Reviews tagging 'Pedophilia'

The Nickel Boys, by Colson Whitehead

34 reviews

ktrotta's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racism, Violence, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Child abuse, and Confinement

silverrose187's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Child abuse, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Classism, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Injury/injury detail, Rape, and Slavery

allagainforart's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

This book explores the specific cruelties of a boys’ reformatory school (based on a real reformatory school) in the context of the civil rights movement and the systemic oppression of black people in the U.S. It’s informative and sad. I found it difficult  to follow at times with all of the different student and teacher / staff characters. I appreciated the contrast between idealistic and intellectual Elwood and pragmatic Turner, and I wish the book had spent more time with their friendship. 

Spoiler

Favorite parts: The MLK Jr. quotes and the way that Elwood attempts to apply / interpret them, the relationships between Elwood and his grandmother and Elwood and Turner, the way the author includes seemingly “friendly” white people who are anything but that as soon as the boys step out of line (Harper is the one who ultimately shoots Elwood) (obviously didn’t “like” this part but found the “betrayal” to be realistic since Harper was very much part of the status quo of the school)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Rape, Child abuse, Torture, Violence, Injury/injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Death, Child death, Homophobia, Medical content, Outing, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Gun violence, Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, and Vomit

ekmoore11's review against another edition

dark informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Torture, Violence, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Injury/injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, and Confinement

Minor: Rape and Sexual assault

k04j1's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Confinement, Child abuse, Abandonment, Violence, Racial slurs, Hate crime, Racism, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Rape and Pedophilia

mrsdarcylynn's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Such an important piece of literature. This was a quick but gut wrenching read. I don’t know that I want to write too much more- this book is powerful and I definitely want to re-read this book at some point in the future. Brilliantly told. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Racial slurs, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Torture, Racism, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Rape, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

atamano's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Pedophilia and Sexual violence

surefinewhatever_'s review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I’m still processing my thoughts & feelings regarding this book. Colson Whitehead is a master at his craft and writes such horrible scenes so beautifully. There was a moment near the end where my jaw dropped and tears filled my eyes. Not to mention that I think this novel had the best first line I’ve ever read, stating “Even in death the boys were trouble.”  Be sure to check out the long list of content warnings before reading.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Torture, and Violence

lkbooks's review

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/injury detail, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, and Violence

ladysanctuary's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Violence, Torture, Suicide attempt, and Sexual assault