Product Description

Award-winning author Malorie Blackman tackles the issues of racism and prejudice in a world set in an alternate historical reality

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1037 in Books
• Published on: 2006-08-08
• Binding: Paperback
• 448 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Malorie Blackman is a fine, award-winning author whose work is always inclined to provoke debate amongst her readers, and indeed her peers. With Noughts and Crosses she surpasses expectation not only with her subject matter, but with the execution of a stimulating and provocative plot line that often leaves the reader chilled to the bone.

Sephy and Callum have been best friends since childhood, and now they are older and they realise they want more from each other. But the harsh realities of lives lived in a segregated society are beginning to take their toll: Callum is a nought--a second-class citizen in a world dominated by the Crosses--and Sephy is a Cross, and the daughter of one of the most powerful men in the country. The barriers they would have to cross to be together at first seem little more than minor obstacles to the two idealistic teenagers, but soon those barriers threaten not only their friendship but their lives.

Noughts and Crosses is written with the passion of an author who has a personal message about the perception of the past, present and future, and Blackman has used the clever device of turning preconceived ideas of racial prejudice upside down to make sure that her point is well and truly made. Deeply disturbing and totally absorbing this novel is intriguing from the outset, with a shocking climax that packs an unforgettable punch. (Age 11 and over) --Susan Harrison

Synopsis
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. Until the first steps are taken towards more social equality and a limited number of Noughts are allowed into Cross schools...Against a background of prejudice and distrust, intensely highlighted by violent terrorist activity by Noughts, a romance builds between Sephy and Callum - a romance that is to lead both of them into terrible danger...

From the Back Cover
I had to make a choice. I had to decide what kind of friend Callum was going to be to me. But what surprised and upset me was that I even had to think about it...

Callum is a nought - a second-class citizen in a world run by the ruling Crosses. He is also one of the first nought youngsters to be given the chance of a decent education by studying at a school for Crosses...

Sephy is a Cross, daughter of one of the most powerful men in the country - a man doing his best to keep power in the hands of the Crosses. Friends with Callum since early childhood, hoping for something more to develop, she is looking forward to Callum's arrival at her school...

But in their world, noughts and Crosses simply don't mix. And as hostility turns to violence, can Callum and Sephy possibly find a way to be together? They are determined to try. And then a bomb explodes...

Set in an alternate reality, in a world where black and white are right and wrong, Noughts and Crosses is a gripping, stimulating and often provocative novel in which two young people attempt to make a stand for their beliefs regardless of the horrifying cost to their hopes and desires.

Customer Reviews

The worst book ever
At best this is a book for pre-teenagers. It is a massively over-rated book. Unless you usually read comics, you will find this book awful. Its predictable and just immature. Horrendous. Save yourself, don't buy the pain......You have been warned.

review written by Savie McCombe
i loved this book! i read it in like a week! i couldnt put it down! my friend introduced the trilogy and i started reading the first one and loved it! im reading "Checkmate" now and i just cant believe how after all the drama and trauma that has happened, Malorie can still keep the heat and tension up after all the drama that has happened in sephy's life theres still more!
I dont know how Malorie Blackman could keep up with all the stuff that happens in it! How she can remember every detail of what she had written and find the answers and stil write another book all about it? How she has written loads of drama and still keep it interesting!! she has inspired me so much and I have always wanted to write stories but haven't been very good at it but Malorie Blackman has definitley inspired me. You've got to read this! My sister has watched me reading this and all the emotion I have had while reading it and now she wants to start reading it! Apparently,some of her friends have read it and loved it so now shes just started to read it.My mum wants to read it too!
No other book can beat the real issues of this amazingly written novel.

TOO BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey everyone I'm Elaine's daughter. I think that Malorie Blackman has a God given talent for writing books. If I could give her 6 stars instead of 5, then I would. When I first read noughts and crosses I was practically drawn to tears by it. I just couldn't beleive that I was reading something that had soooooo much power. Malorie Balckman has inspired me and given me the confidence to persue a career in writing books, but would have never even thought about it, even though many people have told me I have a gift for writing stories. I am currently reading Checkmate and can not beleive that this is the last! She is proper bad and love her so much as an author. I just wish that there were more authors out there like Malorie.