"The Nickel Boys" is a novel by Colson Whitehead that tells the story of two boys, Elwood Curtis and Turner, who are sent to a reform school in Florida during the 1960s. The school, known as the Nickel Academy, is supposed to help troubled youth but instead subjects them to brutal treatment and systemic racism. The narrative is inspired by the real-life Dozier School for Boys, which operated for over a century. Through the experiences of Elwood and Turner, the novel explores themes of injustice, friendship, and the impact of history on individual lives.