LIKE THE NICKEL BOYS - Green Valley School offers a haunting, firsthand account of an American free school whose story parallels the grim realities exposed in Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning The Nickel Boys. Like the infamous Dozier School, Green Valley operated in Florida during the 1960s and ’70s, where vulnerable youth faced abuse under the guise of education and reform.

“Valley of Horrors.” “Free Love Camp.” “Torture School.” The headlines were everywhere—outrageous, sensational, and sometimes true.

In the chaotic churn of the 1960s and ’70s, one radical school dared to do what no institution had done before: accept the students nobody else wanted and teach them like they mattered. That school was Green Valley, and this is the true story of how it changed—and shattered—lives.

Founded by the fiercely unconventional Reverend George von Hilsheimer, Green Valley School became a lightning rod for controversy. What began as a “free school” inspired by Summerhill School in England turned into a national media firestorm:

🗞 “Valley of Horrors” — Time Magazine

🗞 “Hillbillies Burn, Shoot Up ‘Immoral’ Camp for Children” — Philadelphia Daily News

🗞 “Whips, Handcuffs, and Urine Injections” — The Cincinnati Post

🗞 “Nazi-Like Abuse of Students Charged” — The Akron Beacon Journal

The headlines screamed of cults, drugs, torture devices, Satan worship, and police raids. Some of it was sensationalism. Some of it wasn’t.

Jack Dancer, a former staff member, takes readers inside this controversial institution with a memoir that’s part exposé, part redemption story, and part eulogy for a vision of education that dared to defy the norm. Drawing from over 400 sources—Senate transcripts, court cases, international headlines, and firsthand interviews—Green Valley School, Orange City, Florida is a gripping, often shocking, and surprisingly funny account of America’s most infamous experiment in alternative education.

Whether Green Valley was a haven for the lost or a magnet for chaos depends on where you stand. But no one can deny it left a mark.

📚 What You’ll Discover Inside:

• Firsthand accounts from inside the firestorm.
• Shocking government overreach and media hysteria.
• The radical philosophy behind the “school for throwaway kids.”
• A balanced, researched look at the accusations, the achievements, and the aftermath.

“Thought-provoking and bold... a must-read for educators, reformers, and history buffs.”

— 5-Stars, K.C. Finn, Review for Readers’ Favorite

“Leaves you questioning everything you thought you knew about education.”

— 4-Stars, Lucinda E. Clarke, Award-winning writer and broadcaster.

“The students they took in had nowhere else to go. This book proves why bold schools matter.”

— 5-Stars, Debra Webb Rogers, Amazon Verified Educator Review.

“A riveting and eye-opening read.” — 5-Stars, Carol Thompson, reviewed for Readers’ Favorite.

“Reads like a suspense novel—only it’s all true.” — K.C. Finn, reviewed for Readers’ Favorite

“Leaves you questioning what school should be.” — Lucinda E. Clarke, reviewed for Readers’ Favorite

👀 Why It Matters Now

Green Valley’s legacy still echoes in today’s debates about mental health, education reform, and the criminalization of youth. This book is not just history—it’s a cautionary tale, a call for compassion, and a tribute to those who tried to build something better and paid the price.