Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman
“Just remember, Callum when you’re floating up and up in your bubble, that bubbles have a habit of bursting. The higher you climb, the further you have to fall.”
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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?
The book touched on sticky subjects while maintaining it’s essence as a Young Adult novel. It was extremely well-written. Very methodical in its manner of throwing caution to the wind and talking about issues with race and the prejudice that accompanies it.
This book had almost everything. Romance, action, adventure, thrilling chase sequences and the characters were so rounded. They grew along with the book. It starts out when the main characters are young. And already they are aware of the division between them. But as children, they think they can overcome that. It was so touching in the way that the characters grew apart as they grew up and then found each other again.
There is a slight age difference. Which would be fine. I have no problem with that. But it did seem a little young for me to be doing what they were doing in the beginning of the book at that age. It seemed a little too fast for me.
In spite of that though, the book made me re-think a lot of things that were taught to me. I live in the US. The racism here is off the charts. Especially recently. So as I was reading this book and keeping in mind throughout the whole process that it was a book meant for children. Kids in 6th to 12th grade. And it was touching on lynching and racism and segregation and all manners of things in somewhat graphic ways...it made me wonder why couldn’t adults read this book and maybe think a little more before they spoke or acted.
