Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

168 reviews

tilly_and_the_books's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Pedophilia, and Violence

Minor: Rape, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, and Vomit

bamlady's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Violence, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Torture, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Racism, and Racial slurs

wordyanchorite's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Pedophilia, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Child death, Torture, and Murder

summerbummer's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

I’m a different person than I was when I first read started this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Confinement, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault

banned_book's review against another edition

dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Slavery, Rape, Racial slurs, Grief, Emotional abuse, Child death, Violence, Confinement, Classism, Blood, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Murder, Hate crime, Death, Racism, Physical abuse, Police brutality, and Forced institutionalization

dreamofbookspines's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Horrifying events conveyed with achingly beautiful prose. This is the first book by this author I've read and I doubt it'll be the last. I came into this with prior knowledge of reformatory academies like Nickel so it wasn't a total shock, but if you're coming in blind, prepare yourself. Maybe use a more lighthearted book as a chaser.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Child abuse, Child death, and Violence

Moderate: Sexual violence

joshloftin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, Child death, Rape, Racial slurs, and Sexual assault

ritaconstantino's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Child death

tigerkind's review against another edition

dark informative sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Child abuse, Blood, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Confinement, Child death, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, Xenophobia, Sexual violence, Addiction, Alcoholism, Murder, Bullying, Alcohol, Pedophilia, Rape, Medical content, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Slavery, Physical abuse, Police brutality, and Death

Minor: Death of parent, War, and Excrement

bookishmillennial's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

This was a devastating read that evoked a lot of anger & heartbreak for me. Something our buddy read discussions brought up was that even though this was set in Jim Crow-era Florida, it can still sadly probably represent the reality for many of today. This is based on a real "reform school" that operated for 111 years! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Child abuse, and Racial slurs

Minor: Sexual harassment