The Nickel Boys: A Novel

The Writer Colson Whitehead was inspired by the archaeologist found at the Dozier School for Boys in Marianna, Florida in the summer of 2014 to write the novel, The Nickel Boys, which was published in 2019 (Whitehead 211). Whitehead also read survivors’ accounts of life at the Dozier School for Boys to research writing his novel (Whitehead 211). I read the book on my Kindle. I thought the book was well done. In the short novel, Whitehead captures a feeling of dread that institutions like the Dozier School for Boys inspire in its inmates, both during their time in the institutions and after their time in the institution. Whitehead writes about a character named Elwood who is inspired by the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. Whitehead writes that “I quote the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr a bunch; it was energizing to hear his voice in my head” (Whitehead 212). All of the speeches of King that Elwood listened to in the novel were real speeches by Martin Luther King, Jr. (Whitehead 212). The novel, The Nickel Boys is set in the early 1960s. Part of the themes in The Nickel Boys is when the thinking of King met old, racist institutions such as the Dozier School for Boys in the early 1960s. Colson Whitehead’s The Nickel Boys is a novel about the long-term effects of institutions such as the Dozier School for Boys on its former inmates.

Beautifully written, harrowing story of racial persecution set in a boys reformatory school in Florida, circa 1950’s. A heartbreaking, highly recommended read.

Smooth read. Exposes Dozier Reform School from inmates perspective in the backdrop of MLK and Jim Crow.

This is a very disturbing but true story.

Excellent book, well written regarding a historical topic concerning the Jim Crow south. Redeeming ending that conveys the message and importance of maintaining dignity despite persecution and abuse.