The Nickel Boys

by Colson Whitehead

Published Jan. 1, 2019 by Doubleday.

ISBN:: 978-0-385-53707-0
OCLC Number:: 1090850760

(15 reviews)

Author of The Underground Railroad, Colson Whitehead brilliantly dramatizes another strand of American history through the story of two boys sentenced to a hellish reform school in 1960s Florida.

Elwood Curtis has taken the words of Dr Martin Luther King to heart: he is as good as anyone. Abandoned by his parents, brought up by his loving, strict and clear-sighted grandmother, Elwood is about to enroll in the local black college. But given the time and the place, one innocent mistake is enough to destroy his future, and so Elwood arrives at The Nickel Academy, which claims to provide 'physical, intellectual and moral training' which will equip its inmates to become 'honorable and honest men'.

Author of The Underground Railroad, Colson Whitehead brilliantly dramatizes another strand of American history through the story of two boys sentenced to a hellish reform school in 1960s Florida.

In reality, the Nickel Academy is a chamber of horrors, where physical, emotional and sexual abuse is rife, where corrupt officials and tradesmen do a brisk trade in supplies intended for the school, and where any boy who resists is likely to disappear 'out back'. Stunned to find himself in this vicious environment, Elwood tries to hold on to Dr King's ringing assertion, 'Throw us in jail, and we will still love you.' But Elwood's fellow inmate and new friend Turner thinks Elwood is naive and worse; the world is crooked, and the only way to survive is to emulate the cruelty and cynicism of their oppressors.

The tension between Elwood's idealism and Turner's skepticism leads to a decision which will have decades-long repercussions.

Based on the history of a real reform school in Florida that operated for one hundred and eleven years and warped and destroyed the lives of thousands of children, The Nickel Boys is a devastating, driven narrative by a great American novelist whose work is essential to understanding the current reality of the United States.

1 edition

Stephanie Jane reviewed The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

Grim and powerful

5 stars

Having enjoyed reading and learning from Whitehead's previous novel, the wildly successful The Underground Railroad, I was delighted to be approved for a review copy of this new work, The Nickel Boys. The stories share similarities in that they are both historical fiction that is firmly rooted in historical fact. The Nickel Boys takes place in 1960s 'Jim Crow' America which I have some understanding of thanks to reading biographies of Claudette Colvin and Carolyn Maull Mckinstry. I was prepared for The Nickel Boys to contain violent scenes, however I hadn't steeled myself enough for the sheer sadism that Whitehead depicts. I now have mental images which will take a long time to fade and feel that this story could sit as well in the horror genre as the historical fiction. I know child abusers all over the world have hidden themselves in 'schools' such as the Nickel Academy. The …

I think The Nickel Boys is such a powerful read because Whitehead's writing style is always just restrained enough. His adult characters are chillingly real and I would be amazed to find anyone who can't empathise with Elwood's bewilderment at the way his promising future is so callously ripped from him. Even before he reaches the Nickel Academy though, I was shocked by acts such as the textbook vandalism. I have no doubt that this was - and possibly still is - widespread behaviour, but such mindless bigotry leaves me pretty much speechless.

I am sure that Colson Whitehead has penned another deserved hit with The Nickel Boys and I hope that the novel will open many discussions around the issues it raises. This particular story may be set over half a century ago, but sadly we cannot yet say that this never happens any more.

georgewhatup reviewed The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

Review of 'The Nickel Boys' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

A great example of the right ending clicking things perfectly into place and highlighting the themes in ways that get better the more I think about them. The ending made the book more tragic and less cynical than I expected it to be.

As a general story there are issues I could point at with the light plot, simplistic characters, and detached tone. But as a topical novel shining a light on horrific parts of the past that stays with you after you put it down, it's a great read.

callan reviewed The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

this book is phenomenal

5 stars

Go read it, plz. This is some of Whitehead's best writing to date, and the story is hypnotic -- horrific and tragic, but shot through with enough fragile bits of hope to keep you wishing for the best. The twist at the end was impressive and sad. Fuck the carceral system and its offshoots.

benwerd reviewed The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

Review of 'The Nickel Boys' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Fiction rooted in appalling historical tragedy. In some ways the plot proceeds in a straightforward way, but in doing so, it reveals truths about America that land harder for the author’s unsensational approach. These places existed. These things happened. These boys, though perhaps not with these exact names and these exact lives, really existed. And there are still real people who would prefer these stories remain untold.