Reviews with content warning for Torture - The Nickel Boys

Reviews tagging 'Torture'

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

102 reviews

annreadsabook'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? No

4.75

I pretty much finished THE NICKEL BOYS in one sitting and can certainly see why this book won the Pulitzer Prize; this is a deeply provocative and powerful novel that commands the reader: “Don’t look away.”

Based on the real-life Dozier School, a self-proclaimed “reform school” that in reality traumatized, brutalized, and even killed scores of young boys for its century-long existence, THE NICKEL BOYS follows a young Black boy named Elwood who is carted off to the infamous Nickel Academy for a crime he never committed. During his time at the “Academy,” Elwood is confronted head-on with the harsh realities of race and a thinly-veiled carceral system.

Although this book is quite short at under 250 pages, Whitehead is able to craft a gut-wrenching narrative that promises to stay with readers long after they’ve closed the book. THE NICKEL BOYS is a novel that considers the importance of remembrance; the depth of unspeakable, state-inflicted traumas; and how we can ever think to move forward. Since I knew this would be a very heavy book to get through, I had been putting off reading it for quite some time, but I’m glad I finally sat down and contended with this amazing, harrowing novel.

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allagainforart's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

This book explores the specific cruelties of a boys’ reformatory school (based on a real reformatory school) in the context of the civil rights movement and the systemic oppression of black people in the U.S. It’s informative and sad. I found it difficult to follow at times with all of the different student and teacher / staff characters. I appreciated the contrast between idealistic and intellectual Elwood and pragmatic Turner, and I wish the book had spent more time with their friendship.

Favorite parts: The MLK Jr. quotes and the way that Elwood attempts to apply / interpret them, the relationships between Elwood and his grandmother and Elwood and Turner, the way the author includes seemingly “friendly” white people who are anything but that as soon as the boys step out of line (Harper is the one who ultimately shoots Elwood) (obviously didn’t “like” this part but found the “betrayal” to be realistic since Harper was very much part of the status quo of the school)

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asourceoffiction's review against another edition

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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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nohousekey's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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ekmoore11's review against another edition

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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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ofpagesandparagraphs's review against another edition

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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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mrsdarcylynn's review against another edition

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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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