Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

248 reviews

asourceoffiction's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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? Yes

4.5

It's so hard to articulate my feelings about a book like this, not just because it's harrowing (and our experiences are so far removed from those in the book), but because it is a story borne out of history and based in truth. That a reform school like Nickel existed, and so many lives were taken in secret, is almost beyond comprehension. But as with so many books of this nature, they're such important stories to keep telling.

The writing is incredible, and seeing how Elwood carries Nickel with him through the rest of his life is beautifully and devastatingly described. What he is able to make of his life always seems to come second to the trauma he suffered so many years before.

This is a brilliant story of survival, friendship and injustice that I couldn't stop reading. It's so powerful and haunting, it'll stay with me for a long time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Child death, Rape, and Murder

nohousekey's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Torture

Minor: Police brutality

ekmoore11's review against another edition

dark informative 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Rape and Sexual assault

megdye487's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Racism

k04j1's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Abandonment

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Pedophilia and Rape

mblanke's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

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

Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug abuse, Homophobia, and Classism

ofpagesandparagraphs's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? N/A

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Torture

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Police brutality, and Classism

mrsdarcylynn's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

5.0

Such an important piece of literature. This was a quick but gut wrenching read. I don’t know that I want to write too much more- this book is powerful and I definitely want to re-read this book at some point in the future. Brilliantly told. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Murder

Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

anxious_bibliophile's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Forced institutionalization, and Police brutality

she_reads_though's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense 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

4.75

This book is captivating and horrific, but also a quick read. A tale that hooked me from page one and my attention really didn’t falter. The ending surprised me, shook me deep with emotion, and made me want to look up the true events this story is loosely based on. 

I can’t wait to read more Colson Whitehead. No wonder he’s been making every list and winning every prize. The writing is beautiful, the story flows, and the topics, albeit heavy, are important and do not feel overdone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail