RaveSouthern Literary ReviewColson Whitehead once more proves the sheer power of his talent with The Nickel Boys... a heartbreaking, chilling story ... This is not a story for the weak stomach or the fainthearted. Nonetheless, this book is so important that it should be read and understood in a primal way so that no one allows a school like this to ever flourish again ... Whitehead can nail a scene, an emotion, and a character in a few sharp words ... The Nickel Boys might suffer somewhat in comparison to The Underground Railroad, which is as close to a perfect book as has been written this decade. While both books use history to shape the story, The Underground Railroad used magical realism to bolster the story in contrast to the straight-forward, often sparse style in Nickel Boys. Yet with its sharp, direct narratives, Nickel Boys is an excellent book even if it is not quite the perfection of The Underground Railroad. As a cautionary tale, Nickel Boys excels. This is a book that should be required reading.
