One of the best YA dystopian novels I’ve ever read.
Noughts and Crosses Summary
Sephy is a Cross – a member of the dark-skinned ruling class. Callum is a Nought – a “colourless” member of the underclass who were once slaves to the Crosses. The two have been friends since early childhood, but that’s as far as it can go. In their world, Noughts and Crosses simply don’t mix.
Against a background of prejudice and distrust, intensely highlighted by violent terrorist activity, a romance builds between Sephy and Callum – a romance that is to lead both of them into terrible danger. Can they possibly find a way to be together?
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Noughts and Crosses Review
I can’t believe I’ve waited this long to read Noughts & Crosses. What an incredible novel. It’s addictive and entertaining, but more importantly it’s thought-provoking and shocking in a way that really hits hard.
Racism is something close to me – my husband is mixed race with a black mum and white dad, and I’m white. If Ryan and I are ever blessed with children of our own, they’ll be mixed race too. Luckily, I’ve never come across racism as severe as that in Sephy and Callum’s lives, but on a much smaller scale I have seen how it can affect individuals and couples and families.
Which is why I am so glad that something like Noughts and Crosses is out there for people to read, to encourage us all to stop and think for a second about the way the world works and consider how their actions and beliefs could be a part of that.
But more than that, this book is a brilliant read. I cannot wait to read more, and gosh what an ending it has. I know I’m massively late to this and most of you probably read Noughts and Crosses at school, but wow. Blimey. Just wow. It is so, so powerful and I am so glad that Malorie Blackman did what she did with it.
It’s brilliantly written, too, with alternating perspectives between Sephy and Callum and stunning characters that you will become completely attached to.
So, yeah. I am a huge fan. A broken fan sat in a puddle of tears, but a fan nonetheless.
My rating
***** 5/5 stars
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