Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman

Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman


Blurb-
Callum is a nought - a second class citizen in a world run by Crosses... Sephy is a cross, daughter of one of the most powerful men in the country.... In their world, noughts and Crosses simply don't mix. And as hostility turns to violence, can Callum and Sephy possibly find a way to be together? They are determined to try. And then the bomb explodes...


This is by far one of the best trilogies I've ever read in my life! After Noughts and Crosses there are 3 other books- Knife Edge, Checkmate and Double Cross. These books continue on the story of the world of racism with many twist and turns in the road. In the beginning of the first book, it introduces the main characters and the idea of what's to come. It starts off with Sephy and Callum as little toddlers then skips a few years to when Sephy is 14 and Callum is 16. Although there's a year and a half between them, they fit together perfectly. Throughout the book you think they are going to confess their love for each other but not until the end does it finally comes out. Whilst Callum fight the tough Nought life of his Dad being imprisoned for a terrorist attack (which he didn't do) and getting killed whilst trying to escape prison, Lynette (his sister) committing suicide and everyone hating the sight of him for the simple fact of his skin colour. Sephy battles her crumbling parents, drunk mother, abusive dad and her difficult relationship with her best friend Callum. It is an emotional roller-coaster and I promise you will become close to tears on a few occasions. I urge you to read this wonderful book- it is educational, it gives you an insight into the lives of discriminated people and takes you on a journey!


Rating *****
Age recommendation 12-50
(Explicit cases and scenarios. Although it will capture older readers)
Why I loved it: Malorie Blackman writes from all different perspectives and therefore we get more of an insight into how the situation affects all different people. Some people are more interesting to read than others My favourite were Callum, Sephy and Jude. There are so many surprises waiting around the corner waiting to surprise you. When I read books they are leading so, I guess what is going to happen. But with this book it surprised me every time! It explores sensitive areas but we can relate to how the characters feel. Areas such as: Boys, Bullying,Pregnancy, Not fitting in, Alcoholism, Violence to get their voices heard, Racism, Peer pressure and the Apartheid. It explains the apartheid but it is in reverse in the book! That's what makes it so capturing and interesting!
Improvements: NONE. An excellent book and an amazing read!!


Take a look on Malorie Blackman's website http://www.malorieblackman.co.uk/
It provides you with links to purchase her books. Blurbs, plots and her other books.
ENJOY :D

The short second life of Bree Tanner

This novel branches off from the twilight saga. In eclipse, newborn vampires attack the Cullen Clan and this is a story of one of them.

The title says it all: 16-year-old Bree Tanner was introduced briefly in Eclipse, and this explores her experiences as she learns how to be a vampire, under the direction of Riley, also introduced in Eclipse. Riley's Seattle coven is made up of teen, street kids, still learning to control their blood lust; they hunt without remorse. When Bree meets Diego, a supernaturally beautiful vampire , they spend a day together and find an intense romantic connection. Diego shares his own discoveries about being a vampire. But then Riley's plans for this army of newborn vampires to attack the Cullen Clan, sends Bree and Diego in different directions and soon it's all over.

It's a tragic novel however it is quite short. I thoroughly enjoyed it but Bree's human life isn't explored. Her romance with Diego mimics the romantic touch in the twilight saga novels. The vampire violence is heavier and darker than the other twilight books and none sympathy is shared for the Cullens. I would give it 4/5 stars as I would've loved if Bree's human life is fully explored. My favourite quote is "I didn’t want to speak up and draw attention, but I wished somebody would decide something. I was really thirsty, and I didn’t care much whether we went right or left or over the roof. I just wanted to find some unlucky people who wouldn’t even have enough time to think wrong place, wrong time" I love this quote as this really explores the bloodlust of the newborn vampires and they don't even care who the victim is.

By Ciara McAree

Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone...

My favourite quote:

"Oh you may not think me pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

This is my favourite quote as the 'Sorting Hat' presents himself as a character and not just a hat! Plus, I love the rhyming and humour!

You've probably heard of this book already, and if you haven't read it yet I think you'll enjoy it.

This is a story about Harry and his two new friends settling down for their first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry only to discover that they have a part to play in the downfall of the evil Sssh! You-Know-Who. You will like Harry Potter. He's shy and self-doubting and puts up with a lot from his awful aunt Petunia and uncle Vernon and fat cousin Dudley. Poor Harry lost his parents, supposedly in a car crash, when he was a baby and that was when he received the strange lightning-shaped scar across his forehead. Ever since then he has slept in the cupboard under the stairs at the Dursleys' perfectly normal house in Privet Drive and the best thing he has to look forward to is starting at the local secondary school next term - well away from Dudley who will be going to his father's old, expensive school, Smeltings.

But, other people know a lot more about Harry than Harry does himself. That lightning-shaped scar is a matter of enormous interest and Harry is about to discover that he has a lot of friends, and enemies, in a rather different kind of world from the one he was brought up in.

This is a book about magic, but there's plenty of reality. Settling into a new school, making friends, learning who to trust and who not to trust and when to obey school rules and when to overlook them. There's a great deal of humour in the book. You might find the magic funny - visit Diagon Alley to purchase all your Hogwart's kit - but there is strong evil magic too and you won't doubt the courage that Harry has to show in the final chapter.

I really enjoyed the action in this book as well as the humour! My favourite part is when Harry is talking to Lord Voldemort because J.K.Rowling describes the tension and fear Harry feels. Also, when Harry plays his first Quiddich match, you feel like you're actually there! I would defiantly give this book 5/5!

Twilight- By Stephenie Meyer

My favourite quote is when Edward says "What if I'm not the hero, what if I'm the bad guy?"

This is my favourite quote as it is so intense and heart-melting. This line defiantly has effect to its readers!

I would give this book 4/5 as I really enjoyed the story however at some points I felt bored as Stephenie Meyer went into a lot of detail through out the story which didn't give it the pace it needed.

Twilight is a brilliant story of a human girl (Isabella Swan)finding herself wound up in a coven of ' VEGETARIAN' vampires. But before all this she finds herself making a decision; STAY IN PHOENIX OR GO TO FORKS WHERE HER FATE LIES?
She makes her decision to go to Forks, where she meets her true love; a Vampire. She finds herself getting more and more involved in this fascinating boy, Edward Cullen. But is it the end when she meets her worst nightmare?
Is it too late to turn her back on everything that is sane?


Story Line/ Plot:

Isabella Swan finds that her Mum isn't happy with staying at home with her; so she move to a small town called, Forks. She thinks her life is going to be as dull as the town itself but little does she know her fate lies here. She gears herself up for her first day at school and whilst at the cafeteria table she gets wound up in a group of mysterious pupils (actually vampires) The Cullen's. She gets quite involved with the loneliest vampire, Edward Cullen. He is fascinating to her and they end up becoming more than friends.

After what seems the happiest of her time at Forks, she is soon lead to a near-death-experience. When she is trailed to her killer and nearly killed but Edward and his family save her.

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