Blackman's absorbing but alarming novel deals with themes of racism and prejudice . . . Unforgettable

Stimulating and emotionally satisfying

A gritty read for older children . . . At times this is a beautiful love story; at other times it is a harrowing and moral tale...

Packs some powerful political punches...But Blackman never compromises the story, which is dramatic, moving and brave

Inter-racial teenage love has never been more painful

'A crisp, well-constructed read... constantly instructive. It would make a wonderful television series.  Let's hope somebody has the courage to make it'

'This incredibly powerful story snaps hold of the reader's mind and doesn't let go. Magnificent.'
 

'Startling and provocative - guaranteed to help young readers see events in a different way from the cultural and historical norm with which they have grown up...   Blackman is known for her tightly plotted, fast moving fiction...  with its powerful theme of racial injustice, Noughts & Crosses engages the reader at a greater depth and in a more demanding way than any of Blackman's previous work. I read it in one sitting, reluctant to put it down, and so, I'm sure, will many young readers'

'A book which will linger in the mind long after it has been read and which will challenge children to think again and again about the cliches and stereotypes with which they are presented.... a novel that will challenge and engage people from l3 up'

"A stimulating and provocative plot line that often leaves the reader chilled to the bone... Noughts and Crosses is written with the passion of an author who has a personal, chilling vision of the past, present and future.  Blackman cuts to the bone, turning the preconceived ideas of racial prejudice upside down, ensuring tht her point is well and truly made in a deeply disturbing and totally absorbing novel with a shocking climax that packs an unforgettable punch."

'A gritty read for older children...  A times this is a beautiful love story; at other times it is a harrowing and moral tale.  Narrating believably through the voices of two teenagers, Malorie Blackman has written an incredible novel that is as heart-rending as it is provocative.  I had to read it all in one sitting, and I challenge any reader not to do the same'

'Juggles a flawlessly paced thriller involving terrorist kidnapping and the Romeo and Juliet romance between a politician's daughter (a 'Cross') and a poor white boy (a 'Nought')'

'...a bruising tome and her most ambitious novel to date.  An author who has worked hard not to be identified too closely with any particular genre, she has built a complex and challenging novel around an alternative version of apartheid.' 
 

'A sad, bleak, brutal novel that promotes empathy and understanding of the history of civil rights as it inverts truths about racial injustice. It shows the destructive and dehumanising effect of constant denigration and abuse, and the desperation it gives rise to.  It demonstrates, too, that in a divided society, both sides are guilty of perpetuating hatred and hurting each other. But this is also a novel about love, and inspires the reader to wish for a world that is not divided by colour or class'

These books grip you from start to finish, so much so that I completed the first title in one sitting... The way theviewpoints are juggled between the main characters development, and helps build suspense. A rollercoaster ride of emotions, this is a thrilling read- five stars!