61 pages • 2 hours read
Malorie BlackmanNoughts And Crosses
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2001A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman follows the intertwined lives of Sephy Hadley, a Cross, and Callum McGregor, a nought, in a society structured around racial inequality, where Africans hold power over Europeans. As they navigate severe societal tensions, discrimination, and their evolving relationship, they confront personal and political struggles that shape their journeys toward adulthood. The reader should be aware that the text deals with sensitive topics like suicide, rape, bombings, and racial injustices.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Noughts And Crosses by Malorie Blackman is widely praised for its bold exploration of racism and systemic inequality through a compelling, alternate history narrative. Reviewers commend its strong character development and emotional depth. Criticisms include some didactic elements and occasional predictability. Overall, a thought-provoking read.
Who Should Read Noughts And Crosses?
Readers who enjoyed The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins or The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas would find Noughts and Crosses compelling. Ideal for teens and young adults, it appeals to those interested in dystopian settings, social justice, and intricate, emotional narratives probing racial tensions and inequalities.
RecommendedReading Age
12-18yearsLexile Level
290LBook Details
Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction
Romance
Coming of Age / Bildungsroman
Race / Racism
Incarceration
Relationships
Society: Class
Values/Ideas: Equality
Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice