The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

We read The Nickel Boys in high school, less than a year after it was released. Whitehead was already a well-known author after his widely-acclaimed The Underground Railroad but he followed it up nicely: The Nickel Boys won the Pulitzer Prize, arguably the most prestigious award in American literature.

The novel opens with news reporting the horrors of the Nickel Academy in Florida. Elwood Curtis, now an African-American business owner in New York City, is forced to confront his traumatic memories from the institution.

The story jumps back five decades, revealing Elwood’s past as a dedicated high school student inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights movement. Despite earning a spot at university, his aspirations are destroyed when he is unjustly convicted of a crime and sent to the Nickel Academy, a juvenile reformatory in Florida. There, Elwood faces a reality far from his idealistic visions: inadequate education, forced labor, beatings, and terrifying trips “out back,” where some boys never return.

Sadly, The Nickel Boys is based on a true story. The Dozier School for Boys was established in 1900 as a state-run institution and became the largest juvenile reform facility in the U.S.. Reports of abuse surfaced, but despite numerous “investigations,” the school continued to disproportionately target Black youths with severe beatings, whippings, and unexplained disappearances. The institution wasn’t closed until 2011. A year later, forensic examinations uncovered unmarked graves on the grounds, revealing over 100 deaths concealed by authorities. Widespread calls for justice followed, though the state of Florida refused to exhume the graves until a court injunction forced action.

The Nickel Boys is a perfect example of why I think fiction can teach more than nonfiction. You become emotionally invested in the characters, whereas nonfiction rarely draws you in the same way; it might make you aware of an issue, but living the experience hits differently. Historical fiction is unique; the real-world settings help readers easily connect the themes to reality.

Whitehead highlights the lasting impact of a deeply racist past in America, showing that even after laws condemning such, pervasive racism continues more than a century after slavery was abolished. Why was The Dozier School for Boys not closed until 2011 and why did the state of Florida resist further investigation?

Elwood embraces Martin Luther King Jr.’s message of standing up for your rights, showing that it’s possible to maintain self-worth even in the face of extreme adversity. The abuse of power and corruption of authorities lies in stark contrast, highlighting the consequences when those in positions of power betray their responsibilities.

In terms of style, The Nickel Boys is far more accessible and engaging than many books typically found on school reading lists. Take Heart of Darkness, for example — it has highly relevant themes, but being published over 125 years ago in a very different cultural context makes it harder to relate. Whitehead’s setting in contemporary America, along with his clear, modern style, makes the story much easier to connect with.

I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical or contemporary fiction with strong social justice themes. Just be prepared to feel a lot of emotions during and after reading — some of the truths it confronts are still denied today.