Book Review

By Rachel Metalin, Manager of Professional Learning

Colson Whitehead’s The Nickle Boys

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Colson Whitehead offers a unique glimpse into reformation schools in his 2020 novel, The Nickle Boys. Recently adapted into a film, The Nickle Boys tells the story of Elwood Curtis, a black boy growing up in 1960s Tallahassee, who is unfairly sentenced to a juvenile reformatory called Nickle Academy. Elwood finds himself trying to navigate the horrors of Nickle Academy, where following the rules does not ensure safety, corporal punishment is rampant, and labour replaces education.

Elwood’s only salvation is Turner, a fellow inmate at Nickle. They develop a deep friendship as they negotiate coming of age under oppression, the power of community and the importance of resistance.

Whitehead’s novel is based on a true story of a reform school that operated for 111 years and evokes Canada’s own haunted past of residential schools. Through this novel study, students can explore symbolism, theme, figurative language, complex character development and shifting point-of-view. A twist in the story will ensure enthusiastic classroom discussion and the connections to history are invaluable.

Recommended for secondary school students in grades 10-12.

Reading Guide: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/223161/the-nickel-boys-by-colson-whitehead/9780385693981/reading-guide

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