Noughts And Crosses - Malorie Blackman > Reviews

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 ... Read review

Advantages: Compelling, inventive and un-put-downable
Disadvantages: None

...Here's why. 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 ... Read review

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

...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 ... Read review

Advantages: Gripping, adventurous, highly-topical
Disadvantages: -None-

...popular computing / internet magazines, Noughts and Crosses somewhat over-ruled my bedtime reading! It was incredibly gripping, and I just couldn't put it down! After the initial prologue, the main part of the story is told from the perspectives of both Sephy and Callum in an alternating fashion. This is interesting, as it gives perspectives not just from the narrator, but from the people themselves - both Sephy and Callum. The central topic ... Read review

Advantages: Everything about it, this book is really amazing!
Disadvantages: None

...the leading race, and the noughts are very much prejudged and discriminated. It is, in a way, fairly bizarre as this world is the same and different to our world at the same time. This fact is very intriguing, and I think perhaps that's what makes the story so compelling. There are two main characters; Persephone and Callum, complete opposites, right and wrong. Callum is a nought, one of the first noughts to be awarded a proper education, and Sephy ... Read review

Advantages: Clear plotline; interesting ideas; involving characters
Disadvantages: Will make you sad

...identical to our current history. The noughts in this tale have only recently been freed from slavery and are still treated as second class citizens. One of the key events early on in the book is the attempted integration of Noughts into Cross schools; the ways that teachers and pupils react is simultaneously understandable, disgusting and intensely sad. As Callum struggles to make something of himself in a hostile world, Sephy tries to find a ... Read review

Advantages: Controversial, provocative, engaging and definitely topical
Disadvantages: Inability to put down the book will ensue after reading

...have been reversed and amplified. Noughts are second-class and on the poverty line. Crosses are empowered and rich. Class status and racial status are the same thing. A brutal hierachy exists, and none escape it. In the midst of this are Callum and Sephy, best friends who conceive the prospect of love after their very first kiss on the beach, the location for many of their realisations. Callum's mother, Meggie, used to be a nanny to Sephy before ... Read review

Advantages: Excellent, hard-to-put-down reading
Disadvantages: None!

...in a series of four, Noughts and Crosses has two different classes of characters. One group are the noughts, who are white, and are treated by Crosses as inferior. Crosses have more money, better education and better healthcare than noughts, and are the ruling class in society. Callum McGregor is a nought. Sephy Hadley is a Cross, and she is the daughter or the Deputy Prime Minister. Callum and Sephy have been friends for many years, but pressure ... Read review

Advantages: Cannot be put down, deep and meaningful
Disadvantages: Leaves you in tears for days

Noughts and Crosses deals with many deep issues, most importantly racial prejudice and discrimination. However it also deals with so much more, from terrorist actions and politics to parental misguidance. The story tells about the racial barriers between the black people (Crosses) who are superior, and the white people (noughts) who are inferior, who were slaves and segregated. The story is done tastefully and thoughtfully, gently leading into these ... Read review

Advantages: One of the best books I've ever read!!!
Disadvantages: Keep with it.....it hots up nearer the end!

What a fantastic book!!!!!!!! For anyone who has started this book and just can't seem to get in to it, please, please, stick with it. It does seem a little slow paced at first and sometimes following the story (seen from two perspectives of Callum and Sephy) can be a bit confusing. It's one of those books that is a bit of a slow burner. However, a little over half way through it becomes absolutely un-putdownable!!! It's such a cleverly written ... Read review

Advantages: Compelling love story
Disadvantages: Smudge your mascarra.

...truth about the racial injustices. Noughts and Crosses also shows the same style of Romeo and Juliet love. Callum is the second class citizen in the book and Sephy is daughter to one of the most powerful men in the country. It is recognised as deplorable behaviour if they are to mix and as they grow up from their innocent childhood hostility changes to violence...it's up to you to find if they can find a way to be together. This is one of the ... Read review

Advantages: Unbelievable read - excellent characters
Disadvantages: You won't be able to put it down!

WOW! What an incredible book. Listen very carefully - you HAVE to read this book. It is absolutely fantastic. A Romeo and Juliet style novel, aimed at a teenage audience, but trust me anyone would enjoy this book (my mother and grandma were hooked after a few pages!). However, its violence and upsetting content means that it is realistically unsuitable for under 12s. Noughts and Crosses follows the story of two teenagers - Callum and Sephy ... Read review