The Nickel Boys

by Colson Whitehead

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead drew me in with its quiet intensity and masterful pacing, slowly unfolding a story that moves seamlessly through time and memory. I appreciated how the narrative built gradually, revealing its emotional weight in layers. Like Before We Were Yours, it explores the systemic abuse of vulnerable children under the guise of institutional care, but Whitehead’s approach is more restrained and haunting. Knowing it’s disturbingly based on a true story made it all the more tragic. What happened at the Dozier School for Boys is almost too awful to believe, and yet, it happened. The final chapters left me stunned and deeply moved.