100 Books in 2018

19/ noughts & crosses by malorie blackman

read: 04.03.18 - 07.03.18

book: Noughts & Crosses

author: Malorie Blackman

blurb: 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?

review: This was one of those books that I completely missed reading when growing up. I never followed the hype around it, and I finally just thought to myself this month 'why not?'

I wasn't crazy about it. I liked it. It was an interesting story which gave a clear reflection on society, and it had a very powerful message regarding race. It was scary sometimes how accurate it was to things that I see happen all around me all the time. That aspect of the novel I admired a lot, and it was worthwhile just to read about this really interesting concept and idea for a story.

But...

I didn't like the characters' narration. I found both of them really annoying, and they just didn't feel realistic. They spoke like they were thirteen not their actual ages, even when there was a huge time jump! She was 18 and still acting and speaking like a tween. So the tone of the whole book was a little off for me.

And I wasn't a huge fan of the events towards the end of the book. No spoilers of course, but there are certain things that happen that just seemed too farfetched to actually happen. It just seemed like it was being done to fill a space, if that makes sense. To me it was done too quickly in certain parts which left some of the feelings the characters had seem less authentic.

rating: 7.5/10