspective shifts between Robert and Gloria throughout the novel.

Trouble begins when Robert kicks a white teenage boy over unwanted advances to Gloria. The boy’s father boxes Robert’s ear and reports him to the police. Robert is swiftly sentenced to six months at the Gracetown School for Boys, which has a reputation for arbitrary sentence extensions and vicious punishments. Robert could actually be held until he turns 21, if he can live that long. While Robert struggles to survive, Gloria works to find a lawyer that can help free her brother before he meets a grim fate. 

Early in his imprisonment, Robert passes by the site of a fire that claimed the lives of 25 boys in 1920. Robert can feel the flames, see the faces, and hear the screams of the boys that died. This is observed by a guard, who cautions Robert, “Don’t listen to them haints… Or you’ll be a haint too.” Haints are spirits that can only be seen by the children of Gracetown, and Robert is especially adept at sensing them. Robert befriends Redbone and Blue, a pair of fellow inmates. They inform Robert of the gruesome violence at the Reformatory, about how some boys go missing and how runners are chased down with dogs. There is little hope at the Gracetown School for Boys. 

Robert’s story is filled with terror. The sadistic Warden Haddock takes great pleasure in violently whipping boys in the Funhouse over minor infractions, and even harsher punishments exist if Haddock feels especially vicious. Robert does his best to steer clear of the Warden, but that proves impossible. Robert’s journey is thrilling, terrifying, and filled with constant tension. Like Robert, Gloria faces daily threats of violence. Being “free” in Gracetown proves to be just as horrifying as being locked up. 

It is not just the Reformatory that has a history of violence. Gloria recalls the words of her mother: “Florida’s soil is soaked with so much blood, it’s a wonder the droplets don’t seep between your toes with every step.” Most of the white residents of Gracetown are enraged that Gloria’s father has not been caught and falsely charged with rape, so Gloria is under attack. The Stephens family have previously been victims of arson, so Gloria rightfully fears for her safety. With the help of family friends, Gloria works to find a lawyer that might be able to save Robert. 

Gloria contacts the NAACP, which brings some real historical figures into the story. While not seen, lawyer and future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall is spoken of with reverence. A reference is made to the lynching of Willie James Howard. Gloria meets the soon to be famous Ruby McCollum, as well as civil rights leaders Harry and Harriette Moore. Gloria is clairvoyant and can see the grim fate ahead for these historic figures. Her story highlights the many atrocities in North Florida during the early days of the civil rights movement. Gloria faces constant threats of abuse and violence as she tries to survive long enough to free Robert and reunite with their father. 

The novel moves at a rapid pace and rarely lets up. It reads like a thriller, with constant action and ever rising stakes. Robert and Gloria’s stories are told side by side, each escalating in tension as they speed toward the finish. The language is bleak, honest, and powerful. Robert and Gloria are excellent protagonists; they are smart, brave and quick-witted. The subject matter is very difficult, but stories like “The Reformatory” are incredibly important to remind people of the terrible history of segregation. 

“The Reformatory” is an unforgettable tale of racial injustice. It is often deeply unsettling, but it is very hard to put down. Tananarive Due expertly combines horror with historical fiction. Fans of both genres should strongly consider her novel.  

Grade: A