Malorie Blackman: Noughts & Crosses

[Mike]

I was impressed by the quality of this novel for teenagers; it has won several awards including the Children's Book Award. I saw it recommended and with its unusual and provocative storyline I thought it would be good for my teenage daughter, She read it very quickly and pressed me to read it as well. Undeniably thought provoking and yet so alarmingly simple I'm surprised I hadn't heard of it before. Subtle the storyline isn't, the alternate world drawn by the author is separated into two types of people - Noughts and Crosses - the Crosses have the best of everything the Noughts have nothing fit only as menial servants with little chance of education, poor housing and no access to justice. Well its and interesting take on Racism, the Crosses in the narrative are Black and the Noughts are white - I said it wasn't subtle, the author builds a racist world complete with racist jargon and manages to convey difficult and perilous subject without offending anyone and brilliantly too. It reads like its set in the Deep South in the 19th century but its set in modern UK albeit in a strange parallel universe. It handles these deep-troubling issues in a frank and brutal way yet because the author has built this parallel universe she can explore these issues frankly and fully in a new way without offence and in a way suitable for older children. It is unremittingly bleak in places, that has to be said but the subject is no rose garden, yet it does speak to both sides of the racial divide appealing to the humanity in all of us under the colour of our skin. Written for older children it does lack some of the in depth detail that leaves an adult reader going "but what about…." " Hang on what is …." But I suppose if the author got bogged down with all the detail the book would be twice as long, the basic premise is enough to carry the narrative forward. A great book for the intelligent younger reader, a thought provoking book for adults with many questions raised. I'll recommend this one for young and old alike!!