Checkmate (Noughts And Crosses)

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Jon, it's not our place to question the General,' Anna Tenski, the regional commander from the Mid-West, reprimanded quietly.

Look at our daughter, Callum. Isn't she beautiful, so very beautiful? She laughs like me, but when she smiles... Oh Callum, when she smiles, it's picnics in Celebration Park and sunsets on our beach and our very first kiss all over again. When Callie Rose smiles at me, she lights up my life. Anyway. I liked Callie Rose, which surprised me since she's an Angsty, Troubled Teen. But she actually had proper issues to angst about. (I couldn't believe what an awful mother Sephy turned out to be. It was pretty uncomfortable reading all those childhood stories.) I didn't really understand why Callie was going to go ahead with the suicide bomb though? I mean, when she first discovers the truth about her dad and she's furiously angry with her mother, yeah, I can see her joining the L.M. But killing herself? The fact that she was so unhappy and torn about whether she should go ahead with it was surely a clue that she wasn't committed? There didn't seem to be any motivation for her actions. What did Noughts see when they looked at me – a light-skinned Cross? What did Crosses see when they looked at me – a dark-skinned Nought? I had to stop seeing myself through anyone’s eyes but my own. But”

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In 2007 she collected stories and poems for the book Unheard Voices, commemorating the bicentenary anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade, and in 2009 she contributed to Free? , a book of stories celebrating Human Rights. Recent books include Noble Conflict (2013), a thriller set in a post-revolutionary utopia; Chasing the Stars (2017), a re-telling of Othello set in space, which was shortlisted for the YA Book Prize; and Blueblood (2020), a re-telling of the Bluebeard fairy tale. A fifth novel in the Noughts & Crosses series, Crossfire, appeared in 2019. The General watched as his Liberation Militia commanders took their places around the imposing mahogany dining table. He studied each of them in turn. Years of self-discipline honed from childhood made it easy for him to keep his expression neutral. Six men and three women finally settled and looked at him in respectful anticipation. Most of those around the table were older than the General who, though in his late thirties, was the youngest leader the L.M. had ever had. Ah, where did this series go so wrong? I just feel like the direction of the story has taken such a sharp turn from Noughts and Crosses, it’s completely not even the same story and I’m so disappointed. It’s lost all of its momentum; I feel like the dystopian and unjust society they live in isn’t even a focal point of the story and has just been pushed aside for some really weak relationships ‘development’. I can’t even begin to express how sad I was reading this book. The series had so much potential but it really should’ve been a standalone, or the first book should’ve been the basis for a more dragged out story. Sigh. My dad was Callum McGregor. Hanged for political terrorism. Hanged for being a rapist and a murderer. Hanged for being a son of a bitch.”

These facts are the only things that are mine and real. So I don't mind so much that I'm leaving it all behind. There's nothing here worth holding onto. This is an original, intelligent, perceptive and though-provoking series of books – and whilst squarely aimed at the Young Adult market, it clearly transcends the restrictive boundaries of that genre. Exhibit C - If you're going to write a book in first person jumping around characters, they need to have an individual voice. They all sound so logical and perfect, especially Sephy's 'mother' voice. She sounds like a generic maternal character who would get about 5 speech lines in a book; she's meant to be the main character. Okay so I'm quite confused with that ending; are Jude & Jasmine dead? Did she set the bomb off? I don't know. There's another book and the blurb for that book also confuses me (I highly recommend not reading the blurb for 'Doublecross').For once I didn't look away immediately. I forced myself to meet her contemptuous gaze. I allowed myself be swept away by it, to drown in it - the way I'd done so many times before. The way I would willingly do again. Because at least she was here to hate me. At least I had that. I watched my daughter conjure up the filthiest look in her vast arsenal before she turned away with complete disdain. I didn't mind that so much. It meant I could watch her, drink her in without her protest. Brothers and sisters,' the General began in a practised tone. 'The General Election date has been set. In just over twelve weeks, the country will go to the polls. It's time for all of us Noughts in the Liberation Militia to make our voices heard like never before. Make no mistake, we are being watched. We're being watched by our L.M. brothers and sisters who have given up their freedom or, in too many cases, their lives, in the quest for true equality between Noughts and Crosses. Failure is not an option. In front of each of you is a folder containing your objectives. Each of you has a target which is to be eliminated before the forthcoming election. Some of the targets are strategic buildings, some are our enemies in prominent positions. As regional commanders, you will be in charge of the planning and details.' The General paused to give himself time to fix each commander with his piercing brown-eyed stare. 'I know you won't let me down. None of us in the L.M. can afford to give up this fight until we have social justice and political equality for all Noughts.'

The room's clean?' the General turned to ask Morgan Green, his personal assistant and right-hand man, who sat, not at the table, but just behind him. Next to Morgan sat Tanya, Morgan's assistant. They were the General's retinue and he was hardly ever seen without one or both of them in tow. a été difficile de reprendre la lecture de cette saga, je m'attendais au pire. Ça a été presque ça. LoveReading4Kids exists because books change lives, and buying books through LoveReading4Kids means you get to change the lives of future generations, with 25% of the cover price donated to schools in need. Join our community to get personalised book suggestions, extracts straight to your inbox, 10% off RRPs, and to change children’s lives.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 lifelong battle against prejudice. As she discovers the truth about her parentage, she finds herself drawn into a dangerous game of high stakes Or if we can’t blame the main opposition, find a new scapegoat – a section of society with no power, no voice. Blame the travellers or the noughts or the immigrants. Cheap, gutter politics to appeal to the lowest common denominator.”

However, this is a useful tale about radicalisation and grooming. I feel like maybe if more children read this series, they might understand how to be more aware of potential groomers in their own lives and be able to protect themselves accordingly. That might be a reach, but an awareness is better than nothing. In addition, I still wonder if this series should be mandatory for law enforcement or anyone in a position of power to read. Or even parents; to them, though, maybe it just becomes another “love conquers all”-type tale. Either way, important moral lessons can be digested from this content. I found it really sad towards the middle where Callie's thoughts and feelings regarding Callum began to get really negative since we know Callum and all the information Callie received was based on lies and it was just really sad to read. Similarly it was so cute at the beginning when Callie was like seven or so and she had such a positive outlook on the world and believed positive things about Callum. But soon Callie is caught in a trap she can't get out of - one which will have deadly consequences. Growing up dual heritage in a world where bitter prejudice divides Noughts and Crosses has meant she's an outsider wherever she turns.This book seemed vaguely familiar when I read it? But if I have read it before, I'd completely forgotten everything that happened in it. Which says volumes about how thrilling a story it was... I love the characterisation of Jasmine and how we get to see her side in this book and I also like the progression we see of Callie Rose. I'm also personally taking charge of the planning of a major event which will act as a devastating blow to the so-called authorities. It will take place the day before the election. We are all going to play our part in ensuring that this government is toppled.'