The Nickel Boys

The Nickel Boys

Adult fiction
"When they found the secret graveyard, he knew he'd have to
return. The clutch of cedars over the TV reporter's shoulder brought
back the heat on his skin, the screech of the dry flies. It wasn't
far off at all. Never will be."
Although Colson Whitehead's The Nickel Boys is a work of
fiction, it is based in historical reality. In 2014 Whitehead learned
of The Dozier School for Boys and began to research it. Lucky for
readers he used his findings as the background of this really
disturbing and fascinating coming of age narrative.
Ellwood Curtis was not someone you'd predict would end up in
reform school. He didn't hang out with the rough kids who did stuff
like shop lifting. In fact he had worked at a tobacco shop from the
age of thirteen. His grandmother with whom he lived set half his
paychecks away for college. As he started his senior year in high
school he was also enrolled in a class at a colored college [that was
the 1960s], Melvin Griggs Technical.
Something unfortunate happened on his way to his first college
class. His bicycle was not in good enough shape to make the seven
miles. He got a ride from a man who turned out to be driving a stolen
car.
Its promotional literature describes Nickel Academy as a school
rather than a prison, a second chance for misguided boys to learn the
essential skills for surviving and thriving in the outside world.
Education and work prepare them for vocations. Good behavior and
taking advantage of opportunities will enable them to climb through
the ranks to freedom.
Ellwood experiences a very different Nickel. When he tries to
protect another boy from bullies he is beaten so savagely he is
scarred permanently and has to spend weeks in the Nickel hospital.
Medical care is primitive. Schooling is desultory. Food and supplies
intended by the boys, not to mention boys' services to people in the
outside world, are sold for individual profit.
Most of the residents are there for minor offenses like
truancy. Some simply lack families and have nobody who will take them
in.
Nickel Boys is at the same time a spellbinding read and a real
eye opener.
On a purrrsonal note, I'd planned on reading all yesterday. But
Eugene and I ended up watching a ghost movie before bed. Now we're
back to home. Tobago was very happy to see us home. (Jules)
My hoomans are home! They are home! I am so happy! (Tobago)
A great big shout out goes out to you, our readers. We hope you're
having a safe and happy weekend.
Tobago and Jules Hathaway





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