Reviews tagging 'Pedophilia'

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

62 reviews

allagainforart's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Rape, Child abuse, Torture, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Death, Child death, Homophobia, Medical content, Outing, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Gun violence, Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, and Vomit

ekmoore11's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Torture, Violence, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, and Confinement

Minor: Rape and Sexual assault

k04j1's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Confinement, Child abuse, Abandonment, Violence, Racial slurs, Hate crime, Racism, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Rape and Pedophilia

mrsdarcylynn's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Racial slurs, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Torture, Racism, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Rape, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

atamano's review against another edition

dark 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Pedophilia and Sexual violence

surefinewhatever_'s review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I’m still processing my thoughts & feelings regarding this book. Colson Whitehead is a master at his craft and writes such horrible scenes so beautifully. There was a moment near the end where my jaw dropped and tears filled my eyes. Not to mention that I think this novel had the best first line I’ve ever read, stating “Even in death the boys were trouble.”  Be sure to check out the long list of content warnings before reading.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Torture, and Violence

lkbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, and Violence

ladysanctuary's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Violence, Torture, Suicide attempt, and Sexual assault

smblanc1793's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• 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

4.25

Absolutely heartwrenching, but it’s difficult to say how much of that comes purely from the book’s subject matter and how much of it can be attributed to Whitehead himself. 

Not the best written book I’ve ever read, but certainly far from the worst. The characters are well developed for the relatively short length of the book, the plot is solid and harrowing, and the major themes threaded throughout feel, unfortunately, as relevant as ever. What pushed this book above 4 stars for me, though, was the end—a reveal I certainly didn’t see coming and a twist that, in my mind, cemented Whitehead as not just telling a good story, but as a good storyteller.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Addiction, Murder, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Torture, and Violence

If I were to add all the necessary content warnings we’d be here all day. It’s about a black juvie circa-1960s. You can guess what kind of horrors go down.

nytephoenyx's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-paced

• 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? No

5.0

The Nickel School (also known as The Florida School for Boys) was a reform school that opened in 1900 and wasn’t entirely disbanded until 2011.  For 111 years, this “school” allowed the perpetuation of rape, abuse, and murder.  It wasn’t until 2012 that an anthropological study was done at the site and its darkest secrets confirmed.  Knowing that The Nickel Boys draws on a true story makes this novel even more haunting.

Whitehead tells the story of Nickel school and the boys who went there through the eyes of Elwood, a fictional character and a Black “student”.  Through The Nickel Boys, readers see Elwood’s travails as well as those of his peers and the boys that came before.  From the beginning the reader knows it will be a harrowing tale when human remains are found in an archaeological dig.

The Nickel Boys manages to be a story about both an individual’s trials to overcome the oppression of a racist institution but also the greater problems of unfair incarceration, the corruption of private institutions, and the unfortunate roles race and class play into both of those.  This book will make you angry with the world and sad for the character and angry again.  It is another book about Black pain and trauma, but it’s a different shade of that ongoing story and an important perspective to have.

Be prepared to read The Nickel Boys slowly.  There are time jumps that may throw the reader off, but each segment and each story is an important slice of the story.  More than the writing style or the pacing – both of which are impeccable – The Nickel Boys has heavy themes and the story is devastating.  It’s a beautiful, sad, and necessary story to read and one I recommend with all my heart.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Violence, Pedophilia, Rape, and Child abuse