The Nickel Boys

The Nickel Boys is a chilling novel based on a true story, which begins with hope and ends in tragedy. Racial profiling and profiteering on the part of a reform school's administrator (Nickel School, based in Florida) sets the plot into motion.  Medieval corporal punishments for minor infractions sharpened the cruelty experienced by the students. An unfortunate favor one student tries to do for his friend puts the final period in his sentence.  

Studious, hard-working Elwood is done a great favor by a family friend and enrolled in an advanced school that would see him excel in the world. The police pull over Elwood's ride on the way to his new school and discover it to be stolen.  The driver and Elwood together face charges. The driver heads to prison and Elwood to a reform school in Florida: The Nickel School. The Nickel Boys follows on Whitehead's previous amazing book, The Underground Railroad.