Reviews

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

kwest11's review against another edition

emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

jaclyncrupi's review against another edition

5.0

Giddy-up, motherfucker. Says it all really.

hayleyvem's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, and Death of parent

thetbrstack's review against another edition

5.0

Grim, depressing, and infuriating, but an extraordinary piece of writing

careycarpenter's review against another edition

5.0

This book was amazing in the writing and storytelling and characters. The story is heavy and terrible but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t read it. What I learned from this book is just how evil humans can be. It’s not something I understand but I do know it happens. The reform school for boys is based on a real school and the graveyard of children’s bones in the back. The ending was fabulously written, a true A+

seasonedreadings's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Child abuse and Physical abuse

Minor: Child death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

z1pp13's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective tense 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

lampost15's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

adinadwd's review against another edition

5.0

Fuck...that plot twist at the end made my heart drop.

danielledtetreau's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

I couldn’t connect with this story as much as I hoped to. But perhaps I didn’t give it the time it deserves. Difficult content and it was difficult to keep track of the various characters.