Reviews tagging 'Hate crime'

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

47 reviews

jayisreading's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

4.0

Based on the real story of the Dozier School for Boys in Florida during the Jim Crow era, The Nickel Boys was heartbreaking to read, considering the horrors that Black boys faced. Something I really appreciate about Whitehead’s writings is how he shows the lasting reverberations of anti-Blackness in the United States by focusing closely on a specific aspect of the country’s history. Despite the horrors that exist in these pages (and in United States history), I was surprised by the amount of love and resilience that came through. It really made the ending all the more gut-wrenching, especially as you grow a particular fondness for Elwood.

Not that there’s ever a really good headspace to be in when reading such a devastating novel, but I think I could have appreciated this novel more if I had less on my plate while reading it. I felt that I read this in a rush and didn’t get the chance to fully appreciate Whitehead’s efforts. Considering this, I really would like to revisit this novel when I can really put more care into what’s happening.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Death, Violence, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Alcoholism and Domestic abuse

jennswan's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Violence, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Racism, Racial slurs, Forced institutionalization, Rape, Grief, Murder, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse

princess_marie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Child abuse, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Confinement, Death, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Forced institutionalization, Child death, Gun violence, and Torture

Minor: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, and Murder

sophiabee3's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

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

blissfullyhannah's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

fuck this book. 👍

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Cursing, Sexual violence, Torture, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Hate crime, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Racial slurs, Gore, and Sexual assault

alyssav20's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

• 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Child abuse, Classism, Physical abuse, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Racism

gotnoculture's review against another edition

emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

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

kooky_kayla's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Wow, this book was moving and provided the horrors of racism 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Hate crime, Racism, Child abuse, Violence, Torture, and Racial slurs

abwilcox's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, Child death, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Hate crime and Pedophilia

leslie_overbookedsocialworker's review against another edition

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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Bullying, Racism, Confinement, Body horror, Death, Child death, and Murder

Minor: Sexual assault