5 STAR REVIEW: Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman
Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman
(Noughts & Crosses #1)
Corgi (Aug 2006) | Paperback, 479 pages
Alternate History | Romance | Young Adult
Wow, this book is outstanding. I couldn’t put it down! As someone who is in her thirties, I wondered whether this book would be too young and the writing immature, but this wasn’t the case at all. This is an intelligent and sensitively written story about two friends, Callum, a white-skinned nought and Sephy a dark-skinned Cross and their relationship as they grow up. How society and the prejudices around them moulds them into people they don’t really want to be. It’s a story filled with tragedy and sorrow but also love and friendship. The story is narrated by both Sephy and Callum alternating with each chapter and allows us to see their very different worlds through their eyes.
As a teenager this book would have rocked my world! As much as Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou and The Colour Purple by Alice Walker did as an adult. The frustration and anger felt at the injustice of prejudice spawned from just the colour of a persons skin never left me while reading this book. The black and white racism issue is turned upside down and the dark-skinned Crosses rule over the white-skinned noughts and treat them like inferior beings. It shows how inequality and prejudice can force people into roles they do not want to be in and actions they don’t want to take. This is a seriously thought provoking book and sometimes harsh as the two worlds of Sephy and Callum collide. It is at times heartbreaking, but even with all the sorrow the story is incredibly well paced and I was pulled along with each chapter.
The content is brutal, but it has to be for the story to be authentic. It is also honest and doesn’t hide from the fact that the consequences of racism and prejudice can create evil in the form of terrorism. A tale of race and equality, never patronising to it’s target audience and giving us no answers to a world that’s unforgiving and cruel. The ending is powerful, beautiful and devastating and I cried like a baby.
VERDICT:
What can I say that I already haven’t said. This is a remarkable novel; brilliantly written with complex characters, moving and thought provoking, full of pain, love and passion. I absolutely loved it and can’t wait to read the rest in the series. I highly recommend this book!
RATING: 
MALORIE BLACKMAN ONLINE
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BOOKS IN SERIES ORDER
- Noughts and Crosses
- Knife Edge
- Checkmate
- Double Cross
BUY YOUR COPY
25 Comments
Great review! I love this book too, it's just amazing!
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Glad you enjoyed it! It *is* an amazing bOok and rightly deserves your 10/10. :0)
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WOW. A 10 out of 10? That doesn't happen too often. Will have to put this one down on my list!
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i haven't read this book yet. I looks really good though. i'll check it out.Great Review
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Sounds fantastic; picking it up asap.
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Thanks for the review something I'll have to pick up!
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Hi all, I would definitely put this book on your tbr lists. It was really terrific. I was so surprised at how involved I got in the story. One of the best books I have read. Thanks for stopping by
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These all sound like great books. thanks so much for brining them to our attention.
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I had not heard of these until I read your author interview and your reviews. Great reviews! They sound so good. Definitely adding to the TBR pile! =)
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Thank you for the great review.
Also thanks for bringing this series to my attention.
Not only will I read this, but if it as good as you say, I will give it to my children to read as well.
All the best,
@RKCharron
xoxo
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These books are fab.. Usually get them as birthday presents for my girls to give to their friends always a popular choice!
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I'd never heard of this series until now and I'm intrigued. Definately adding this to my TBR pile. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts.
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i have picked this book up this week after reading this review. i trust your reviews as we seem to like similar books and so i am looking forward to reading this one too!
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awesome review. i want to read this. a friend of mine from england told me they were great.
lauren
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Hi! I haven't read any of these, but often wondered if I'd like it, you know, like as much as my son or someone his age would!
Great review, I'm entering your comp to see if I can win! LOL
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Thanks for the awesome review! I haven't had the pleasure of reading this series yet! I'm so excited to hear about it!
x0xx Amy (Park-Avenue Princess)
IAmHiMaintenance(at)aol(dot)com
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Definitely a nice review – I like sweet and simple. Sounds like a futuristic Romeo and Juliet?
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Good to know that the book isn't to young for thirty somethings as i am one aswell.
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Okay, so the synopsis had my attention at the first sentence (oddly enough, I immediately thought of Winter of Fire by Sherrl Jordan, with the Chosen and Quelled) but you review was what really sealed my interest in this book. I'm definitely gonna be keeping an eye out for it when I go back to the mall… I think I've seen one of the sequels on the shelves, actually. Will have to check.
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What an emotional book this was. And I don't think it's gotten near enough attention over on this side of the pond as it deserves. Thanks for reviewing it!
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I have been fascinated to read this books every since the RSC put this on!
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I've never even heard of this book until now… and it sounds really good!
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Thanks so much for your insight. After reading your review I cant wait to read this marvelous book myself. Thank you.
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This is my favorite book, I could not put it down. I am eleven years old, and yet I finished it in two hours. I cried and cried, it was a Romeo and Juliet story . . . so beautiful. I will never ever forget this amazing book that I recommend to not only teenagers, but adults too.
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