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The fictional story of The Nickel Boys has some roots in reality and the author was inspired and borrowed some facts from the “Dozier School for Boys in Marianna, Florida”, as he notes in the acknowledgement at the end.
It is heartbreaking and deeply disturbing what was happening to children in these types of institutes; and how the institution that was established to protect and educate, failed so miserably in doing so.
Elwood is such a beautiful and caring boy and I was so rooting for him. I e ...more
It is heartbreaking and deeply disturbing what was happening to children in these types of institutes; and how the institution that was established to protect and educate, failed so miserably in doing so.
Elwood is such a beautiful and caring boy and I was so rooting for him. I e ...more
Tough but necessary read
Finished this last night for the Barnes & Noble bookclub. This book is one that will stay with me awhile, both for Colson Whitehead's writing and for the subject matter. It's tough to read at points, but I feel it's a book that should be required reading. Looking forward to discussing it with others. ...more
Finished this last night for the Barnes & Noble bookclub. This book is one that will stay with me awhile, both for Colson Whitehead's writing and for the subject matter. It's tough to read at points, but I feel it's a book that should be required reading. Looking forward to discussing it with others. ...more
Jul 18, 2019
Sharon
marked it as to-read
2.5🌟
Whitehead testifies to a real reform school in Florida and its cover-up of racialized violence, including the deaths and burials of many Black boys at the school. I found the historical element of the book fascinating, but the way the story is told just didn't work for me. None of the characters ever came alive for me (I could hardly tell them apart and was minimally invested in them), and the fragmentary and nonlinear nature of the narrative kept me at a distance the whole time. There was n ...more
Whitehead testifies to a real reform school in Florida and its cover-up of racialized violence, including the deaths and burials of many Black boys at the school. I found the historical element of the book fascinating, but the way the story is told just didn't work for me. None of the characters ever came alive for me (I could hardly tell them apart and was minimally invested in them), and the fragmentary and nonlinear nature of the narrative kept me at a distance the whole time. There was n ...more
Dec 29, 2019
Mary Anne
marked it as to-read
Oct 16, 2021
Sarah
marked it as to-read
May 16, 2023
Rachel
marked it as to-read
