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A review by amyvl93
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
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? Yes
5.0
For some reason, I always find articulating my thoughts on books that I think are great harder than others. <i>The Nickel Boys</i> is a short book which just packs a real punch.
The novel follows Elwood, a young black boy inspired by Martin Luther King in the 1960s who is on track to attend college, however, a wrong turn places him at the Nickel Academy, a 'reform school' which is really a place of horrors. At Nickel, Elwood meets Turner, who believes Elwood is overly idealistic, and that the only way to succeed is to be as cynical and violent as those in charge.
Whitehead writes in a slightly journalistic style, which some have said made them feel distanced, but I feel the emotional turmoil of the characters was still vivid, and somehow the horrors depicted felt more horrific in their non-detailed telling. Watching Elwood grapple with his desire to believe in MLK's teaching, and that you can suffer and still love people who make you suffer as you work to higher causes, against a system desperate to keep him in his place was heartbreaking.
Really, really recommend and excited to read more of Whitehead as soon as possible.
The novel follows Elwood, a young black boy inspired by Martin Luther King in the 1960s who is on track to attend college, however, a wrong turn places him at the Nickel Academy, a 'reform school' which is really a place of horrors. At Nickel, Elwood meets Turner, who believes Elwood is overly idealistic, and that the only way to succeed is to be as cynical and violent as those in charge.
Whitehead writes in a slightly journalistic style, which some have said made them feel distanced, but I feel the emotional turmoil of the characters was still vivid, and somehow the horrors depicted felt more horrific in their non-detailed telling. Watching Elwood grapple with his desire to believe in MLK's teaching, and that you can suffer and still love people who make you suffer as you work to higher causes, against a system desperate to keep him in his place was heartbreaking.
Really, really recommend and excited to read more of Whitehead as soon as possible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Racism