Noughts & Crosses Graphic Novel

Callum is a nought, an inferior white citizen in a society controlled by the black Crosses. Sephy is a Cross, and the daughter of one of the most powerful, ruthless men in the country. Those people are the main characters of the story. In their hostile, violent world, noughts and Crosses simply don't mix. But when Sephy and Callum's childhood friendship grows into passionate love, they're determined to find a way to be together. And then, the bomb explodes…
I chose this graphic novel because I already read one of the books written by Malorie Blackman, Knife Edge, and I really liked it! This graphic novel was interesting to read and very captivating. I read it in about 4 or 5 days, because it was such a pleasure to read it.
Noughts and Crosses are opposed, and we already know who is inferior because “nought” is written without a capital N, unlike "Crosses" which is written with a capital C. So, the love of Callum and Sephy seems impossible first, but they are motivated and determined to find a way to keep their relationship as long as possible. It's quite interesting to see that the main topic is opposed to black segregation several centuries ago. It's like a reversed society. I actually enjoy the story because of two main reasons. First, the fact that everything is related to Callum and Sephy's love relationship is something I like pretty well. Then, it shows the society before the abolition of slavery and during black people inferiority. For example, when Callum and Sephy are in class, the teacher keeps asking questions and Callum keep answering well. He asks for many scientists, chemists, physicians etc, all of them were crosses. It shows that we only remember black people because only crosses' works are sold, published etc… One time more, it shows black people superiority compared to white people.
To conclude, I really enjoy this book, and I advocate its reading to everyone, since it's something easy to read, and which makes sense in our actual life in society: I'm talking more precisely about the issue of black segregation.
Goodbye! And good reading :)
Gabriel

I think this comic doesn't translate the whole story of the original novel. With the comic, we couldn't imagine the physical characters. This comic reveals some scenes which are a bit hard. I like this comic because the two teenagers know each other since they are kids, and their relationship evolves and transforms into love.
Imane.

This story takes place in world where white people are the slaves and black people are the masters. We can see Sephy, a Cross (black girl) the daughter of a rich politician and Callum, a Nought, falling in love. Of course, this love is forbidden. It is full of passion and hatred. It is a very touching story between the two teenagers and we can really feel the Romeo and Juliet influence. The whole story may seem too obvious but the end is quite different, which makes it a bit more interesting. I’m not a big fan of comics. Yet this one wasn’t that bad. The drawings were not bad. It made me think a lot about the society, how it would be if we really changed places and became the slaves. We are all equals, and we shouldn’t treat people in a different way, according to their skin color. This book makes you realize a lot of things about the world we are living in and that’s why this book is a good book. I recommend it!
Léa.

It's the story of two young people, trying to live their own love story but there are some problems in their society making it more difficult for them to stay together.
It's in an alternate reality where African people, known as Crosses, have societal and political dominance over the white population, referred to as Noughts. The story explores themes of racism, prejudice, and the impact of social injustice on individuals and society.
One of the strengths of "Noughts and Crosses" lies in its ability to engage readers in a complex and challenging narrative. By flipping the racial power dynamics, the novel encourages readers to confront their own preconceptions and biases.
On the other hand, there are some issues for example some argue that the story leans towards didacticism, potentially sacrificing subtlety for a more direct commentary on racism. This may be a matter of personal preference, as some readers appreciate the explicit approach while others prefer a more nuanced exploration of themes.
Maxime