Staff Pick: The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
"One of the best books I’ve read this year. Harrowing and heart wrenching, The Nickel Boys will stay with you long after you put it down."
The Nickel Boys
Based on the real story of a reform school in Florida that operated for 111 years and warped the lives of thousands of children.
This book is for readers interested in: beautifully written historical fiction, Civil Rights and American history.
View eBookIn his follow-up to the Pulitzer Prize winning The Underground Railroad, Whitehead meticulously dramatizes another dark thread of American history with the story of two boys in a “reform school” in Jim Crow-era Florida. Based on the true story of a real school in Florida that operated for more than a century, this book takes you to the parts of American history that most are unaware of (or would prefer to forget).
Whitehead is one of the most profound writers today. The book structure and narrative will keep you saying “just one more page”. Not only is the story compelling, deep, and extremely well executed; it is also important for us to remember that while these horrific events happened in the past, they are still very much part of our present.
It's a vital read that should be on every “to-be-read” pile. This one will stay with you long after you put it down, and it will be nearly impossible to shake it from your system.