REVIEW: Noughts and Crosses (Malorie Blackman)

Book: Noughts and Crosses
Author: Malorie Blackman

My rating: 3/5

Premise: Sephy is a Cross - a member of the dark-skinned ruling class. Callum is a Nought - a “colourless” member of the underclass who were once slaves to the Crosses. The two have been friends since early childhood, but that’s as far as it can go. In their world, Noughts and Crosses simply don’t mix. Against a background of prejudice and distrust, intensely highlighted by violent terrorist activity, a romance builds between Sephy and Callum - one that is to lead both of them into terrible danger. Can they possibly find a way to be together?

[⚠️CW: racism, oppression]

I'd heard of this book as I grew up and many of my friends had read it, but I'd never got round to this book. Now I have and I can't help but feel like I waited too long to read it. The premise is interesting: a Romeo and Juliet in a society where racism is reversed (ie white people are oppressed). Unfortunately, I read so many dystopian novels as a teenager that this book felt a tad samey. My other issue was that the characters were so young - I just wanted them to stop being so naive and grow up! Finally, the plot got a tad bitty near the end. We kept jumping months, then years, which I felt disrupted the flow. Overall, I think I would've lapped this series up when I was younger, but now it just didn't feel like anything special. I'm still hoping to watch the BBC adaptation of it and see what they do with it!