Review: Noughts & Crosses – Malorie Blackman

My rating: 5/5 stars

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Rating: 5 out of 5.

Sephy is a Cross: dark-skinned and beautiful she lives a live of privilege and power.  Callum is a nought: pale-skinned and poor, he is considered to be worthless but he dreams of a better life.  They have been friends since they were children but they know this is as far as it can go.  Noughts and Crosses are fated to be bitter enemies – love is out of the question.  How will they cope in a world that is so pitted against them?

My thoughts:

After seeing that this book had been made into a TV series, I thought now would be an appropriate time to review this book.

I should start off by saying that I utterly adore this book.  I have read it many many times since reading it initially in my early teens and it is one that I always gravitate back to.

This novel is so well crafted and the language effortless.  This book is a very thought-provoking read with the key theme of racism deeply embedded throughout.  I have not read a book since that has quite grasped this theme of racism so well as it encourages necessary conversations and inner reflection.

If you are wanting the read this book after watching the TV adaptation I would just like to point out that the two are very different.  I personally prefer the book.  Although the TV show is brilliant in its own right I would argue that it has only taken the key themes from the novel and not closely followed the writing of Malorie Blackman.

Despite the fact that this novel is aimed at young adults, I would say that it could be read, and interest a reader of any age.  While reading this book you are so transported and engrossed in the story that it is very easy to forget who this book is aimed at.  The book covers dark themes including terrorism and suicide along with racism which can almost make you forget how young the characters are.

I am struggling to put into words how utterly brilliant this book is.  It is one I have remembered and re-read years after initially picking it up.  It is hard hitting and stimulating and it will not be a book that you forget about easily.  I would recommend this to everyone, regardless of age.

Do you have a suggestion for the next book to add to my bookshelf? Let me know in comments.