Noughts and Crosses

Malorie Blackman’s Noughts and Crosses is a surprisingly thought-provoking read. For a novel aimed at teenagers/young adults it is exceptionally dark and at times deeply disturbing given its undertones of historical, political and social relevance. It is much than a take on Romeo and Juliet, it is much more than a forbidden love story.

It is wonderfully gritty, yet surprisingly subtle. The reader is never slapped across the face with the racial overtones running throughout, and Blackman does amazingly to weave the prejudices into the story, so it shines through naturally and never appears forced, or commented upon for the sake of it. A book that I wholeheartedly recommend not just for young adults but for adults of all ages. I defy anyone not to find some moral relevance in its pages that makes them sit up and take notice of this modern masterpiece.

Highly recommended.

Absolutely fantastic.

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