Advantages: Some info on the writer of Noughts & Crosses
Disadvantages: Bit borin

...I usually shy away from English authors, I don't know why but they don't have the same style as American authors. This is only my opinion and this is what I've found out after read many books, but Malorie Blackman changed that. My mate said she was reading Noughts & Crosses and loved it. So I went into the library and had all 4 books read within 2 weeks. She's still on Checkmate, lol. If you like Romeo & Juliet you should like Noughts & Crosses, she never wanted it to seem like Romeo & Juliet but you do see the parallels between them as you read. She wanted to write a book on slavery, so she started Noughts & Crosses. Nought's means the underclass and crosses mean the upper-class. Then came Callum (a nought) and Sephy (a cross) who fall in love despite that they're star-crossed like Romeo & Juliet. I think this book would have... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

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

...that the author sugar coats events. Ms Blackman is a master of capturing the utter despair than runs throughout and her text is gritty and real, if not disturbing. There are repercussions that spill over into Malorie Blackman's next books, the continuation of the trilogy....Knife-edge and Checkmate. You won't be able to wait to read those! This is one of the most powerful books I have ever read. The story stayed with me for weeks and certainly stirred a lot of emotion. I passed it on to a friend who did comment that she thought it was slow and wondered what all the fuss was about. However, she remembered what I'd told her and stuck with it. She was totally hooked by the end and said she thought it was her best ever read! It's the first book I'd ever read by this author and I'd definitely read more by her. I was so impressed by the book that I... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

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

...I was advised by my English teacher to get the book 'Noughts and Crosses, by Malorie Blackman'. After reading the short World Book Day book she gave me, entitled 'Eye for an eye', I couldn't resist and so bought this book. I began reading immediately, and, to the dismay of my 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 is racism. As one can see from the colours and layout of the book's cover, the story is a fierce ongoing struggle... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

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

...read. I've read it 4 times in the last year and I wouldn't be too shocked if I repeat the feat over the coming year. Please buy this book. If you're planning to read one book between now and the day you die make it this one. By half way through the book you'll struggle to do anything other than read on. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did...Malorie Blackman is fantastic. (Note that this is the first of an outstanding trilogy and precedes "An Eye For An Eye" - a short World Book Day release, not classed as an individual book in the trilogy, "Knife Edge" and "Checkmate" all of which are amazing reads!)... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Tells a very interesting, gripping story, very realistic
Disadvantages: Some details may be upsetting

...... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

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

...Hello, it's another review of a class reader that I have taught. This book that I did with Year 9 (ages 13-14) although it would be suitable for advanced 11 year old readers and 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 reluctant readers away due to the thickness. Sephy and Callum are childhood friends who have grown up together. The only problem stopping this relationship progressing is that Sephy is a Cross and a member of one... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

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 Malorie Blackman. 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... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Compelling love story
Disadvantages: Smudge your mascarra.

...books I have ever read, it is intelligent and very moving. The book is written to it's best as the characters are developed so well, as well as giving you a commendable amount of background knowledge. You get a great insight to different peoples lifestyles, how they think, how they live and how they treated other people, espcially those who are seen as a lower class citizen to them. You begin to feel the pain and brutal feelings they express as the language to create every sense of unjust and bleak sadness is amazing. Malorie Blackman's book is not at all predictable which I find is a great let down in the book if you have a slight incling as to what is going to happen, but the author in this book does not let you down. The ending is unexpected and such an intense moment that you feel your emotions running away with you (and your mascara... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful