Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Nickel Boys, by Colson Whitehead

42 reviews

scarlettiscrying's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Confinement, Torture, Racism, Child abuse, Blood, Injury/injury detail, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Confinement

Minor: Sexual assault and Racial slurs

hannahga's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Very powerful book. Started a little bit slow but kept getting better as it went on. The epilogue included something I was not expecting. Really great writing that told the story in a way that was captivating, thought provoking, and genuine. I don't tend to read stories about this time period and I feel like it's an era that is pushed into the past or not spoken/taught about transparently, so it was a great avenue to learn more about the Jim Crow era. Really glad I read (listened to) this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Death, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Cursing, and Bullying

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

asourceoffiction's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-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? Yes

4.5

It's so hard to articulate my feelings about a book like this, not just because it's harrowing (and our experiences are so far removed from those in the book), but because it is a story borne out of history and based in truth. That a reform school like Nickel existed, and so many lives were taken in secret, is almost beyond comprehension. But as with so many books of this nature, they're such important stories to keep telling.

The writing is incredible, and seeing how Elwood carries Nickel with him through the rest of his life is beautifully and devastatingly described. What he is able to make of his life always seems to come second to the trauma he suffered so many years before.

This is a brilliant story of survival, friendship and injustice that I couldn't stop reading. It's so powerful and haunting, it'll stay with me for a long time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Child abuse, Torture, Racism, Violence, and Confinement

Moderate: Child death, Rape, and Murder

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

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

she_reads_though's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

This book is captivating and horrific, but also a quick read. A tale that hooked me from page one and my attention really didn’t falter. The ending surprised me, shook me deep with emotion, and made me want to look up the true events this story is loosely based on. 

I can’t wait to read more Colson Whitehead. No wonder he’s been making every list and winning every prize. The writing is beautiful, the story flows, and the topics, albeit heavy, are important and do not feel overdone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Injury/injury detail, Murder, Racism, and Racial slurs

jamiekesselman's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Colonisation, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Confinement, Child abuse, Child death, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Hate crime, Cursing, Blood, Vomit, Violence, Slavery, Murder, Injury/injury detail, and Death

alis15's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

At times the time jumps were a bit hard to follow, but other than that it was beautifully written and completely heart-wrenching. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Racial slurs, Torture, Racism, Physical abuse, Murder, and Violence

erynelle's review against another edition

dark informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Racism

Moderate: Child death, Violence, Confinement, Murder, and Hate crime