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penhaligon's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
First, I found the writing style very interesting in The Nickel Boys. Much like the environment and happenings in the book, the writing style was not flowery or flowing. At times it was curt, it was precise, it would cut a sentence into two or three short ones. Very contrary to what I normally read and enjoy, it really made me stop, literally, multiple times to make me focus on the “why” of the styling chosen, which I think made things more impactful for me; at times I even reread to see if there was a hidden meaning of intent. It wasn’t so much that it was difficult or confusing, but more so gave me pause.
The tale itself is sad: full stop. Sure there are moments of positivity, of hope and optimism. But ultimately, it is a tragic, yet necessary, fictional telling of the worst of humanity. And being fiction, it is easy to understand and digest. I will say the ending threw me - I guessed it a bit before the Epilogue, but not early enough that it spoiled anything. And honestly it makes me want to reread it to see if I can pick out the context clues which were sprinkled along the way.
Can definitely understand why this won a Pulitzer. Definitely recommend. I finished it in ~6 hours over two days.
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Racism, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Homophobia, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Rape, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, and Bullying
sophiabee3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Murder, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Classism, Grief, Gore, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Cursing, Death, Forced institutionalization, Racism, Hate crime, and Police brutality
Minor: Vomit
gotnoculture's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Confinement, Child abuse, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Death, Hate crime, Violence, Murder, Torture, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Blood, Pedophilia, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Medical content, Sexual assault, Grief, and Addiction
Minor: Homophobia, Kidnapping, and Abandonment
banned_book's review against another edition
- 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
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
tigerkind's review against another edition
- 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
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
lizreaderhold's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Abandonment, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Murder, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Slavery, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Bullying, Classism, Colonisation, Child death, Forced institutionalization, Torture, and Xenophobia
jennie_white2008's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Hate crime, Forced institutionalization, Death, Confinement, Bullying, Blood, Racial slurs, Murder, Violence, and Racism
citybookspgh's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.5
Graphic: Police brutality, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Murder, Forced institutionalization, Racism, and Torture
A difficult but important read.stella_petit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Violence, Racial slurs, Racism, and Child abuse
Moderate: Blood, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Minor: Gun violence
insomniacsun's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Drug abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Child death, Racism, Bullying, Classism, Racial slurs, Blood, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Torture, Emotional abuse, Murder, Police brutality, and Violence