taleofabibliophile's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Abortion, Bullying, Suicide, Death, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Hate crime, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Racism, Confinement, and Violence
Minor: Infidelity and Sexual content
peepder's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Racism, Violence, Murder, and Suicide
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Religious bigotry, Hate crime, and Confinement
Minor: Abortion
sophilozophy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It is a captivating story about two friends that have to face the prejudices of their world that keeps them apart despite their growing feelings.
This story literally flips history on its head. Sephy is a Cross that lives a life of privilege and power. Callum is a Nought–the underclass that is seen as less than others because of the colour of their skin.
I can't get this book and their story out of my head. The senseless injustice of events in it and how it's all because of the colour of someone's skin.
This novel is heartbreaking and thought-provoking. I wish things like what unfolded in the story were truly fiction and only pages in a book. That could be one of the reasons why this book will stay with me because while I finished it and would like to see it as fiction, I can't. The only fictional thing is the marginalized group in the book is the opposite in reality.
This story literally flips history on its head. Sephy is a Cross that lives a life of privilege and power. Callum is a Nought–the underclass that is seen as less than others because of the colour of their skin.
I can't get this book and their story out of my head. The senseless injustice of events in it and how it's all because of the colour of someone's skin.
This novel is heartbreaking and thought-provoking. I wish things like what unfolded in the story were truly fiction and only pages in a book. That could be one of the reasons why this book will stay with me because while I finished it and would like to see it as fiction, I can't. The only fictional thing is the marginalized group in the book is the opposite in reality.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Hate crime, Violence, Confinement, Death, Grief, Kidnapping, and Racism
Moderate: Xenophobia and Suicidal thoughts
tinygriff's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Well, I had feelings about the plot of this one! Sephy is a Cross, a member of the priveleged black ruling class. Callum is a Nought, one of the whites who were once slaves to the Crosses, and are now second class citizens. They grew up together and became friends despite their differences. Noughts and Crosses is the story of their relationship and how each comes to recognise, and attempts to tackle, the systemic racism of the world in which they live. Their lives and problems are contrasted in alternating chapters, and as the book progresses and Callum and Sephy grow up, the things each of them face become less trivial. I struggled to care about them in the first third or so of the book, but as we learnt more about their history and their families, I was slowly sucked in. I felt compelled to finish the book, just to see what happened! I also found it a little difficult to believe their relationship, but that probably wouldn't have been a problem for teen me! Glad I gave it a chance now, but definitely one I ought to have read when it came out 20 years ago.
Content Warnings
Minor: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, and Suicide
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