The Nickel Boys

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Winner of the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, this narrative unfolds as the Civil Rights movement begins to touch the black enclave of Frenchtown in segregated Tallahassee. Elwood Curtis, inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King’s belief that he is “as good as anyone,” navigates life as a high school senior, raised by his grandmother after being abandoned by his parents. However, one innocent mistake leads to his sentencing at the Nickel Academy, a juvenile reformatory that claims to provide “physical, intellectual and moral training” to help boys become “honorable and honest men.” In stark contrast, the reality of Nickel Academy is a nightmarish environment. Elwood clings to Dr. King’s message of love amidst adversity, while his friend Turner believes that survival requires cunning and avoidance of trouble. The clash between Elwood’s ideals and Turner’s pragmatism culminates in a decision with lasting consequences. Their experiences at Nickel Academy, shaped by the brutal realities of Jim Crow, will forever alter their lives. The story is rooted in the true history of a Florida reform school that operated for over a century, impacting the lives of countless children.