Customer Reviews

Noughts & Crosses: Book 1 (Part1 of Noughts & Crosses Trilogy)

5 star:		(340)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

I bought this book because I'd read a lot of Malorie's other books and really liked them. But this book is like nothing I've ever read before. It's so class, I don't know what to say about it. It's a bit like Romeo and Juliet but tons and tonss better. I felt like I wasn't just watching Callum and Sephy but I was them. I could understand exactly why they behaved the way they did. And I actually started thinking of them as real people. I'm still thinking about them. They both made me laugh and - I admit it - they both made me cry. I'm glad no one knows who I am. It's a bit embarressing for a 15 year old boy to admit that a book made him cry but as long as my friends don't find out, that's okay. I loved this book. I'm going to read it again now. It made me think more about racism and prejudice where I live, in my school and even at home. I wish everyone could read it. It's so good, it deserves to get 5 and a half stars out of 5.

My wife is a teacher and is going through this book with her pupils. Call me snobbish, but despite her protestations that I really should read it, I was reluctant - I'm not a teenager, for one, and feared I'd find it tedious and craftless.

How wrong I was. Blackman's novel is superbly paced and stylistically clever. The dual first-person-narrative structure really works and showcases Blackman's excellent ability to write convincing voices that are diametrically opposed (13 yr old Sephy from the ruling class with her affluent but sheltered naivety, and 15yr old Callum - a young man brimming with anger and disaffection).

It's the contrast between these two protagonists that makes this novel so compelling. Blackman really fleshes out the basic morality tale of "Racism is bad / Equality is good", avoiding simplistic answers. There is no neat closure here. Heroes commit atrocities and villains make broken gestures of kindness. Ironically, there is no black and white. Such richness was thrilling, especially when you consider this is written for the teenage market.

More than this the plot unfolds with the timing of a thriller, and even though one can see developments and twists approaching from a mile away, Blackman writes it so well that I found myself hardly caring. The events that transpire might be predictable, but the complex and brave characterisation make the ride compelling.

On the down side, there are some clichés that trip the story up at times. It's not enough to cripple the narrative, but it does slow it down and I, for one, found myself annoyed at such small but noticeable setbacks. These clichés can be brushed over and you can still thoroughly enjoy the text, but for me it stopped the book becoming a bonafide classic.

In short, this is a great book, and the creative flair far out weighs the few stylistic hiccups. Blackman writes with such courage, conviction, and insight, I found myself challenged about my own innate world view. For what it matters, I'm a white middle class man, and this book caused me afresh to look at my own attitude to what I really believe about racism and equality. In this, the book is a roaring success, and if it causes more of us to honestly appraise our own hearts in regards to race, the better.

I read Noughts & Crosses in one go, although I didn't mean to. It grabbed me from the second chapter and wouldn't let go. It took me all day and well into the night to read it as I'm not a very fast reader, but it was worth it. This book made me laugh out loud in certain bits, made me tear two of the pages in my haste to turn the pages in certain bits and the end of the book made me cry. No book has ever done that before. The whole story was brilliant! There isn't a single bit that I thought was boring or had to skip over. And when I closed the book, I couldn't stop thinking about it. It's the best book I've ever read in my life. I don't think five stars are enough. It should have 10! It should have 100! Read it now. You'll love it!

Noughts and crosses. It literally took my breath away. I think its one of the best books ive ever read! Malorie manages to keep you transfixed all the way though, till the very end.

She has turned the world on its head and talks about a very painful subject - racism, within the very things that keep us alive; Love, Hate, family, friendship and trust.

Its about a black girl called Sephy and a white boy called Callum and there friendship in a world thats divided by the colour of your skin, and how their feelings for eachother grow as they grow older and grow up.

Its a must read Book.
Go on, give it a shot!

I wanted to write a review of this book but it's hard to find things to say about it that haven't already been said. So I just want to say that this is the most life-changing book I have ever read. It made me think about things I hadn't even considered before. I thought about the true meaning of friendship and what racism really means when you're on the receiving end of it. I think all those who voted for the BNP in the Midlands should read this book. It would make them think twice about what they're doing. Hatred is a killer, it destroys lives and this book shows that in a fantastic, thought-provoking and totally original way. It has romance, action, adventure and a totally unexpected, even shocking ending. I don't mean to make the book sound heavy because it isn't. It made me laugh out loud a number of times, but it does has something to say which seems to be rare these days. Read it now. You won't regret it.

I can't believe this book is being marketed as a book for young adults. This is definitely a book for adults to read and thoroughly enjoy. I must admit, I wouldn't have read this book if it wasn't one of the BBC Big Read top 100 books of all time, but I'm determined to read all 100 and this was the seventy-third one on my list. And of the ones I've read so far this is definitely my favourite. It has action, suspense, romance, an excellent, enthralling story and characters to really care about. I'm in my 30s and I thought it was amazingly well written and like nothing I've ever read before. Well done to Malorie Blackman. This may have been the first book of yours that I've read, but it certainly won't be the last. I can't wait for the sequel. If it's a half as good as Noughts and Crosses, it'll be a winner.

This book is amazing. A lot of people say that about a lot of books, but this one really is. It follows Sephy, a black cross, and Callum, a white nought in their struggle to fight against the inequality and narrow minded people that surround them. Written from both the main characters' points of view, this book will draw you in and not fully let you go until long after you have finished it, and even then, it will make you look at the world around you through fresh eyes. The heart-wrenching ending will leave you both in tears and wanting more, which the sequel 'knife edge' provides. Though at points you will want to scream through sheer frustration about what is happening, this is only because Malorie Blackman has made her chracters so utterly believable-you can't help but get involved in their lives. This really is, to use a cliche, a 'must read'.

"Noughts and crosses" is being marketed as a children's book but don't let that keep you from reading it - I'm in my mid-20'es and absolutely loved it. The story is thought-provoking to say the least and the characters stop being characters after about 15-20 pages and become real people who you will care for and root for till the very end.

It's equal parts suspense and love story and both will have you at the edge of your seat, turning page after page and needing to "just read one more chapter" until you are well into the wee hours of the morning.

Don't keep anything breakable nearby though as the unfairness of it all will have you wanting to hurl something heavy through the air quite a lot; instead, a box of tissues will come in handy as the ending is both incredibly sad and incredibly beautiful. All in all the book, its theme, its questions, and its people will stay with you for days after you've finished it and it is a book which you shouldn't cheat yourself of. This is the first book I've read by Marjorie Blackman but it definitely won't be the last.

Noughts and Crosses is one of the true treasures of my time. A fantastic classic which is so real, so fresh and so clever you are in tears by the end.

Unexpectantly Blackman reverses the roles and allows white people to feel the sting of being the lesser race. Sephy and Callumn are childhood friends one a nought, one a cross. Forbidden amongst society they struggle to come to terms with the harsh world around them.

Sephy's father, a powerful politician, is the most hated man within Callumns people and Sephy finds herself in a horrible situation when she's forbidden from seeing Callumn.

Malorie tells a fantastic story, pulling out so many morals and mind lingering challenges you are left reeling by the end. She brings each character to life, painting vivid picture of their home life's, different worlds yet desperate need to be together. Only the words from the book itself can prove how amazing this book is. It is so thought provoking, so challenging and so different to anything I've read it is right up there with Harry POtter and Lord of the Rings.

This books is a fantastic read for adults and children alike. No matter what age, sex, race or background this book will appeal to everyone and touch your heart by the final word.

A powerful story of romance, forbidden love, hatred, confusion and breaking away from the crowd, this book has everything from thrills to romance and political fighting.

READ THIS BOOK. It will change your perspective and make you think so hard and fast about racism. A truly amazing book.

Don't take my word for it, read it and you'll agree.

Noughts and Crosses...

well there is so much to say about this book. i started reading it because my friend recomended it but by the first few chapters i was hypnotised and over a few days there wasn't much i could think about but this book. Half of the time i was reading the book, the other half i was tihnking about it. it's a book that grips your imagination and with such a vivid reality of racism you get caought up in the plot you almost become the characters. i was dissapointed with the ending because i like the classic fairy tale ending but the following books in the trilogy made up for the ending. Knifes Endge and Checkmate both extremely amazing books but Noughts and Crosses was definately my favourite probably because of the romance mixed in with the storyline.

if i had to read a book again it would defineatley be noughts and crosses.

i recommend anybody with a passion should read this book!

read it, read it, read it!

it is about a society that is lead by the black people or the crosses who feel they are superior to the white skinned noughts. Sephy is a black girl and her father is very important in the biast society. Callum is a white skinned nought. The two childhood friends start to realise that in a world split in two their friendship is frowned upon. They fight predjudice and develop their relationship but can they win when they have the world against them? What sacrafices and desires will they loose?