Erin Kimmerle

This heartbreaking account of abuses that occurred for decades at a Florida reformatory for boys is recounted by the scientist charged with discovering and exhuming the unmarked graves scattered across the school grounds.

Facing push back from politicians and locals who were far more comfortable forgetting the past than acknowledging it, the team drew strength from survivors and their family who have spent their life advocating for the return of their dead and missing.

Although the acts of show more evil men tend to be maddeningly predictable, this accounting of boys (primarily Black boys) who were ripped from their family for offenses as small as skipping class, and then brutally imprisoned, tortured, raped and sometimes killed chilled me to the core. The book doesn't dwell upon these crimes - many of which we can never know the extent of, but rather the work to locate the unmarked burials, identify remains and reunite families.

Such small acts of justice can sometimes seem insufficient in light of the gross injustices that have preceded them, but it's impact is powerful and precious. The real work is one we can all share: to remember the crimes, and the victims, and work to never let it happen again. show less

This incredible story documents in a most amazing way the horror that was the Dozier School for Boys in Marianna, Florida. The school operated from Jan. 1, 1900 until June 30, 2011, During that time scores of boys, some as young as five, were tortured and some killed. Their offenses for being sent to the school could be as minor as smoking and truancy. The author, Erin Kimmerle, is a forensic anthropologist from the University of South Florida. It was her meticulous work, along with her show more graduate students’ and others’, that uncovered many of the long forgotten remains of the boys, Black and white, who were buried on the grounds of the school campus. Many of the local residents not only did not support Kimmerle’s work, many were openly hostile, wanting to continue to sweep the school’s history and the community’s complicity under the rug, much like German citizens of World War II with the Nazis atrocities. This is an important book, one that everyone should read. It is a nonfiction account of what Colson Whitehead revealed in his best selling novel “The Nickel Boys.” One mention about some of the negative reviews here: many of the reviewers seem to be bothered by the amount of personal information about the author included in the book. I found this information interesting and helpful in understanding her role in the story and her dedication to the project. I wonder if some of these were written by disgruntled members of the Marianna, Florida, community. show less

A 4.5 audiobook rounded to 5. This story may be a bit slow in a printed book but it was perfect as an audiobook, as I could space out, then sharpen my focus during the important scenes. Some scenes were gripping, such as the history of the boys' horrific abuse and the forensic evidence revealed in the graves, what little evidence was left after so many decades.

The lies on the death certificates -- those who even had certificates -- were cover-up crimes. For example, "pneumonia," when the show more skull showed blunt head trauma.

Some of the boys were White but most were Black, which made this a story of human rights and racial justice. Some of the boys were incarcerated for such simple "crimes" as skipping school. Some as young as five were pulled from their parents with no recourse.

At the end, the listing of the boys' names and dates of death was quite moving. The author was very respectful of the boys' memories, the families, and the survivors who added their eyewitness accounts.

Recommended! show less

Another sad mark in US history. The Dozier School for Boys was a place where alleged juvenile delinquents were sent to reform. However, reform was not what the school was about. It was about abuse, torture, cover ups, and slavery. Though black children were the most prevalent "students" there, white children were also in residence. Most of the children that died at the hands of schoolmasters were buried in unmarked graves on the site. Erin Kimmerle, an anthropologist who specializes in show more forensics, made it her mission to send these children home to their families. A task that was not easy due to inaccurate and/or missing data and the difficult job of finding the graves. This was highly informational and emotional. I would recommend it. show less