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cattpurrson's review
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, Adult/minor relationship, and Racial slurs
ha1eemah's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Wow. This story and its characters are so full, you feel so intensely for them and share their rage and sorrow over injustice and inhuman convictions and their simultaneous hope that goodness and truth will perhaps save the day. The reality that choice is a privilege is a punch to the gut, that ignorance is not blissful but is simply shallow, and that similar to the names and stories of characters in this book being forgotten and disavowed by each other, the theft of childhood and of choice is a non-fictional account. Stunned and touched.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Death, Violence, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Alcoholism and Domestic abuse
islaofkiki's review against another edition
challenging
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
muirk128's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this but I did struggle a little with the narrative structure in the second half of the book.
kimisteinhorst's review against another edition
3.0
This writer must not be for me. I had a hard time following at times. So glad I read it though.