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Double Cross (Noughts & Crosses #4)

by Malorie Blackman (Goodreads Author)

4.11 of 5 stars 4.11 · rating details · 2,680 ratings · 94 reviews

Tobey wants a better life - for him and his girlfriend Callie Rose. He wants nothing to do with the gangs that rule the world he lives in. But when he's offered the chance to earn some money just for making a few 'deliveries', just this once, would it hurt to say 'yes'?

The captivating conclusion/companion Novel of the Noughts and Crosses series.

Paperback, 480 pages

Published November 6th 2009 by Random House (first published November 6th 2008)

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Mar 26, 2013 Char rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, read-in-2013, noughts-and-crosses, malorie-blackman-month, malorie-blackman

If this had been a stand alone novel I'd have given it four stars. I'm taking away a star because it's an unnecessary part of the series. Full review in the next few days.

FULL REVIEW

To read my pre read thoughts and reasons for rating please visit my blog From the Shadows I Review

Well, this is a hard one to review. Partly because I feel that this book is good and partly because I feel that being part of the ‘Noughts and Crosses’ series ruins it. I mean ruins because it didn’t have to be, this b...more If this had been a stand alone novel I'd have given it four stars. I'm taking away a star because it's an unnecessary part of the series. Full review in the next few days.

FULL REVIEW

To read my pre read thoughts and reasons for rating please visit my blog From the Shadows I Review

Well, this is a hard one to review. Partly because I feel that this book is good and partly because I feel that being part of the ‘Noughts and Crosses’ series ruins it. I mean ruins because it didn’t have to be, this book could have stood up by itself and been counted. It didn’t need to be tagged on to a series, it’s so relevant to the youth of today and it hits hard. Putting it in an alternative reality is like taking something that’s meant to cause damage and wrapping it in bubble wrap. It needed to feel like it happens in our society for the simple reason that IT DOES. The premise is good, I mean once I’d got into the story I adored what was happening. It wasn’t a slow burner and once Tobey was drawn into the gangs I was hooked! The writing is perfect, it paints the scenes so well without adding words that don’t need to be there. I genuinely liked the story. One of Malorie’s best ideas! (That I’ve read anyway!)

Tobey – Tobey is Callie-Rose’s childhood friend. He’s also our MC. This is the first time we’ve had his POV and at first I thought that he was more than a bit of a jerk. As much as he wants us to think that his actions are purely driven by events that happen to those around him, it’s a very selfish reason that means events snowball out of control in the first place. However I like that he tried to rectify his mistakes and that on the inside he was alright. Did I like him? I’m not entirely sure, I’m edging towards no to be honest. He did too little too late for me. He was incredibly realistic though, just the sort of person you can see getting caught up in the events of ‘Double Cross’.

Dan – He’s not the biggest character in the story but he is one of the most significant. He’s a total tool. I felt that not even his redemption part was enough for me. He just didn’t seem sincere. I felt like he might’ve had his own reasons for doing what he did. But we’ll never know (hopefully. I don’t want to! I want to imagine. This is not a plea for a book 5.) He’s a shady guy, if I met him I’d cross the road. Or knee him where it hurts if he tried anything... and I think he would.

Rebecca – I think she’s quite a random character to want to mention but she was actually one of the most likeable in the book in my opinion. She was the only character that didn’t feel like she had a dark secret or hidden intentions and I liked that. She didn’t deserve to be in the situation she was in. I wanted more for her. Why did you do that Malorie?

Overall, I liked this a lot. I loved the plot, the characters fitted the gritty reality of the story. The writing was what I’ve come to expect off Malorie, and more. As a standalone novel I’d hail this as one of Malorie’s best. However it isn’t a standalone novel. It’s a part of the ‘Noughts and Crosses’ series and I’m marking it down for that. Purely because it doesn’t feel like it belongs, it doesn’t feel like it’s meant to be in that world. It feels like it’s meant to be in ours. A few mentions of the L.M. and keeping the characters doesn’t make a book feel like it belongs. I can get why it was a good idea to market this as part of the series but for me it doesn’t work like that and that makes me sad.(less)

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Feb 02, 2013 Shannon rated it 4 of 5 stars

I give this a four but it was mainly for the charcters, I thought the plot was lacking in places. The things I like most about the book are the characters and the realsim of it.

The characters are, as ever, filled with personalities and although it’s not Sephy and Callum we are seeing, but Toby and Callie, the characters are still interesting. I also think that switching P.O.V, although it doesn’t happen so much in this book but it is still done affectively and I love the insight into the differe...more

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Jun 12, 2010 *danielle* rated it 5 of 5 stars

Having been a HUGE fan of the "Noughts and Crosses" series, I was somewhat anxious about this fourth novel. The third book had drawn everything to a nice close, and to be honest, I couldn't really see where the characters could be taken now.
Luckily, my doubts were unfounded. What was especially nice about this book was that it draw away from the Callum/Sephy storyline and created a whole new story based on the relationship between Callie and Toby, whilst still referring back to the original an...more

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Jun 20, 2012 c a t h e y rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-twenty-twelve

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 13, 2009 Josie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: best-ever

When I heard about this book coming out I went crazy. I looked everywhere for spoilers (something I am telling you NEVER DO), and all I found out was that it was going to involve drugs and gangs. I waited months for it to come out, and read it in two days (which involved my English teacher threatening to convincate it because I stayed up to midnight reading XD). And it didn't disappoint. It was as fantastic as all the rest.

In many ways it was more like Noughts and Crosses than Checkmate and Knif...more

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Apr 24, 2011 Jess rated it 5 of 5 stars

Double Cross gave me the teen-romance I'd been missing on in Knife Edge and Checkmate. Tobey and Callie, now grown up, have to deal with the same hardships Callum and Sephy had to deal with back in Noughts and Crosses. And Callie still has to deal from the fact that she isn't one-sided, a Nought or a Cross, she is somewhere in the middle. Tobey, who I loved since we first met him, gets pulled into the world he vowed he would never be involved him. He fights to prove that he will find a way out a...more

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Jul 25, 2012 Melita Sheppard rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is amazing. Malorie B certainly wrote a very exciting and challenging book here. The basic storyline is standard boy/girl stuff but add racism to it and it catches fire. It made me think about how I treat people who are different on the outside to me, I believe myself not to be racist but I haven't thought about things like nude plasters before, well they are a natural part of life if we are all white, but very different otherwise. Maybe we should all wear green ones so we all look da...more

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Dec 27, 2012 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

I want to start off by saying how sad I am that this great series has come to an end, I have read through these books so fast, and now I am on the last one.
Double Cross begins with Calliestill coming to terms with what happened at the hotel in the previous book, she is a mixed bag of emotions, sadness, loss, lonely, and blames herself for what transpired. Tobey is the one person who she knows she can turn to when she needs a shoulder to cry on, or just be there for her. One personpurposelygets i...more I want to start off by saying how sad I am that this great series has come to an end, I have read through these books so fast, and now I am on the last one.
Double Cross begins with Callie still coming to terms with what happened at the hotel in the previous book, she is a mixed bag of emotions, sadness, loss, lonely, and blames herself for what transpired. Tobey is the one person who she knows she can turn to when she needs a shoulder to cry on, or just be there for her. One person purposely gets in their way, Misty. She is a constant thorn in their sides, making her presence known, and her intentions clear, she wants Tobey, but he has other thoughts about her which are made clear near the beginning of the book.

Tobey grinned ruefully. 'Well its true. If she ever had an original thought it would die of loneliness.'

Tobey only wants what is best for Callie, and initially they start off as good friends. All is going well between them until he takes a step of his path, and with good intentions at heart, does what he never wanted to do, getting involved with the local gangs.

Double Cross features Tobey a lot, and after what happens to Callie he goes out of his way to get revenge, and I can't decide if he was ridiculously brave, or ridiculously stupid for doing what he does. With his plan is set in motion there was a constant threat of getting caught and I found myself feeling nervous when I had to turn the page wondering if he would be ok or not. If I would turn over to discover he had died, or that something had happened to Callie. I don't want to say too much about Double Cross as you need to read it yourself to find out what happens (and what I am going on about)
If I rated the books I had read for the blog, then Double Cross would be off the charts. The twists and turns made sure to keep me fully engrossed in the story, constantly on edge and wanting to know what happens next. Double Cross concludes the series amazingly well and I am sad to see it all come to an end. This series is a definite re-read for me and one that I would recommend to everyone.(less)

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May 05, 2011 Meagan rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was actually really surprised by this books. The other three in the series are told from the perspectives of each of the characters, and it swaps around from each character all the time.

In Double Cross most of the story is told from Tobey’s point of view. I really liked it. While the other books are about the inequalities between noughts and crosses, in this book it’s more about the “gangs” and such of the nought neighbourhoods and how Tobey gets mixed up with them.
The book is all about his p...more

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Jul 16, 2010 Anna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, own-in-england

I was a little worried when I picked up Double Cross - the Noughts and Crosses series is one of my favourites, and the third book, Checkmate, had been my favourite of the three. I was worried I'd be disappointed. But Malorie Blackman is as fantastic as ever.

If the past two books were more emotional, this one has more adventure in it. It is mainly told by Tobey Durbridge's - Callie Rose's best friend - point of view. To be honest, I was very disappointed to never hear Sephy's voice again, and tha...more

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Aug 17, 2012 Booklover6 rated it 5 of 5 stars

I've been a huge fan of the series and this book did not disappoint!

I felt this book really rounded things up nicely, and while the ending was still a little open, you still knew that it was implied everything was going to be alright. I have fallen in love with the characters in over the series and was more than a little sad when i finished it. I'm glad Malorie decided to bring out another book to finidh everything off.

Another heart-wrenching read from a fabulous author, sending out a profound...more

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Dec 25, 2012 Book Chick City rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, book-list-2009

This is the fourth installment in the Noughts & Crosses series which focuses mainly on Tobey and his relationship with Callie and how he gets mixed up with the wrong people without really wanting to. There is no Liberation Militia in this book, only two rival gangs with Tobey in the middle. It shows how money, or the lack of it, can be the motivation for good kids to do bad things.

Most of it is written through the eyes of Tobey and although we do get to hear Callie Rose at the very beginning...more

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Aug 25, 2009 Rachel Brand rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: malorie-blackman, library, 2009, teen-ya, almost-favourites

I have mixed thoughts about this book. Although it was captivating, enjoyable and full of lots of great character development, I had thought that the series was finished off suitably in #3. After all, it's been several years since I read the book, and I had originally thought (upon finishing #3) "Oh, I wonder who Callie chooses - Lucas or Tobey?" the thought didn't bother me for long. I suppose this is a bit like Meg Cabot's Missing/1-800-WHERE-R-YOU series; it also had an extra book tacked on t...more

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Mar 23, 2012 Becky rated it 5 of 5 stars

I adore the Noughts and Crosses series, some of the best books ever written. I bought this book as soon as it came out, but I never got round to it, it's been sitting on my shelf staring at me and I've been aching to read it so I finally made myself sit down with it. And I'm glad I did.
This story follows on from the dramatic events at the end of book 3. The only difference is that this book is only told from Tobey and Callie's point of view, and a big chunk of the book is just Tobey.
Obviously Se...more I adore the Noughts and Crosses series, some of the best books ever written. I bought this book as soon as it came out, but I never got round to it, it's been sitting on my shelf staring at me and I've been aching to read it so I finally made myself sit down with it. And I'm glad I did.
This story follows on from the dramatic events at the end of book 3. The only difference is that this book is only told from Tobey and Callie's point of view, and a big chunk of the book is just Tobey.
Obviously Sephy and Meggie are featured, mentioned etc, but they do not head any of the chapters and i must admit part of me missed them, they are such well rounded and developed characters that not having them felt a bit like missing a friend. But this story is focused on Tobey and Callie Rose and so makes sense to be between the two of them.
I love the pair's easy going humour and sarcasm and how they seem to just fit together. But they are on a rocky path.
I devoured the beginning of the book, I couldn't look away and laughed out loud in places and then screamed aloud at a very dramatic part (scaring the other person in the room as I screamed) I did find that the second half moved a little slower, having it single point of view felt strange for this story, but did give a deeper insight to Tobey and allowed us to get to know him. He does some things that may surprise you, but I feel like his heart was in the right place and I couldn't help but like him.
I would have liked to see Sephy more in the second half, she features in conversations with Tobey, but part of me felt like the situation was so big I would liked to have had a deeper insight to her reaction.
However what we did have was a good story and I can appreciate everything that was put in. There are so many twists and turns and you're never totally sure who to trust.
I can't believe I waited so long to read this book, I think I'm mental. I do feel a bit sad now it's over though, I love this series so much I just want more and more and more, maybe that's why I put off reading it for so long, I didn't want it to end.

I think this is one series that every single person should read, it's just breath-taking. In fact, I finished reading this book about 5 hours ago but I still can't stop thinking about it and wishing for more, remembering moments still makes me catch my breath. Just beautiful, story-telling at it's best.

I will add a warning - it is written on the back of the book 'Not suitable for younger readers', this book contains drug usage, violence and sex. so I would be careful as to what age you let read it, but none of it is just thrown in, it all has a purpose and is explained in the storyline and does make a difference, so I don't have a problem with it being there, just be warned for younger/immature readers.(less)

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Feb 10, 2013 Connie rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a great finale to the Noughts and Crosses sequence, and overall I enjoyed the books a lot. Tobey was an amazing character, being witty and sarcastic, and is definitely my favourite male leading character of all the books, and I was happy to find almost the whole book was based around him. I enjoyed seeing that his life wasn't easy, just like Callie-Rose's, and that he has his own struggles.

I give this book 5/5 for being a wonderful ending for an amazing series, and the Noughts and Cros...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Kayce rated it 5 of 5 stars

I don't think I can express how much I loved this book! It wasn't just some love story it gives you a better understanding of how people where treated. It was a different intake of historical events, the book isn't just awesome it was clever the way it was written the plot everything about this book was great. I loved how the point of view changed it gave you a better insight on the two characters and how the racism of people effected them and their lives. The book is nothing like I could ever i...more

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Dec 14, 2012 Sophie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 5-stars, favorites

Awawawawawawaaw! TOBEY<3!
Omfg, the sex scene is just so awkward, as neither of the two have ever had sex but even so, its just strange. Tobey is so cuuuuuuuuute! The way he got himeself in all the trouble just so he could get McAuley back for shooting her, just so lush<3! Wish a boy would do that for me if i got shot fairplay!:L
My worry was that malorie balckman would kind of ruin the ending and after four books the ending would be awful, BUT NO, MALORIE BLACKMAN DOSENT DO ANYTHING AWFULLY...more

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Oct 03, 2012 Isabella rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: perfect-couplr

I sped through this book like lightning almost tearing the pages. Although I liked this book a lot, I found it really annoying in parts of it. For example: Callie (I still liked her). I found it quite irritating that she was constantly finding problems and causing them in everything she did. Half of the book was spent either hating Tobey or her mum. Despite that I found this book an absolute page-turner.

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Apr 21, 2011 Catherine Daou rated it 4 of 5 stars

I actually really liked this book because it was not (in my opinion) as tragic as the rest of the books, although, it was not as exciting and action filled as the rest, and I enjoyed seeing what happened to the characters of the story even if it was not an actual sequel to the trilogy...
So all in all a very good read, but don't expect to be blown away after reading the Noughts and Crosses Trilogy.

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Aug 15, 2011 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Noughts and Crosses series dwindles as one makes progress, and at first this book confirmed that. However, it picks up about 2/5 of the way through and from there it is fast-paced and exciting. Callie-Rose is a poor character and I believe it is her that makes the previous so dull, she does not compare to the other characters. Malorie Blackman made a wise move omitting her for the majority of the book, moving away from her storyline and creating something anew with Tobey. Great but I don't t...more

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Jul 03, 2011 Helena Bartlett rated it 4 of 5 stars

I liked this book however I think it's a bit if a letdown to the series. It was mostly only from one point of view and I would have likes to read from sephy or meggie or tobey's mum's point of view during the crisis's that were going on. I felt that Malorie Blackman didn't didn't help us to get to know the characters as much a she has done and the end felt like it was a planned end to the whole series but still open for another book. The plot line and the whole idea was good I felt as it broaden...more

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Aug 20, 2010 Esther rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was somewhat hesitant to read Double Cross as I felt it couldn't possibly live up to the first three books. The book is mainly in Toby's point of view and his relationship with Callie.
I was slightly disappointed with the whole gangs and drugs aspect and I accept that my expectations were probably far to high but I did want to hear more from Callie throughout.

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Jun 26, 2011 Kousha rated it 3 of 5 stars

i thought this book was amazing, but my only problem with it is that it veered off from the original plot of the series where it revolved around sephy and callie etc. and focused more on toby, which i found a bit disappointing. But maybe this was neccesary so that their story didnt seem too dragged out? i'm not sure :/ xxx

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Dec 26, 2012 RandomPurpleGirl rated it 5 of 5 stars

Double Cross is a reviving book, which throws society from its seat and shows the world another view of the world we live in,and how we live it. Double Cross is the most amazing book I have read, I would recommend this book to everyone, it helped me realise how prejudice the world is without even trying.

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Jul 07, 2012 Stephen Bradley rated it 4 of 5 stars

It's been a long time since I read the other books in this series, some 5 years ago. When I read those, I loved them! I think this book is probably almost as good as them, but perhaps being a bit older, I find the plot somewhat see-through and very similar to the other books. Perhaps would have been better if I'd read it at a similar age to the others! Nonetheless, a great series for those a bit younger than my 22 years!

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Jun 03, 2011 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars

I still found this book gripping but feel it lacked the whole theme running through the other books. It didn't have the same focus on noughts and crosses and the fight for equality as the others did. It barely mentioned it in some cases.

Still thrilling but I don't feel like it should have ended the way that it did.

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Jan 13, 2011 Mark Nunn rated it 5 of 5 stars

A fantastic book. If you've read the rest of the Noughts and Crosses series you'll already be planning on reading this book to see how the story continues, and you won't be disappointed. The storyline is as well written and as impossible to put down as all the books in the series.

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Nov 18, 2010 Jody Bloom rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 21, 2009 Kate added it

My favorite after the first book.
Toby is such a cute guy, nothing like when he was a kiddie in Checkmate.
I was so so happy when he and Callie got back together at the end.
It was all so dramatic and I can't believe how badly Toby got screwed up.
:(
:)

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Feb 29, 2012 Naomi rated it 2 of 5 stars

Ashamed to say I never finished it (although I may go back to it at some point) I found the narrative too childish and Callie and Toby didn't really draw me in like Callum and Sephy did I'm sad to say, think Blackman maybe should have left it with Checkmate.

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About Malorie Blackman

An award-winning children's author, Malorie Blackman was honoured with an OBE in 2008. Her work has been adapted for TV and stage.

More information available at:
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Double Cross (Noughts & Crosses #4)

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