Strangers in Time vs The Reformatory: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: Historical, Historical Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Fiction
Strangers in Time
Fourteen-year-old Charlie Matters is up to no good, but for a very good reason. Without parents, peerage, or merit, he steals what he needs, living day-to-day until he’s old enough to enlist to fight the Germans. After…
vs
The Reformatory
Gracetown, Florida - June 1950 Twelve-year-old Robbie Stephens, Jr., is sentenced to six months at the Gracetown School for Boys, a reformatory, for kicking the son of the largest landowner in town in defense of his…
The verdict
- Ratings are close across the board — any is a safe pick by score.
- Strangers in Time is the quickest read — about 8 hours vs 10 for The Reformatory.
- The Reformatory has the widest readership — 95767 ratings behind its score.
- The Reformatory runs the darker storyline; Strangers in Time stays the lighter read.
How to choose
Want a one-evening read?
Strangers in Time
≈ 8h vs 10h for The Reformatory
Want the crowd-tested pick?
The Reformatory
95767 ratings vs 1785 for Strangers in Time
In the mood for something dark?
The Reformatory
a darker storyline than Strangers in Time
Want something lighter?
Strangers in Time
an easier tone than The Reformatory
Scores by source
| Strangers in Time | The Reformatory | |
|---|---|---|
| Goodreads | — | 4.4 (95767) |
| Hardcover | 4.1 (25) | 4.5 (163) |
| Apple Books | 4.5 (1785) | 4.5 (397) |
Reception
| Strangers in Time | The Reformatory | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 1785 | 95767 |
| Editions | 5 | 4 |
| Film adaptations | — | 1 |
| Want to read | — | 260765 |
| Pages | 448 | 576 |