Book info

• Title Noughts & Crosses
• Author Malorie Blackman
• Year 2001
• Genre Young Adult

Sephy is a Cross: she lives a life of privilege and power. But she's lonely, and burns with injustice at the world she sees around her. Callum is a nought: he's considered to be less than nothing - a blanker, there to serve Crosses - but he dreams of a better life. They've been friends since they were children, and they both know that's as far as it can ever go. Noughts and Crosses are fated to be bitter enemies - love is out of the question. Then - in spite of a world that is fiercely against them - these star-crossed lovers choose each other. But this is love story that will lead both of them into terrible danger... and which will have shocking repercussions for generations to come.

Thoughts

I hadn’t heard of this one, so probably wouldn’t have picked it up if it hadn’t been in my reading list. I’m glad I did, because it’s interesting to see what dystopian teen fiction was like before the recent glut of Hunger Games style madness. Whilst it’s a good book, very readable and with some interesting characters, I wasn’t left feeling very happy at the end.

Ultimately, I just think it was too depressing. The star-crossed lovers were depressing, the racial hate was similar, and the ending left me feeling flat. I think it affects teens more, it’s almost a modern day Romeo & Juliet, and it’s a great way to raise the awareness of racism within society. It just didn’t grab me as I hoped it would.

And yet, I’m tempted to read the second book to see what happened next. So perhaps it was better than I am giving it credit for.

Rating: 3 / 5