Product Description

Can the future ever erase the past? Rose has a Cross mother and a nought father in a society where the pale-skinned noughts are treated as inferiors and those with dual heritage face a life-long battle against deep-rooted prejudices. Sephy, her mother, has told Rose virtually nothing about her father, but as Rose grows into a young adult, she unexpectedly discovers the truth about her parentage, and becomes determined to find out more, to honour both sides of her heritage. But her father's family has a complicated history - one tied up with the fight for equality for the nought population. And as Rose takes her first steps away from Sephy and into this world, she finds herself drawn inexorably into more and more danger. Suddenly, it's a game of very high stakes that can only have one winner...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #504 in Books
• Published on: 2006-09-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 512 pages

From the Back Cover
Can the future ever erase the past?

Callie Rose has a Cross mother and a nought father in a society where the pale-skinned noughts are treated as inferiors and those with dual heritage face a life-long battle against deep-rooted prejudices.

Sephy, her mother, has told Rose virtually nothing about her father, but Rose unexpectedly discovers the truth about her parentage, with potentially devastating results. As Rose takes her first steps away from Sephy and into her father’s world, she finds herself drawn inexorably into a dangerous, deadly game – a game of very high stakes that can have only one winner . . .

The dramatic and intensely moving third novel in the award-winning Noughts & Croses trilogy.

‘Blackman is a terrific thriller writer’ Evening Standard

‘A brilliantly imagined world’ Publishing News

‘A perfect end to an important and thought-provoking trilogy’ The Bookseller

NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNGER READERS

About the Author
Malorie Blackman worked as a database manager and systems programmer before becoming a full-time writer. Her reputation has steadily grown and she has been awarded a number of prizes including the WHSmith's Mind-Boggling Books Award and the Young Telegraph/Gimme 5 award for HACKER, the Young Telegraph/Fully Booked award for THIEF! and, more recently, shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal for PIG-HEART BOY. She was voted Voice/Excel Children's Writer of the Year in 1997. Her novel NOUGHTS AND CROSSES has won both the Children's Book Award and the Lancashire Children's Book Award 2002. THE TIMES recently described her as 'a bit of a national treasure.'

Customer Reviews

an amazing read
This book is an emotional rolarcoaster, brilliantly written and a perfect end to the trilogy. A definate must read!I would strongly recommend reading the first two of the series first though as otherwise the story will not make as much sense.
The characters are all brilliantly developed and very easy to empathise with and the plot is full off lots of twists and turns with an unpradictable ending. Definately worth the money.

couldnt be better
Was the highly anticapated ending to a triology that i couldnt put down and didnt disapoint have not read anything like this again

The best of the three
Wonderful! A brilliant finale to a excellent series.

This book brought together all the issues previously covered in 'Noughts and Crosses' and 'Knife Edge'. And you do really need to read both these books to fully appreciate 'Checkmate'.
Sephy is now a young mum, caring for Callum's baby, Callie Rose. As a half nought (white), half Cross (black) child, life throws all the familiar problems at Callie Rose, in spite of the fact that time has moved on and some things have improved. Sephy still has hang-ups from her days with Callum and the tragic end to their love, and these have a devastating effect on the young child. Callum's evil brother, Jude, resurfaces, looking for revenge and even Meggie, Callum's mum, who homes Sephy and Callie Rose, has a mean streak that shows itself.

This final episode in the trilogy is a strong study of relationships and the effects of the characters' histories on their lives. It comes to a well structured, exciting climax, but leaving one or two unanswered questions.
A wonderful climax to an excellent trilogy.
Recommended for adults and older teenagers alike.