The end

I was not expecting that ending at all! I thought it really made it clear the effects our words have, as opposed to our actions. As far as the civil rights movment goes, american history portrays the peaceful methods of MLK as the superiour method. Sephie was exemplifying that, though deciding to keep the baby, and making it clear that callum didn't rape her. It was pretty heartbreaking at the end when she didnt know if he had hear her yell that she loved him, but i think the fact that everyone else there also hear her say it, as well as the fact that she publicly declared it, makes a huge difference. Going forward she's obviously going to make sure that their child, who will be half cross half naught, will live in an equal world as possible, something its father died for. I honestly thought they would both die, following the romeo and juliet theme, but when that didnt happen i wonder if in the sequils, their familes will be partly reconsiled? Maybe not Sephie's family, but i could image Callums family, mainly his motehr who got kind og ignored at the end of the book, accepting Sephie and her child. I'm interested to read the sequils to see how much their sacrefice was worth in the end.

post 2 - this could end badly

This book was described to me as a Romeo and Juliet sort of book, but it didn't really hit be until Callum was standing in the rose garden, looking up at Sephie on the balcony. I think that was definitely intentional on the part of the author, and it's making me kind of nervous for the end of the book; is their death going to be the thing that reconciles their families? I hope not, for the sake of the characters, as well as for the sake of the book; it would seem unrealistic to me that the death could have such an affect on the community like it did in Romeo and Juliet, race being such a bigger issue then a family feud. But even if it changes just their families perspective, it would be worth it i think. This book go a lot darker then i thought it would, the simplistic writing style contrast the dark themes. On the surface its racism which is a huge issue, but below thats its about trying to fit in the world, choices, and conformity. I also love Sephie's character development so far; I thought she was one dimensional at first, but the choices she face help shape her and make her more relatable. And Callum's problem is should he side with his family who is more violent, or sephie who is more peaceful but not "one of them"? I love how the book draw into question what's more important - family or values? Sephie and Callum seem to be making different choices,

Post 1

As I started out reading this book, I realized that very specific events were being mirrored here. For instance, When Callum and the other naught kids try to get into the school on their first day, and are physically and verbally assaulted. This exact thing happened during the American civil rights movement, and in my group this started some serious debate on whether this book was set in the US or in England. The author is British, and several British slang words are used, but i think the strong allusions to events and people involved in the American Civil rights movement makes the fact that they live in a more American society more convincing. I hope that the entire book won't be a retelling of events that have already happened, I was hoping for more original material. Other then that the book starts off very easy to understand and read, which is a nice change from the denser books we've been reading this year.

Growing Up

Throughout Naughts and Crosses I think it is interesting to see the change in the way Sephy and Callum see the world.  Sephy starts off as very naive and spoiled.   She doesn't see how there can be anything bad in the world and doesn't understand when Callum tries to explain it to her.  Callum on the other hand grows up being too aware of the difference between naughts and crosses.  During the story Callum's view of the world becomes darker.  By joining the Liberation Militia Callum's view of naughts and crosses is tainted by the extreme opinions of the other members.  Sephy goes to school and finally begins to see the differences that most crosses believe in.  But at the end of the book when she and Callum are reunited she still cannot comprehend why they shouldn't be allowed to be together.  Callum's death is something Sephy both understands and doesn't understand at the same time.  She can see why some crosses feel the way they do but she doesn't understand why naughts should have to die for the color of their skin.  Sephy keeping the baby shows her wish that everyone could be equal.

The ending (Spoiler alert)

The ending of Naughts and Crosses came as quite a shock to me. I was really hoping that something would intervene and stop Callum's execution--almost expecting it. I really liked the character of Callum and everything that he stood for. I wanted to see him live so I could read about him in a sequel. I actually went out and got the sequel to Naughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman entitled Knife Edge and read it over the course of last weekend to see what happened and find out if Callum had really died--I am still somewhat saddened by this fact but I understand why Blackman chose to kill her character off. In the sequel, Knife Edge, Callum's brother Jude takes center stage and much of the story is told through his eyes...his vengeful eyes. While Jude is a far less likeable character than his deceased brother Callum, he is certainly just as interesting to read and is almost sympathetic at times as it is quite clear that he loved his brother dearly.

Callum Changing

I was struck by the remarkable change seen in Callum following Sephy's going off to boarding school. Something inside him...the part of him that loved and felt effectively died or was suppressed very deep within him out of necessity. At the beginning of the story, Callum is much unlike his fellow naughts as his attitude is one of 'live and let live' so to speak, not really seeking retribution of any sort against the oppression of the Crosses and rather just seeking equality so he can be with Sephy. But with Sephy effectively out of the picture, Callum having missed her leaving by just minutes--something inside him changes. The way his character is written changes to reflect his new mindset. He is much more his revolutionary and violent brother Jude!

Flesh-colored band aid

Naughts and Crosses by Marlorie Blackman is very much the polar opposite of our society maybe not today but certainly a half century ago before and during the American Civil Rights movement, featuring blacks as the powerful and white as the oppressed minority. Through my employment at a hardware store in Concord center, I have come to know a rather eccentric but nonetheless very opinionated African American woman. She was heavily critical of the way white people act in Concord and was not afraid to say so. On one occasion, I remember her saying "kid, you are a flesh colored band-aid", referring to the fact that most band-aids are made to match people with Caucasian skin tones. I was reminded of this encounter when reading Naughts and Crosses as there was a passage that referred to the fact that in Blackman's fictitious society, band-aids are made to match the complexions of the dark-skinned crosses. I had not thought very much about what the woman in the store had told me until now but reading about the reverse being true really drove the message home. By presenting the reverse of what has been true in our society, Naughts and Crosses is quite effective at revealing unfairness within our society.