The Nickel Boys - Colson Whitehead

" The world had whispered its rules to him for his whole life and he refused to listen "

A three word endorsement from Barack Obama on the back cover was enough for me to plop this book down in front of the cashier at Waterstones. An easy purchase. (Once again proving that I am highly susceptible to marketing). But he is entirely right in his review, given the current political climate and the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement this book really is 'a necessary read'.

The Nickel Boys follows a young and promising black boy named Elwood Curtis on a journey of self-discovery and racial understanding during his time at a brutal reform school in Jim Crow Florida. Though Whitehead's characters and institution are fictional, they are based on a real establishment; the Arthur G Dozier school for boys, which makes the content of this book all the more harrowing. (*Quick history lesson; the school was founded in 1900 and only permanently closed its doors in 2011 after an investigation shed light on a history rife with serial abuse, rape, torture and murder. If you have a spare moment and a strong constitution it is well worth looking up.)

This is a heart-breaking story of self-respect, oppression and the price you have to pay to be true to yourself even when the world is against you. Whitehead's writing is sharp and raw, at times it is difficult and uncomfortable to read but proves that Whitehead deserves all the accolades under his belt. The last few pages make the breathe catch in your throat and give you some serious pause for thought. Colson Whitehead has delivered something that is as historically enlightening as it is relevant in society today.

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