WOW! Wow! Wow!!
The Story
…the immense exertion white people put into grinding them down….
Elwood Curtis is doing well in life and in school in early 1960’s Tallahassee, Florida, when he hitchhikes to a college class he’s been allowed to enroll in in high school and accidentally changes his destiny. He lands at the Nickel Academy–a Florida reform school for boys that is a special circle of hell.
My Thoughts
Colson Whitehead is one of THE authors of our time whose works are destined to be classics–especially The Underground Railroad, but Nickel Boys, too, will easily make that cut. My reading of this book was influenced by a [white] relative’s time incarcerated in the modern version of a reform school–a rehabilitative community prison for juvenile offenders. While it was nothing like Nickel in terms of the gruesome punishments or the predatory staff, there were still common elements. Like the impossibility of getting a real education. That still lingers in every prison setting.
I have lived in a ruthless African dictatorship and studied the Soviet Union extensively, so none of the torture or violence was a shock to me. I remember Dr. King (he was assassinated on my mother’s birthday) and know that, while it might be arguable that things are not as bad as his day, things are again sliding in the wrong direction in terms of racial discrimination. This book is a good reminder of how bad it was and how bad it must never be again.
The WOW, Wow, Wow, at the start of this post refers to what, “made” the book. To say more would be to totally spoil the story. This “story element” does prove my point about the author being one for the ages though.
The Nickle Boys: A Novel by Colson Whitehead
I listened to the audio version.
My Verdict
4.5
For another fictional look at institutionalized youth in despicable conditions see:
For nonfiction on our prisons and criminal justice system see:
American Prison by Shane Bauer
An American Summer: Love and Death in Chicago by Alex Kotlowitz
Hopewell's Public Library of Life 
You’ve convinced me. I have the Underground book, but I’ll even try to get this from the library, or add it to my birthday book list. Your review was compelling. I try to read this type of book, it’s needed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Underground Railroad IS better, but this is still a SUPERB book.
LikeLike
Okay. I will start with Underground then, and I have it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know if I’ll be able to read this one, but I know that Colson Whitehead is an extremely talented writer. I have The Underground Railroad, haven’t finished it yet (other things came up at the time of my reading, and so on) but what I did read was exquisite storytelling. This was a great review and I like how you’ve added similar reads at the end!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I listened to both books on audio. Nickel Boys is short and there is not a lot of graphic violence–more how the boys deal with it. However, everyone’s sensitivity is different so, of course, trust your own instincts.
LikeLike
I want to read this – I’m going to have to fit it in!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s really short, if that helps. And it goes fast.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good to know – I have a pile right now – I’ll have to whittle it down first 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person