Two young people are forced to make a stand in this thought-provoking look at racism and prejudice in an alternate society.
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?
In this gripping, stimulating and totally absorbing novel, black and white are right and wrong.
The story follows Sephy a cross and Callum a nought, two children who live in a racist hierarchical society where nought and crosses should not mix. Crosses, are the higher race of the two and when Sephy's school starts to let in Noughts she is overjoyed as she gets to spend more time with her best friend Callum, what she does not realise is the prejudice he will fell at being one of few at the school. As they grow up Sephy and Callum's friendship starts to blossom into much more but they cannot be allowed to be together because of the society in which they live. Soon life tears them apart but little so they know is that fate has so much more in store for them.
I felt to much while i was reading this book and found it a really amazing book that i got sucked into the story. I think Malorie Blackman is amazing for writing a story that centres around racism as it is such a taboo subject and wrote this expertly. It was such a touching tale and i was in tears so many times throughout the book.
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I loved Sephy and Callum's story and all i wanted them was to be together and when they finally managed to be together i was overjoyed and thought this is amazing, its a love conquers all story. I could not have been more wrong. I was physically shocked at the ending of this book and above all absolutely heartbroken. I don't want to spoil it too much as to say why i was heartbroken but i think this is the book that has made me cry the most and i still get so emotional thinking about it. I was truly heartbroken and ended up sobbing as if this event had happened to someone i personally knew.
I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 because i came away from the book so utterly heartbroken and slightly depressed because of the ending, i am very much a happy ending person and this book so utterly broke my heart, it physically hurt.
It's a beautiful story and i absolutely loved every moment and found i couldn't get into any book after reading it because i just kept thinking about it over again. It's an amazing novel and the story will stay with you long after finishing the book.
This book had me more than once scratching my head. Are these the ramblings of a madman? Or is this very cleverly written to create the ramblings of a disturbed character?
It jumps from what I at first thought was one character to another and from scene to seemingly unconnected scene, but the second reading made it clear. So, although the way this book is written, chaotic and very confusing, makes it a difficult book to read, it still captivated me. I wanted to know what was going on, and most important how it all would end!
It isn’t an easy, lounging on the sofa with a glass in hand book. This book requires a clear head and focussed mind, otherwise you will get lost in the maze of this story. Is that a good thing? I guess if you are into that sort of reading material it is. If you are looking for an easy read, just another vampire flick, I suggest you skip this one. But if you like your books to challenge you, this might just be a book you could grow to love.
I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
A good quick general read, which is what it is suppose to be. I'm giving it 3.5 stars. Derbyshire sneaks in some very funny one liners. She is also careful to point out differences of opinion. But in some parts, being too general is a too general. Still it is a good starting point.
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