Star-crossed lovers in a very different world – we review Noughts and Crosses.
Noughts and Crosses – the blurb
Sephy is a Cross: she lives a life of privilege and power. But she’s lonely, and burns with injustice at the world she sees around her.
Callum is a nought: he’s considered to be less than nothing – a blanker, there to serve Crosses – but he dreams of a better life.
They’ve been friends since they were children, and they both know that’s as far as it can ever go. Noughts and Crosses are fated to be bitter enemies – love is out of the question.
Then – in spite of a world that is fiercely against them – these star-crossed lovers choose each other.
But this is a love story that will lead both of them into terrible danger . . . and which will have shocking repercussions for generations to come.
Haven’t I seen that on TV?
Yes you probably have. Noughts and Crosses was made into a very successful BBC series starring Stormzy non the less (who is quoted as saying the book is one of his favourites of all time). Unusually for me I watched before I read. It’s been around for ages (2001 in fact) but is just never one that made it to my TBR until I watched the series and thought ‘I have to read this’.
I loved the concept of Crosses (those with black skin) dominating society. I thought the BBC did a wonderful job of capturing this on the TV show – the city skyline with it’s female skyscraper, the black Elastoplast. The book was less subtle although I loved how noughts were not capitalised whereas Crosses always were.
Is change a good thing?
The book is in some ways VERY different to the series. Callum starts a Cross school not the army, several years pass during the course of its 450 pages and Callum has a sister. The biggest change for me however was Sephy. Much was made of how young and immature she is in the book but in the TV series she was older, feisty and determined. I liked the latter version more. The main threads were there however and if you haven’t watched the show the book Sephy is just fine.
It’s a brilliant young adult read (parents of younger readers – there are a few adult themes, be aware) that truly opens the eyes to racial inequality. Even now, some 20 years later, classrooms should read it, libraries should stock it and you should read it.