robint1981's review against another edition
5.0
Powerful book, masterfully written. Many thanks to Barnes and Noble for selecting it as the monthly read.
kategeorgepnw's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
afutt92's review against another edition
5.0
Truly outstanding- I stayed up past midnight to finish it.
msvenner's review against another edition
4.0
This was very interesting. Based on a true ‘reform school’ in Florida, this book is eerily reminiscent of residential schools in Canada. It is a story of the power and the vulnerable, the long reach of racism and the resilience of the human spirit.
peasarsalad's review against another edition
4.0
What was interesting to me was the intersection of racial struggle with class struggle [It's not much, though but it's better than nothing]. A good plot with a good twist as gut-wrenching as the horrors inside the Nickel Academy.
ellimist's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
Masterpiece
bethreadsandnaps's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed the character of Elwood. Between his role models of Martin Luther King, Jr., and his grandmother Harriet, he had a sense of justice and kindness, and I wanted to spend even more time with him. The atrocities at the reformatory were discussed, but the reader didn't get stuck in them.
There were small details, like the black children getting the worst of the worst clothes, that showed racism in all its horribleness.
This is an important book to read. The ending is very interesting as well. I know this won the Pulitzer, and I felt like it should have hit me in a 5 star way, but, for whatever reason, it fell a little short. I did come away wanting to know more about the day-to-day life in the reformatory and the interactions among the boys.
There were small details, like the black children getting the worst of the worst clothes, that showed racism in all its horribleness.
This is an important book to read. The ending is very interesting as well. I know this won the Pulitzer, and I felt like it should have hit me in a 5 star way, but, for whatever reason, it fell a little short. I did come away wanting to know more about the day-to-day life in the reformatory and the interactions among the boys.
lizziebennett's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
dllh's review against another edition
4.0
Whitehead is doing some of his stronger work in this book. I found myself wishing it were longer, that it gave me more to experience, though the experiences he writes about here are awful. I like most of his books, and I'd place this one comfortably in the top three or four. It's hard to say much about the book without spoilers of one sort of another, so I won't say much more. The prose flows, the material he's working with is fascinating and horrifying, and he tells a story that kept me engrossed right up until the end, when he pitched me pretty much out of my chair. It's well worth a read.