Noughts and Crosses

6 primary works • 9 total works Complete

Noughts and Crosses

by Malorie Blackman

Published 15 January 2001

Callum is a nought - a second-class citizen in a world run by the ruling Crosses. He is also one of the first nought youngsters to be given the chance of a decent education by studying at a school for Crosses. Sephy is a Cross - can Callum and Sephy possibly find a way to be together?

An Eye for an Eye

by Malorie Blackman

Published 27 February 2003

Can two wrongs ever make a right? Sephy is a Cross - the daughter of a top politician and a member of the ruling class. She is also six months pregnant. But Sephy's baby will be a mixed-race child, its father a nought - in world where the two classes are divided by colour and never treated as equals. Even worse, the baby's father, Callum, is dead. And now Sephy - and her sister, Minerva - must face a violent confrontation with Callum's brother, Jude, who is thirsting for revenge. For Jude reckons that Sephy was responsible for Callum's death.

Callum

by Malorie Blackman

Published 1 April 2012

A powerful short story featuring Sephy and Callum, stars of the original dystopian bestseller, Noughts and Crosses. First released exclusively for World Book Day 2012.

Knife Edge

by Malorie Blackman

Published 5 February 2004

A frightened girl running barefoot on a knife edge ...that's how eighteen-year-old Sephy feels as she gazes down at her new-born daughter, Callie Rose. Whilst Sephy is a Cross, the baby's father, Callum, was a nought, giving Callie Rose dual heritage in a society where the ruling Crosses treat the pale-skinned noughts - blankers - as second-class citizens. What kind of world will her daughter grow up into? One which is more equal? Or one where discrimination still has the power to destroy lives? Sephy can only hope that the tomorrows will be better than the yesterdays. But fifteen years later, Callie Rose's actions are to plunge both of them into the heart of danger, forcing Sephy - once again - to take sides ...Sequel to the award-winning Noughts & Crosses, Knife Edge is a razor-sharp and intensely moving novel for older readers. Set against an epic background of conflict, confrontation and courage, it is impossible to put down - and impossible to forget.

Checkmate

by Malorie Blackman

Published 30 June 2005

Can the future ever erase the past? Rose has a Cross mother and a Nought father in a society where the pale-skinned Noughts are treated as inferiors and those with dual heritage face a life-long battle against deep-rooted prejudices. Sephy, her mother, has told Rose virtually nothing about her father, but as Rose grows into a young adult, she unexpectedly discovers the truth about her parentage and becomes determined to find out more, to honour both sides of her heritage. But her father's family has a complicated history - one tied up with the fight for equality for the Nought population. And as Rose takes her first steps away from Sephy and into this world, she finds herself drawn inexorably into more and more danger. Suddenly it's a game of very high stakes that can only have one winner...

Double Cross

by Malorie Blackman

Published 6 November 2008

Everyone assumes the bomb that killed Callie Rose's grandmother was the work of a nought terrorist. But Callie Rose knows the truth - and her fear of the past leaves her afraid for her future. Her boyfriend Tobey is worried about his own future. A nought boy at an exclusive school Tobey hopes to keep out of trouble, go to university, get a good job and leave the dangerous streets of his childhood behind. But Tobey is discovering that he can't keep clinging to some kind of no-man's land while the neighbourhood around him is carved up by rival gangs. Then he is offered the chance to earn some ready money just making a few 'deliveries'. He doesn't want a part of that world, the world of gangs. But maybe he could get away with it, just this once ...He little realizes how his decision will bring violence down on both himself and Callie and just how far he will go in fighting back...

Nought Forever

by Malorie Blackman

Published 28 February 2019

A powerful new Noughts & Crosses story from legendary author Malorie Blackman, written for World Book Day 2019

I've never been shot before. It's dark but I keep seeing white flashes before my eyes like spots of lightning jabbing at me. Am I going into shock? Must be. But I can't pass out, not now. Then I'll be dead for sure.

Dan is on the run - hiding from a ruthless gang who want him dead.

It's one of those nights. One of those nights where I sit alone and watch the world go by. One of those nights when if my hatred were fuel, I would happily light a match and watch the whole world burn.

Eva just wants to be left alone to mourn her daughter. But when a badly wounded Dan crosses her path, she's compelled to help.

Both are hiding dark secrets from their past. Both have reasons to fear the other. But they are both connected to each other too, and before the night is over, Eva will be forced to choose: betray Dan, or protect him - whatever the cost.

Crossfire

by Malorie Blackman

Published 8 August 2019

'The Noughts & Crosses series are still my favourite books of all time and showed me just how amazing story-telling could be' STORMZY

'I grew up reading her. It was one of the few books about black people, so I felt seen.' CANDICE CARTY-WILLIAMS

'The most original book I've ever read' BENJAMIN ZEPHANIAH

'Malorie Blackman is absolutely amazing ... [Noughts & Crosses] really spoke to me, especially as a woman of dual heritage.' ZAWE ASHTON

'Crossfire is searing, political and furious. Malorie's world building is sublime and the way the Noughts & Crosses series holds a mirror up to society is unrivalled' JUNO DAWSON
_____

Years have passed since the love between Sephy - a Cross - and Callum - a Nought - destroyed their world and changed their families and society forever.

Society appears to be very different now. For the first time ever, a Nought Prime Minister - Tobey Durbridge - is in power. Race and class don't divide people anymore. But things are never really that easy.

Because Tobey's just been framed for murder, and the only way to free himself is to turn to his oldest friend - Callie-Rose.

Their families divisions run deep, and when two young people are kidnapped, their lives and everything they've fought for are put in the firing line.

And when you're playing a game as dangerous as this one, it won't be long before someone gets caught in the crossfire...

Crossfire is the long-awaited new novel in legendary author Malorie Blackman's ground-breaking Noughts & Crosses series.

'Rich in moral and social issues, it is devastating about racial attitudes' THE SUNDAY TIMES, CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE WEEK

'It chillingly echoes the tempestuous taste of the world today while offering the intensity of a thriller' I NEWSPAPER

Endgame

by Malorie Blackman

Published 16 September 2021

It is 20 years in 2021 since Malorie Blackman's groundbreaking series began with Noughts & Crosses, which charted the deeply forbidden romance between Sephy (a Cross) and Callum (a nought) - a love affair which had repercussions for their families for generations.

Endgame, the breathtaking conclusion to the series, influenced by the unprecedented global events of recent years, is full of twists and turns and emotions, with its incredible characters reaching a dramatic conclusions to their stories.

'The cliffhanger ending will leave fans desperately awaiting the next installment' Mail on Sunday, 'Must-Read Books of the year, 2019' on Crossfire.The powerful conclusion to iconic author Malorie Blackman's ground-breaking Noughts & Crosses -the series that taught a generation to think and act differently.