Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Noughts & Crosses

By Malorie Blackman 

Blackman's book is targeted towards a teenage /adolescent audience which can have an effect on the response of a more mature readership....... The subject matter of this book is racism where there is a reversal of prejudice: the book showed a parallel prejudice to that which black people had fought against throughout history. She has skilfully integrated historical facts. Blackman has turned the whole race issue on its head by making white people (Noughts ) the underclass citizens who have only been released from slavery 50 years before and black people (Crosses ) who are the privileged dominant class......The reader may feel that the issues brought to life in the book are undeveloped. Towards the end the plot is quite gripping . This could be the trait of a teenage book where the issues are portrayed at a level that is stimulating and informing . Blackman has done a good job in remaining neutral . Not all Crosses are prejudiced and the racism works both ways. A thrilling book with very believable characters and a realistic ending : not everyone lives happily ever after. One reader did not expect to enjoy the book then couldn't put it down, finding it enjoyable and thought provoking so once again a mixed response to this book.