Book #36: Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman
Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is set in an alternate history where Britain is in a sort of reverse apartheid, with society consisting for the dominant crosses and the subservient noughts. At the centre of the story are the two narrators: Sephy (a cross) and Callum (a nought) who are in a Romeo and Juliet-style relationship. Sephy is the daughter of the President, Kamal Hadley, while Callum is part of a poor family, whose father is involved in the liberation militia.
This book was dramatised for the BBC last year, and while I enjoyed the TV version, it was only when reading this book that I realised just how much the BBC changed, including the ending.
I enjoyed every moment of the book; it was enjoyable as it showed that the crosses are not all bad, and that the noughts are not all innocent (the actions of the Liberation Militia prove that). It felt like an eye-opener to how racist society can be even in modern times. One of the most powerful scenes was about Callum protesting about how the history books were written by the crosses, so that no one talks about the past achievements of the noughts. With black lives matter being particularly significant today, it is easy to remember how so many history books ignore much of black history.
The e-book version I read also included a short story that takes place after this book's shocking ending and the start of book 2, Knife Edge, which I definitely want to read at some point.
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