Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

52 reviews

feodora_isabella's review against another edition

dark informative sad medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Racism

Moderate: Torture, Child death, and Murder

Minor: Sexual violence and Child abuse

andreamichelle's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Violence

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

rsteve388's review against another edition

dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

Wow! What a story. Historical fiction about a reformatory schools for boys who undergo atrocities that break the human spirit. Sexual abuse, physical abuse, whippings. This story was laid out so well, that the ending is shocking but not surprising. What an excellent story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse and Sexual violence

Moderate: Body horror

masscrafter'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Torture, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Racism, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Murder, Gun violence, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Child abuse, Blood, and Adult/minor relationship

isabella_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, and Violence

amyvl93's review against another edition

reflective sad 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

5.0

For some reason, I always find articulating my thoughts on books that I think are great harder than others. <i>The Nickel Boys</i> is a short book which just packs a real punch. 

The novel follows Elwood, a young black boy inspired by Martin Luther King in the 1960s who is on track to attend college, however, a wrong turn places him at the Nickel Academy, a 'reform school' which is really a place of horrors. At Nickel, Elwood meets Turner, who believes Elwood is overly idealistic, and that the only way to succeed is to be as cynical and violent as those in charge.

Whitehead writes in a slightly journalistic style, which some have said made them feel distanced, but I feel the emotional turmoil of the characters was still vivid, and somehow the horrors depicted felt more horrific in their non-detailed telling. Watching Elwood grapple with his desire to believe in MLK's teaching, and that you can suffer and still love people who make you suffer as you work to higher causes, against a system desperate to keep him in his place was heartbreaking.

Really, really recommend and excited to read more of Whitehead as soon as possible.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs

Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Racism

jainnyreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Dementia, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence

jhartsoe's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Pedophilia, and Sexual violence

Minor: Gun violence and Rape

gm_vak's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

• 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: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and Vomit

patch's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense

• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Torture