*Warning - This review contains spoilers.
A less than satisfactory grade in my English module last term resulted in the purchase of this book. Well, that was the excuse I used for the bank of mum. In reality I had heard of it through friends and decided that it was time to read something ... Read review
Malorie Blackman is a fine, award-winning author whose work is always inclined to provoke ... more
debate amongst her readers, and indeed her peers. WithNoughts and Crossesshe surpasses expectation not only with her subject matter, but with the execution of a s...
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Malorie Blackman is a fine, award-winning author whose work is always inclined to provoke ... more
debate amongst her readers, and indeed her peers. With Noughts and Crosses she surpasses expectation not only with her subject matter, but with the execution of a...
Postage & Packaging: refer to website Availability: Check Site.
Malorie Blackman is a fine, award-winning author whose work is always inclined to provoke ... more
debate amongst her readers, and indeed her peers. With Noughts and Crosses she surpasses expectation not only with her subject matter, but with the execution of a stimulating and provocative plot line that often leaves the reader chilled to the bone. Sephy and Callum have been best friends since childhood, and now they are older and they realise they want more from each other. But the harsh realities of lives lived in a segregated society are beginning to take their toll: Callum is a nought--a second-class citizen in a world dominated by the Crosses--and Sephy is a Cross, and the daughter of one of the most powerful men in the country. The barriers they would have to cross to be together at first seem little more than minor obstacles to the two idealistic teenagers, but soon those barriers threaten not only their friendship but their lives. Noughts and Crosses is written with the passion of an author who has a personal message about the perception of the past, present and future, and Blackman has used the clever device of turning preconceived ideas of racial prejudice upside down to make sure that her point is well and truly made. Deeply disturbing and totally absorbing this novel is intriguing from the outset, with a shocking climax that packs an unforgettable punch. (Age 11 and over) --Susan Harrison
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Advantages: Will change your outlook on society. Disadvantages: You'll loose all dignity when your reduced to tears.
*Warning - This review contains spoilers.
A less than satisfactory grade in my English module last term resulted in the purchase of this book. Well, that was the excuse I used for the bank of mum. In reality I had heard of it through friends and decided that it was time to read something new. Having just recently read things such as 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and 'Pride and Prejudice' i assumed that the novel would be quite an easy read ... ...hard read, and there were several times I had to use a dictionary as reference.
Although the book does contain a warning that it is not suitable for younger readers, it is also generally categorized under 'teen reading.' Some of the more advanced younger children would probably have no problem understanding the context, in exception to a few words as I stated above, and therefore might be able to gain access to it through a parent ... more
*Warning - This review contains spoilers.
A less than satisfactory grade in my English module last term resulted in the purchase of this book. Well, that was the excuse I used for the bank of mum. In reality I had heard of it through friends and decided that it was time to read something new. Having just recently read things such as 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and 'Pride and Prejudice' i assumed that the novel would be quite an easy read by my standards. In actual fact it was a surprisingly hard read, and there were several times I had to use a dictionary as reference.
Although the book does contain a warning that it is not suitable for younger readers, it is also generally categorized under 'teen reading.' Some of the more advanced younger children would probably have no problem understanding the context, in exception to a few words as I stated above, and therefore might be able to gain access to it through a parent or guardian. I am well aware that kids grow up faster these days (I am one of them,) but I wouldn't recommend the book for children of roughly under eight or nine, depending on the maturity of the child, as it does have things of an explicit nature written down, including a pretty heavy love scene around half way through the book.
The book is one of the very few I have read that kept me glued to the text throughout. Out of the trilogy it is certainly the most preferable. The writer has managed to create a world of exact opposites to the one we live on now, which gives the reader a much clearer perspective of racial prejudice. With many unexpected and sudden twists to the storyline, and an ending to die for (literally.)
The novel revolves around the lives of two people, of two different cultural backgrounds, who grow up together and fall in love, a love which they must keep secret from the world for fear of criticism and even corruption from within the government. Callum is a nought, one of the underprivileged in a society ruled by crosses, such as Sephy. Sephy refuses to conform, as she fights for equality. Even though they both share the same ethnics, the same love, in a world so eaten up by hatred and bitterness they must learn the hard way that some things are never meant to be.
The story follows Sephy and Callum as they grow up together, as they share memories. It follows them as they learn about the harsh realities of the world and fight to bring down injustice. Their friendship is frowned upon by many even as young children. But as they grow and develop criticism turns to hostility, and eventually violence. The reader is forced to watch as the children, once so innocent, turn callus and cynical. Even through the love that they share they begin to form resentment for the others status, and eventually, bitter with fear and hatred, turn into what they spent their lives fighting.
The last few chapters of the book are by the far the best, although they leave unanswered questions. I kept expecting there to be more, I turned the page and I hoped with all my heart that there would be more, that what had just happened could not be the end. I almost cried when I realized that there wasn't. Malorie Blackman has the completely indivual power to create relationships between fictional characters and the reader, making the ending even harder to bear.
The book contain 422 pages of medium size print, so even for the most experienced of readers there's a good three or four hours reading involved.
In conclusion, I would definitely recommend this book. It is truly one of the most moving, heartbreaking novels I have ever read, and whatever age the reader it's a book they will be sure to enjoy.
Advantages: Beautiful story, smart concept, brilliant Disadvantages: terribly sad
...I've ever read before.
Noughts and Crosses is the first in a trilogy followed by Knife Edge and finally Checkmate. Malorie Blackman has had an unaccountable amount of acclaim for this book and its the winner of the Children's Book Award. Noughts and Crosses is a book set in a world where you are either a Nought or a Cross. And although this concept is mostly interpreted as the different races, and in the book a Nought is white and a Cross is black, ... ...be one of the first Noughts to attend one of the best schools that Sephy goes to too. But this is nothing compared to what else happens in this book. Sooo much happens, I don't want to spoil any of it, but it just gets better and better, if you can call what happens 'better'...
When I started reading it I liked it, but I wasn't too sucked into it. Yet. I went along with the story and I really liked how the writing changes from Sehpy's perspective ...
Chellers 13.08.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Noughts And Crosses - Malorie Blackman
Advantages: gripping storyline and you won't want to put it down! Disadvantages: time!
...reversed in this revoloutionary book! Noughts and crosses gives you much of the information you need to know to understand the book, the blacks which are the dominant and powerful race are the crosses, while the whites which are little anad controlled by the crosses are the noughts.
But this story focuses on the life of two young people named Sephy and Callum, Sephu being a cross and Callum being a nought which just adds to the drama and the passion ... ...so I would reccomend having a box of tissues at your side!
This is a trilogy of books but recently a new one has been released:
Noughts and Crosses
Knife Edge
Checkmate
Double Cross (new one!)
xxx
*****This is also published on DOOYOO under the same name!***** ...
2me_to_you2 09.10.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Noughts And Crosses - Malorie Blackman
Advantages: Amazing plot & characters Disadvantages: Will make you cry!
Noughts And Crosses is the sort of book that when you've finished, you sit back and think "wow." It's impeccably written, the characters feel so real and the plot is like nothing you'll have read before. (Spoilers are in this review)
**Blurb**
The blurb on the back of the book reads:
"Callum is a nought - a second-class citizen in a world run by the ruling Crosses...
Sephy is a Cross, the daughter of one of the most powerful men in the country...
... ...is divided into two, with noughts and Crosses making up the population.
Noughts are white people, and they are considered inferior; they have the manual labour, mindless, unskilled jobs and are generally of a lower class.
Crosses are black people, and they hold the power, they are in government, they are the rich people and have only the best jobs.
There is a divide between the two, the Crosses are not openly hateful towards the noughts, but you ...
amytheduck 08.03.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Noughts And Crosses - Malorie Blackman
Advantages: Compelling, inventive and un-put-downable Disadvantages: None
...Noughts and Crosses explores a world which reverses racial history. The 'Crosses' are the dominant race, while in contrast the 'Noughts' are nothing, they have no dark pigment in their skin and are considered unworthy. Noughts cannot attend the same schools as Crosses, they undertake menial low-paid employment, they are discriminated against openly and this discrimination is encouraged by the government.
I found this racial reversal fascinating ... ...grow…. Noughts and Crosses explores the illicit teenage romance between Callum and Sephy in a world where they simply cannot be together and as such it has been known as 'A book of love'. But this is not a cheesy love story. The book also explores the prejudices encouraged in the Crosses and the Noughts fight for justice against the discrimination they face. The book has won a number of prizes including The FCBG Children's Book Award (2002) and the ...
nickyturnill 21.12.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Noughts And Crosses - Malorie Blackman
Advantages: Passionate writing, deep themes, excellent writing and there are sequels. Disadvantages: Too mature themes for very young readers and gets a little long-winded in the middle
...upwards - including adults.
Noughts and Crosses is a compelling story written by respected black author Malorie Blackman and takes a unique look at racism in an alternate world. Visually, it is an appealing novel with a simple cover of black and white and an easy to read typeface that doesn't have you squinting. The chapter sections are eaisly indentifiable and the book is sufficiently thick enough to challenge young readers, although it may scare ... ...against the backdrop of dissatisfied Noughts wanting equal rights and Crosses seeking to maintain dominance and this is brought home to the two teens when they are forbidden to see each other over something which happened in the past which no-one speaks about.
The book itself is sepearted by short sections which alternate narration by either the idealistic Sephy or the gentle Callum and the narratiive styles are very different which is a refreshing ...
Ohajiki 19.11.2007 (27.11.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Noughts And Crosses - Malorie Blackman
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Advantages: Gr8 idea 4 a trilogy, works gr8. gr8 charecters. Disadvantages: Known as a childrens book when its not.
*May Contain Spoilers, as it's about all four books*
This review is not just about Checkmate, it's more about the whole story of the trilogy.
There's always one book in everyone's life that always stays with them, with me it has to be the Nought's & Crosses trilogy written by MalorieBlackman. I first read this four years ago and fell in love, I managed to read Knife Edge and Checkmate within one day because I was just so absorbed in the story.
This book is supposed to be a 'teen-read' but we won't let my sister who's 13 read it yet because of the context of the book and the fact that she probably wouldn't understand where the book was coming from and the pretty heavy love scene may not be suitable for younger kids.
I did however read this book when I was my sisters age, as did a lot of my friends. It was probably one ...
characters obsess over each other's relationships and get frustrated with each other's lack of perception.
The first part of the novel is primarily concerned with Callie and Tobey's awkward transition from friends to something more and the dialogue they use is both amusing and realistic, peppered with teenage slang. While this is touching, the undercurrents of life surrounding them gradually exert greater pressure. Like the previous three books in this series, Blackman is concerned by the way in which racial prejudice tears apart people, lives and communities as the rage it engenders grows out of control. The issue of racism becomes most apparent when minor characters react to Callie, a mixed race girl who is viewed as Cross or Nought depending on the attitudes and mood of the speaker. Blackman subtly captures how difficult it is to be "in ...
Advantages: engaging characters; interesting plot; interesting ideas Disadvantages: a gruelling read emotionally in places
After a predictable prologue to reveal a key piece of information, the opening chapter is stunning in its understated approach to horror: Callie Rose, a mixed race child in a racially intolerant world, is preparing to commit a shocking act at a young age. After this, the novel shifts continuously between the past and the present, including different viewpoints to allow you to witness over time the fragmentation of Callie's relationship with Sephy, her Cross mother, and her gradual disillusionment with her world. This is a well executed structure, which means that everything is clearly interconnected but Blackman is still able to surprise us along the way.
After the depressing feel of 'Knife Edge', the second in the trilogy, this is a novel that has a steep path to climb to find some hope for the future, but Blackman manages, perhaps ...
