A review by escape_through_pages
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

dark reflective sad fast-paced

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

2.5

📖 REVIEW 📖

‘You can change the law but you can’t change people and how they treat each other.’

Back in March I read Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad and thought it an excellent and affecting interpretation of a piece and time in American history so I was keen to read The Nickel Boys, which is also inspired by real life events. 

This book tells the story of two boys sent to an abusive reform school in the 1960s. Elwood is our central character, a boy who has managed to surpass the expectations of his origins and has earned a chance to further his education. An innocent mistake is harshly judged due to racial prejudice and he finds himself immediately set on a different path. In The Nickel Academy he meets Turner, who despite having different ideologies, becomes his steadfast friend. 

All manner of abuse and neglect is rife at Nickel, with the black boys being segregated from, pitted against and treated even more harshly than the white. Elwood and Turner make a decision one day that impacts the rest of both of their lives. 

Back when discussing The Underground Railroad with the readalong group, there was criticism that the writing was too sparse and lacked emotion. This in turn prevented some readers from connecting with the characters and as such not being as affected by the book. I did not feel that at the time, instead judging that the description of what the main character experienced was enough, emotions adequately implied. However, with The Nickel Boys I felt differently. I lacked that connection and investment in the characters. It felt really quite rushed and all the sub-stories had predictable outcomes, such as when the black and white student boxing champions are pitted against each other and one of them is told to throw the match and then doesn’t… can you guess what happens next? Well, of course you can. 

I just felt like this brushed over the surface of a really great story. It reminded me of the film Sleepers, which is again institutionalised boys subject to abuse but that film has stayed with me for many years, this book will not.