The Boys of Alpha Block by Nancy Nau Sullivan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This story tugged at all of the emotions. It felt as if you lived with the boys as the story was being told. I will definitely be looking for more by this author.
The Boys of Alpha Block by Nancy Nau Sullivan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Nancy Sullivan does a fantastic job of building the backgrounds of each of the boys in this story. The story starts a bit slow but it is building the story and it gets so much better. It was interesting to read and definitely kept me engaged.
The Boys of Alpha Block by Nancy Nau Sullivan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Boys of Alpha Block by Nancy Nau Sullivan
4.5 Stars out of 5 Stars
This is a very emotional story full of suspense. I became very invested in the story and the characters. This was definitely out of my comfort zone but it was a good read. I will definitely be reading more from Nancy Nau Sullivan. I recommend this book to anyone interested in an emotion packed story.
The Boys of Alpha Block by Nancy Nau Sullivan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I wasn’t sure what to expect from The Boys of Alpha Block as it is the first book I’ve read by this author. The cover grabbed my attention, and the synopsis sealed the deal, so I gave it a go. This is an emotional read as the author really does their best to show the realities of a correctional facility for young boys. The drama will have you flipping pages as quickly as possible to find out what happens next. The boys will do whatever is necessary to escape, but will any of them make it or will they all suffer the worst consequences imaginable?
I couldn’t put this down as I was completely invested in these characters. I am definitely keeping an eye on anything this author releases as their writing style is mesmerizing and engaging. I highly recommend picking this book up to go on the emotional and dramatic rollercoaster that is The Boys of Alpha Block.
Reviewed by @shannlynn
The Boys of Alpha Block by Nancy Nau Sullivan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
When i started reading this book I did so based on word of mouth. I didn’t read the description or look at any reviews, I just started reading. So to say I was surprised by the story is an understatement. This book is emotional and heart wrenching. It is so easy to n imagine this group of boys and everything they have experienced. It felt b like this book had me b on the edge of my seat the whole way through. It was fanatically written and simply captivating. I loved this book and would highly recommend it to anyone.
The Boys of Alpha Block by Nancy Nau Sullivan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Boys Of Alpha Block
By: Nancy Nau Sullivan
Holy Cow! This book was absolutely phenomenal! It features a group of boys who are in Juvenile Detention who have made the decision to break out. This book shows what is happening with the boys and the hopelessness, desperation, and tension. However, it also features the adults who are there to help and work with the boys. This book reads like some of the absolute best books and movies that feature adults working with troubled youth. As a teacher, I felt both groups of characters jump of the pages. I was kept on the edge of my seat because I definitely wanted to see what would happen next. I definitely saw myself thinking indepth about how society can fail complete groups of people. It got me thinking about the education system and it tugged at my heart strings. I definitely recommend this book, but be prepared to keep reading from the time you start until the time you finish! Its one you won’t want to put down!
The Boys of Alpha Block by Nancy Nau Sullivan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I really struggled to connect to characters. I understand the struggle they have with the authority figures in their life. The kind versus the overbearing who run unchecked and because of their power many lean toward abusive and humiliating to the boys. About 60 percent the story picked up and moved along. We left the teacher and was more concentrated on what the boys were doing. There is an element of “will they or won’t they” that kept me turning pages.
Overall I felt this was a slow moving story which led to a lot of page turning. I was initially drawn to see about the life of these boys. I fid get some if that but its a snippet into their life and what they are doing. Good story but not great for me.
The Boys of Alpha Block by Nancy Nau Sullivan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book reminded me of Freedom Writer’s Diary, yet author Nancy Sullivan dives deeper in to each boy’s (inmates) backgrounds and stories of why they landed in the detention center/prison. The writing was powerful and very moving, and realistic, edge-of-your-set type of writing.
Not these easiest subject matter (especially the preface), yet enjoyable novel, and makes you think (at least it made me think, being an educator) how society fails these teenagers (among countless others) and what the “best” way is to rehabilitate them to lead “normal” lives.
https://www.amazon.com/review/RG229G3E7NWGR/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv
The Boys of Alpha Block by Nancy Nau Sullivan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was my first book I read by this author and I was not disappointed at all. The book started out slow but eventually picks back up. The world building and characters was greatly thought out. This book was a page turner for me. It had me on the edge of me seat, wanting to know what was going to happen next. I absolutely love the writing style of this author. I can’t wait to read more of their books.
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The Boys of Alpha Block by Nancy Nau Sullivan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Boys of Alpha Block by Nancy Nau Sullivan. This was such a good book. Its the story of a group of teenage boys incarcerated at Alpha Correctional Center a juvenile detention center. These boys have been humiliated, abused and degraded by the guards. The boys begin to think that trying to escape might be the better option. They are being held like animals in a cage. Working together they devise a plan to break out thinking that its got to be better than staying in this place waiting to be raped, starved and beat up. This place is not a rehabilitation its a torture chamber. The Teachers and some of the guards know something is about to happen because they can feel the tension in the air. Some of the boys become lifetime friends and will do whatever they can to protect each other. I was really upset with the teachers and guards for the way they let these kids be treated. This book will tug at your heart.
The Boys of Alpha Block by Nancy Nau Sullivan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
🌟🌟🌟🌟 4 Stars
I was intrigued with the storyline and the cover of this book and decided to dive in….and this was quite an enjoyable read! This story gave me lots of suspense, intrigue, rawness of the characters and definitely my heart for these boys and what they suffer as far as abuse…this author did a great job of storytelling.
What is the ultimate price of freedom and is it truly worth the cost? The boys at the correctional institute stir up a way to escape…..but at what worth? Escape the abuse from the institute officers… something has to happen……..
This story is truly a very good read…the struggle and what the boys endure at times….my heart.
The Boys of Alpha Block by Nancy Nau Sullivan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the heart-wrenching tale of the “Boys of Alpha Block.” It takes place in a juvenile detention center where the boys are subjected to the horrors of physical, mental, emotional, and (sometimes) sexual abuse, as well as abuse of power, humiliation and degradation, and complete disregard for their education. I would consider this book to have a slow pacing but I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough to find out what was going to happen next. This book will take an emotional toll on you; however, there are bright spots in it too. Friendships are formed and there is hope which does ease some of the tension of all of the darkness. I think one of the things that has stuck with me long after I’ve finished the last page is the fact that there were “good” people in positions to help the boys and they just stood idly by. This book is definitely worth the read, but do be prepared to have your heart tugged at and to have a good stare at the wall when you’re done.
Reviewed by @meggs1717
The Boys of Alpha Block by Nancy Nau Sullivan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book was exciting and thrilling. The boys plotting an escape because, quite frankly, the guards were jerks. The story is full of drama. The teachers just wanted to do the right things by the boys. This was a story I had to devour in one sitting. You can’t put it down. Once you get pulled into Alpha Block, you can’t leave. The characters are so well-written that you feel like you know them. Their struggle is real. Though the boys committed crimes, they didn’t deserve to be abused like that. An amazingly well-done story that had me sucked in and reading it page to see what was coming next. The English teacher knew something was coming, she had me looking. The story flows so well. I can’t recommend this book enough. I hope to read more from this author. Check it out, you won’t be sorry.
The Boys of Alpha Block by Nancy Nau Sullivan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Boys of Alpha Block by Nancy Nau Sullivan
4 Stars
Alpha Block is a boys correctional facility. The boys are in for misdemeanours, murder and everything in between. Life is not easy and being caged in is even worse. The boys are planning to escape and everyone has a roll to play. Caroline McBride teaches them and truly believes in the rehabilitation of these youths. Her intuition is telling her that something is brewing but she can’t figure out what. She believes in these boys and wants to help them choose a better way of life. Unfortunately she keeps getting railroaded by the deputies. There are rules for a reason.
This book was really stepping out of the box for me. It was not my usual genre but it sounded interesting so I took a chance. The story was well written. I’m not sure how I feel about it though. It made me sad. I felt bad for the boys and the lives that they lived. The way the deputies treated them got me angry. One thing that I did struggle with (I know it sounds silly) was the font size. It was so small that I got annoyed reading the book. It’s probably just me being crazy so don’t let it deter you from reading this story.
Review by @Anna Hirsch
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The Boys of Alpha Block by Nancy Nau Sullivan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was my first read by this author and it will not be my last. The story was well written. It keeps you wanting to turn the page to find out what happens next to the boys. The book is about a group of boys in a juvenile detention center. The boys are referred to as the boys of Alpha Block. It follows them in their struggle to escape to freedom. The experiences they go through pull at your emotional strings. Will they find freedom or become trapped in the abusive system?
The Boys of Alpha Block by Nancy Nau Sullivan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Actions and Consequences
An emotional tale drenched in suspense and lightened by hope. This is the first book I have read by this author and it was a great read. There is a rawness about the story, with the heart wrenching and confronting treatment of the boys but also shows the brotherhood that forms. I really connected with the characters and was vested in their plight. Highly recommend.
The Boys of Alpha Block by Nancy Nau Sullivan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 Stars
“It’s time to break out.”
The Boys of Alpha Block is the first book that I have read by Nancy Nau Sullivan, but if this is anything to go by, it certainly won’t be the last.
This is a suspenseful women’s fiction story that is set in a juvenile detention centre where a group of neglected and abused boys plan their escape. The story really tugged at my heartstrings, as I really felt for what the boys had experienced and what they were (still) going through.
The story is quite suspenseful and had me flipping the pages, avidly reading well into the early hours, just so I could find out how everything played out. It also contains sensitive subjects that may be triggers for some readers. This isn’t a ‘light and fluffy’ read. What the boys have been through, and experience while in detention was heart-wrenching. Neglect. Manipulation. Abuse. Assault. Humiliation. Violence. Yes, there were some gritty, raw, and emotional moments. But there was also connection, bonds, friendship, hope, and strength of character-adding light to the story, which helped to balance those dark elements.
Well worth the read.
Thank you, Nancy Nau Sullivan!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
The Boys of Alpha Block by Nancy Nau Sullivan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Boys of Alpha Block is a heart-wrenching tale about a group of teenage boys who plan to try to escape Alpha Correctional Center, a juvenile detention center. The boys have been subjected to humiliation, degradation, and abuse at the hands of the correctional officers working within the correctional center. They feel that life on the outside would be better and as a group try to devise a plan to escape.
This was a beautifully written and fast paced story, but I will admit that it was hard for me to read at times because of the horrid abuse and neglect that was taking place within the correctional center. The author did a fantastic job of inciting raw emotions through detailed writing and vivid scene descriptions. The characters are ones that you can love, hate, or feel indifferent about. The boys needed a second chance, which could have been possible with the right guidance. Instead, those that could have helped them either mistreated or abused them or turned a blind eye. The correctional officers were deplorable, and it is hard to imagine that someone in a position of authority could treat another person so inhumanely. Those such as the teachers and counsellors that were there to guide and help were ultimately just as guilty for allowing the abuse and mistreatment of the boys to continue. A riveting read that was a rollercoaster ride of emotions for me.
The Boys of Alpha Block by Nancy Nau Sullivan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was an interesting read. It is about a group of boys in a juvenile detention centre who are fed up with the way they are being treated so they come up with a plan to escape. But what will the price be for their freedom and is it worth all the trouble they go through?
The author’s writing was interesting as they have first hand knowledge of this environment which really brings the story to life and really educates the reader on what actually happens in these places.
There is definately a divide between the educators who believe these boys can be rehabilitated and do everything in their power to facilitate and help them to do that and the other side of the deputies who believe they are all lost causes and can’t be changed. Reading the verbal and physical abuse they endure really bring home how some children leave these places and go on to reoffend again.
This story is really well written and the detail that goes into the planning of the boys escape and what happens during and after really make this a gripping read that I just couldn’t put down.
The Boys of Alpha Block by Nancy Nau Sullivan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Boys of Alpha is the first book I have read by this author, Nancy Nau Sullivan. I was very intrigued about this story by the cover, and I was not disappointed.
The story is full of emotions and suspense, the story builds slowly and then picks up. This thrilling tale is very well written with psychological elements and was a surprise to read.
The characters are interesting, and you become invested in them and their plight. Imagine being locked away and being treated as scum by some who abuse the power they hold. The boys incarcerated in Alpha Block suffer fear, humiliation, physical and verbal abuse.
When enough is enough the boys put together a plan but what will they have to sacrifice and what will be the consequences of their actions?
What is the price you are willing to pay? Is freedom worth the price?
I hope to read more from this author.
Reviewed by @jennadb
The Boys of Alpha Block by Nancy Nau Sullivan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is my first book by this author and I look forward to reading more from her. I found this book to be well written and engaging. A story about boys trying to break out of prison. But they neglect to think about the consequences of their actions. Is escape or freedom a dream for them? I enjoyed these characters and what they added to the story. They are connectable and made the story come to life. A fast paced, hard to put down story that has a lot going on. I enjoyed how the author did a great job of keeping things engaging which helped me from getting lost in the story. This is an easy and entertaining story to read. You don’t want to miss what happens to these boys. I enjoyed reading this book and I highly recommend it
Review by @bjwagner
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~ BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE ~ ~~
Nancy Nau Sullivan is the author of memoir, mystery, and a novel—THE BOYS OF ALPHA BLOCK. She wrote for newspapers in high school and college and later worked as an editorial assistant in New York. She’s a former journalist and teacher.
Born in San Francisco, Nancy grew up outside Chicago and often visited Anna Maria Island, Florida. She returned to the island with her family and wrote an award-winning memoir, THE LAST CADILLAC, about the years she cared for her father while her children were still at home–a harrowing adventure of travel, health issues, adolescent angst, and hurricanes. She went back to the Florida setting for her first cozy mystery, SAVING TUNA STREET, creating the fictional Santa Maria Island for the Blanche Murninghan mystery series, now in its fourth installment with A DEATHLY IRISH SECRET. She based THE BOYS OF ALPHA BLOCK on the years she taught in a boys’ prison in Florida.
Nancy is a graduate of the University of San Francisco (San Francisco College for Women) in Spanish and political science and holds a master’s degree in journalism from Marquette University. She lives in Northwest Indiana. Find her at www.nancynausullivan.com, on Facebook, and on Twitter @NauSullivan.
