Reviews

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

ellathelibrarian's review against another edition

5.0

Deeply affecting. I cannot get the story out of my mind, particularly in light of all that is happening in recent days.

margaleao's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

dredadonx's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

5.0

This is my first work by Colson Whitehead, and certainly, will not be the last! Whitehead is someone I discovered as I was perusing through the library one day and I came across this book. I've also seen that he has written so many other books and I plan to check them out!

Anywho, this book is another literary masterpiece that I've read during this month of March. We follow Elwood Curtis from 3 different parts of his life:

•  1st part: when he is a boy growing up in Tallahasee and is unfairly sentenced to a juvenile reformatory
• 2nd part: his experience within the juvenile system
• 3rd part: as an adult post juvie

This book is apparently based on a true story of a reform school that operated for a little over a century, and had a negative impact on thousands of children. Despite this being a fictional telling, the experiences of Elwood Curtis is just as real as the children we know of today. This work also details the impact of false imprisonment upon giving black men, and it makes me think back to the Central Park 5 case in New York.

There are so many black people, both in the past and present, who have been wrongfully convincted and had their lives drastically change for the worse by our injustice and punitive system. 

canopy_'s review against another edition

5.0

It's interesting that I finished this book today. It's a sad book because although this particular story was not true, these characters are not real... This was and is the reality to so many.

ljhind's review against another edition

dark informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

jenmangler's review against another edition

3.0

Knowing Whitehead was inspired by real events made reading this even more difficult. I really loved Elwood as a character, and reading what Nickel did to him was heartbreaking.

christopherthyberg's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

tgmiles's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional fast-paced

4.25

magpiewithpebbles's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

tamracielle's review against another edition

5.0

I really enjoyed The Underground Railroad, but this book was even better. That twist though. Broke my heart. Even more devastating knowing this is based on a real school in Florida. This is a must read.