Reviews

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

szirbel's review against another edition

5.0

Wow! This was an amazingly difficult read. I had to stop a few times because of the brutality of what was happening. The fact that Whitehead based all of this on the real accounts of what happened to the boys at a reform school (Dozier school) in Florida makes my heart ache. I can't imagine having to witness and live through the horrors those boys faced. The only silver lining of the whole thing is that their story is finally being told. Amazing writing!

currently_introverting's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual violence, and Racism

sentienthairball's review against another edition

medium-paced

2.75

mayasnchez's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.75

tomnistler's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.0

sara_toone's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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? No

3.0

thechanelmuse's review

4.0

I feel conflicted. This is an unsettling story, but Whitehead's writing style isn't my taste. It feels flat and clunky at times. Nonetheless, I pushed through and there were parts of The Nickel Boys that I connected with and scenes that I can't shake out of my head. Those are the places where the writing really flowed for me. Not sure if I would give this book a 3.5 or 4. But somewhere in between.

linsfandoms's review against another edition

dark informative sad fast-paced

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

4.0

read this for school and wasn't expecting much but this was heartbreaking :( such an important book

sararose_cozy's review against another edition

4.0

I will never not be horrified and dumbstruck by the horrors that Black people have faced at the hands of white people. I truly can and never will understand treating another human being with such animosity and violence. And yet, this is our history from just the last century.

hikikomorka's review against another edition

2.0

Ambitna powieść? Szczyt formy pisarza?
Co najwyżej dobra promocja i modny temat, bo książka jest nieciekawa, a bohaterowie nijacy. Za miesiąc zapomnę, że przeczytałam.