Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, Colson Whitehead, tells a gripping and resonant story in The Nickel Boys. Inspired by the real-life Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys and set in 1960s Florida, the novel centers on Elwood Curtis, a young Black teenager inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s calls for justice and equality. Driven by the belief in the transformative power of education and hard work, Elwood envisions a future built on integrity and commitment.
These ideals are put to the test when an innocent mistake leads to Elwood’s sentencing to the Nickel Academy. Labeled as a reform school, Nickel is in reality a haven for cruelty and systemic abuse, with Black boys bearing the brunt of its brutality. Elwood’s unwavering belief in justice collides with this grim reality, yet he holds onto his principles even as he faces unimaginable hardships. One bright light in his ordeal is his friendship with Turner, a savvy and street-smart boy who survives by understanding and navigating the system’s unspoken rules. Their bond highlights the tension between hope and pragmatism as they struggle to endure in an unjust world.
Whitehead’s somewhat restrained prose amplifies the story’s emotional weight. The violence and abuse are described with enough detail to convey their horror without overwhelming the narrative, focusing instead on the psychological impact and the systemic injustice. Through Elwood and Turner’s contrasting perspectives of the world, the novel explores different responses to oppression—fighting for change or adapting to survive.
The Nickel Boys is more than a novel about injustice; it’s an exploration of resilience and the enduring human spirit. It’s a call to reflect on the systems that perpetuate inequality and the people trapped within them. Elwood’s unwavering belief in a better world, despite constant trials, reminds us of the strength required to maintain hope. The novel is a modern classic, urging readers to understand the past to shape a more just future.
I cannot recommend The Nickel Boys highly enough. If there’s one book you read this year, let it be this one. And when you do, don’t keep it to yourself—share it, talk about it, and let it spark the kind of conversations that lead to change.
You may also want to watch the 2024 film adaptation. Released by Amazon MGM Studios, and directed by RaMell Ross The Nickel Boys, stars Ethan Herisse as Elwood and Brandon Wilson as Turner. Watch and support the movie…but if you can try to read the novel first.
Listen to sample from the The Nickel Boys here.
