The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead is narrated by Elwood, a young boy growing up in 1960’s Tallahassee and dreaming of a different future for himself. Invigorated and inspired by Dr. King’s words at the height of the Civil Rights movement, Elwood is excited by the prospect of taking advanced college courses and furthering his education. After a case of wrong-place wrong-time one evening, he finds himself at the Nickel Academy, a reform school for boys.
The Nickel Academy is its own house of horrors rampant with racism, frequent beatings and sexual abuse. Elwood makes a friend in Turner as they endure heinous circumstances and maintain the will to survive and have a better life...
Everyone should read this book. At just over 200 pages, it packs some serious punch. The writing is stunning. You couldn’t rush through even if you wanted to. Whitehead writes in a way that makes you stop, take your time and devour each page. The nonlinear timeline works phenomenally and keeps the reader guessing while foreshadowing nuggets of what’s to come here and there. Although a work of fiction, this book is based on the Dozier School for Boys in Marianna, Florida and many of the student’s experiences were based on true events. The story wraps up in a way so powerful, I won’t stop thinking about this one for a very long time. Trust me when I say, you have to get this book. Everyone needs to read this book.
