Reviews

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

ekh27's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

5.0

meadowlarked's review against another edition

4.0

This is a very good historical fiction novel, set in the 1960s, about a black teenager who is unfairly thrown into a racist reform school and the horrors he faces while living there. The prose is well written, but in a quiet way — it’s simple without coming off as juvenile, which isn’t an easy balance to strike. Elwood and Turner are interesting foils of each other, though I almost wish I could have seen them butt heads a bit more over their different perspectives on life, survival, and the civil rights movement. Overall, this was a good read and I definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to read more about this period of US history. 

marticlar's review against another edition

5.0

Touching in so many ways. Beautifully written!

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

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

mpruett's review against another edition

4.0

Good read that provides insight into what things were like in that time period. Perhaps the most shocking, but true, pieces of the story are how matter-a-factly severe abuse is discussed. If you know your history nothing in the book is really shocking or surprising, regardless it was still a good, if uncomfortable, read.

Time to Read: 2:51

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