Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman

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Matthew Williams        PSL STUDY        Mrs Black

Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman

In this essay I intend to show how the relationship between the two main characters in Malorie Blackman’s first book, “Noughts and Crosses”, matures and reflect on the difficulties they face in a society where people from different races are treated differently.

The book is split into two separate parts.  Part of the story is told by Sephy (a cross) whose father is a leading politician. Her family consists of her Mum and her Dad and her older sister Minerva. They live in a huge house with servants. Callum (who tells the other half of the story and is a nought) lives in a run down house and his family barely have enough money to get by. He also has a Mum and a Dad as well as Jude, his older brother. Both families have more than their fair share of problems.

The first indication that the friends, Sephy and Callum, have feelings for each other comes straight away when Callum says, “ Can I kiss you?” Sephy does not really like this idea at first and thinks “Yeuk” and wrinkles up her nose. However, she eventually agrees though says, “Make it fast!”  They kiss very awkwardly and Callum says, “If you can’t kiss your friends then who can you kiss!” This shows that they still feel too young to have a relationship but at this stage there is no real worries for either of them, although, Callum seems distant at times. These quotations tell the first stage of a long and difficult relationship to come.

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The first indication that Callum is not entirely happy with his life is when he shares his thoughts with Sephy that he would like to escape but bitterly says that the whole world is like the place he is in now. Sephy does not realise what he means but Callum says, “You’re on the inside, Sephy. I’m not.” This quote shows how Callum feels some resentment towards the crosses (dark-skinned people). At this point the main reason is the fact that he, a nought (white skin) who previously went to a nought-only school that have a lack of resources ...

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