As many of you can tell I am a huge fan of the "Noughts and Crosses" series and I was a bit nervous about the fourth book since the third one ended everything nicely and left no loose ends. Double Cross was able to give the teen-romance that has been missed since "Noughts and Crosses".
I thought this was a pretty good spin off from the "Noughts and Crosses" trilogy but I was really annoyed that this book was mainly from one point of view and I was really interested to know what happened to the other characters. I felt that Blackman was picking open the ending of the Noughts and Crosses trilogy and in doing so making the ending of the trilogy not that great. The plot was great and showed that discrimination was still going on even though it is now outlawed.
A nice thing about this book was that it was not centred around the Callum/Sephy tragic love story but created a whole new story centring around Callie and Toby, but also referring back occasionally to the original characters.
This is a must read for anyone who was unsatisfied with the trilogy's ending or wants to find out what happened next, what happened to each character.
Sunday, 3 June 2012
Saturday, 2 June 2012
Review: Checkmate by Malorie Blackman
Checkmate is Malorie Blackman's last instalment in her Noughts and Crosses trilogy, the first book was "Noughts and Crosses" and the second was "Knife Edge". This has to be one of the greatest trilogies I've ever read. "Checkmate" mainly focuses on Callie's [Sephy and Callum's daughters] childhood.
A great thing about "Checkmate" was as Callie grew and various events happened her attitude changed with every event. "Checkmate" didn't cover massive issues, well not like "Noughts and Crosses" did. "Checkmate" mainly focused on the issues of love than discrimination and racism. At least in this book rights have been slightly altered and equality was on the way for everyone.
This book is basically following Sephy and Callum's daughter Callie Rose, who is trying like many teens to find her place and fit in and find out what really happened to her dad. When out of nowhere her Uncle Jake, Callum's older brother, contacts Callie, Callie falls for his charms and looks set to join his organisation the Liberation Militia.
"Checkmate" was a great read and uncovered many secrets and is a definite book to read. This book had a great ending as well, very satisfying for a reader. I could not imagine a better ending for such a tragic, heartbreaking story and I can promise you will not be disappointed.
A great thing about "Checkmate" was as Callie grew and various events happened her attitude changed with every event. "Checkmate" didn't cover massive issues, well not like "Noughts and Crosses" did. "Checkmate" mainly focused on the issues of love than discrimination and racism. At least in this book rights have been slightly altered and equality was on the way for everyone.
This book is basically following Sephy and Callum's daughter Callie Rose, who is trying like many teens to find her place and fit in and find out what really happened to her dad. When out of nowhere her Uncle Jake, Callum's older brother, contacts Callie, Callie falls for his charms and looks set to join his organisation the Liberation Militia.
"Checkmate" was a great read and uncovered many secrets and is a definite book to read. This book had a great ending as well, very satisfying for a reader. I could not imagine a better ending for such a tragic, heartbreaking story and I can promise you will not be disappointed.
Review: Knife Edge by Malorie Blackman
After reading the first book "Noughts and Crosses" by Blackman, I swear a book never had the effect to make me that upset, other then J.K Rowling's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. After reading the first book I practically ran to the library to grab the second, which was just as amazing as the first. The chaos in the novel the emotional, physical, mental and social is immense. All the characters are so strong after time and time again they have been shoved down.
Blackman has succeeded in making this book also impossible to put down and get emotionally attached to. It was at times messy and depressing but in the end I loved it. A great thing about these books is that you are given an insight into nearly all the characters so you can understand their actions. At times the plot did drag, I admit but it was kind of nice since both the first and last book are filled with action.
A great thing about this book is that there was a lot of insight to Jude's actions [Callum's brother]. Although I don't agree with his actions I can understand why he has done all the things that he has done but he is not filled with grief or remorse just hatred which makes him scary.
Another thing I love about this book is it goes into depth about the consequences of what happened in the ending of "Noughts and Crosses". This book was mainly written to allow readers to understand the characters, which gives a lot of insight to their actions in the first and last book.
This has to be one of my favourite trilogies and I would recommend this trilogy to everyone. This book has the ability to make you really think about racism, prejudice and terrorism, so it id definitely NOT a light read, it is quite dark and heart aching at times.
Blackman has succeeded in making this book also impossible to put down and get emotionally attached to. It was at times messy and depressing but in the end I loved it. A great thing about these books is that you are given an insight into nearly all the characters so you can understand their actions. At times the plot did drag, I admit but it was kind of nice since both the first and last book are filled with action.
A great thing about this book is that there was a lot of insight to Jude's actions [Callum's brother]. Although I don't agree with his actions I can understand why he has done all the things that he has done but he is not filled with grief or remorse just hatred which makes him scary.
Another thing I love about this book is it goes into depth about the consequences of what happened in the ending of "Noughts and Crosses". This book was mainly written to allow readers to understand the characters, which gives a lot of insight to their actions in the first and last book.
This has to be one of my favourite trilogies and I would recommend this trilogy to everyone. This book has the ability to make you really think about racism, prejudice and terrorism, so it id definitely NOT a light read, it is quite dark and heart aching at times.
Review: Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman
In Noughts and Crosses, Blackman created a alternate world that is the opposite of our own. Race and prejudice is the exact sam, but is switched. The upper/ ruling class, which Sephy Hadley's family belongs are the black Crosses. The other, the white Noughts, which Callum and his family belong to, they are considered to be lower-class. In this world it is frowned upon for Noughts and Crosses to be friends and unthinkable from them to fall in love, which Callum and Sephy do.
Callum and Sephy practically grew-up together, since Callum's mum worked for Sephy's mother. After he looses her job Sephy and Callum become secret friends. They meet up in secret, telling lies to eveyone but they won't stop seeing each-other. A new law has been passed which allows a limited number of Noughts to attend Cross schools. When Callum is accepted into Sephy's school there friendship is put into danger. Things continue to get worse till both of their lives are threatened.
Towards the end of the book something occured that would bring tears to anyones eyes, Sephy's quote was the last straw for anyone holding back the tears, “Dear God, please let him have heard me. Please.
Please.
If you're up there.
Somewhere.”
Noughts and Crosses is an amazing story that I will never forget. Blackman is able to draw people in and keep your attention and make it impossible to put down. This is a book like no other and I don't think I've ever read a book like it!
Callum and Sephy practically grew-up together, since Callum's mum worked for Sephy's mother. After he looses her job Sephy and Callum become secret friends. They meet up in secret, telling lies to eveyone but they won't stop seeing each-other. A new law has been passed which allows a limited number of Noughts to attend Cross schools. When Callum is accepted into Sephy's school there friendship is put into danger. Things continue to get worse till both of their lives are threatened.
Towards the end of the book something occured that would bring tears to anyones eyes, Sephy's quote was the last straw for anyone holding back the tears, “Dear God, please let him have heard me. Please.
Please.
If you're up there.
Somewhere.”
Noughts and Crosses is an amazing story that I will never forget. Blackman is able to draw people in and keep your attention and make it impossible to put down. This is a book like no other and I don't think I've ever read a book like it!
Review: Boys Don't Cry by Malorie Blackman
I though this book was phenomenal, Blackman was able to tackle the issue of teen pregnancies and the difficulty of being a young gay person as well. What I love about this book is that instead of seeing the single, struggling teen mother the point of view has been flipped, where the dad gets left with the baby and the mum takes off.
Blackman explores the problems Dante faces as a teen dad, raising a Emma. This book shows the difficult decisions young parents have to make about their own lives and their child's. While struggling to raise a child Dante faces the problem of Emma not actually being his and if he'll be able to attend college.
This book also explores the problems that young gay people go through. Dante's younger brother Adam is gay and treated cruelly because of this, people do not accept him which resulted in a life threatening beating.
The book is written from several points of views, showing everyones side of the issues their facing individually and together. The book in places was predictable, such as Adam was obviously going to be beaten, and after reading a few chapters it is obvious who will do it. Other then that I thought this was a fantastic book and I loved a comment a woman gave in the book, "At least he's sticking around for his kid and not doing a runner."
Blackman explores the problems Dante faces as a teen dad, raising a Emma. This book shows the difficult decisions young parents have to make about their own lives and their child's. While struggling to raise a child Dante faces the problem of Emma not actually being his and if he'll be able to attend college.
This book also explores the problems that young gay people go through. Dante's younger brother Adam is gay and treated cruelly because of this, people do not accept him which resulted in a life threatening beating.
The book is written from several points of views, showing everyones side of the issues their facing individually and together. The book in places was predictable, such as Adam was obviously going to be beaten, and after reading a few chapters it is obvious who will do it. Other then that I thought this was a fantastic book and I loved a comment a woman gave in the book, "At least he's sticking around for his kid and not doing a runner."
Review: Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta
I love the beginning of this book, it had a fantastic introduction that gave a fantastic insight to the main character, Josephine [known as Josie to her friends] through a quiz in a magazine. Unfortunately Josie is interrupted by a furious nun.
This book was filled with a range of emotions. This book was also filled with humour, passion and culture which critics call "a great coming of age story, heartfelt and overall so good!" I have to agree with the critics, it was a great novel that was extremely deep and earnest.
All of Melina Marchetta's characters seem so real and relatable. Josie actually reminds me of Francesca, from Saving Francesca, as they are both strong, relatable characters and Italian!
I love how in this novel Marchetta brought up the issue of culture and what it means to grow up and survive in a land that is not your own, a society that is unwilling to accept you. This is something that Josie and her mother and Grandmother went though.
Marchetta gave each character a great construction in the novel and as they developed I grew to love the ones I hated and appreciate the ones I liked. This book is extremely inspirational and has a great insight to a Italian teenage girls life.
This book was filled with a range of emotions. This book was also filled with humour, passion and culture which critics call "a great coming of age story, heartfelt and overall so good!" I have to agree with the critics, it was a great novel that was extremely deep and earnest.
All of Melina Marchetta's characters seem so real and relatable. Josie actually reminds me of Francesca, from Saving Francesca, as they are both strong, relatable characters and Italian!
I love how in this novel Marchetta brought up the issue of culture and what it means to grow up and survive in a land that is not your own, a society that is unwilling to accept you. This is something that Josie and her mother and Grandmother went though.
Marchetta gave each character a great construction in the novel and as they developed I grew to love the ones I hated and appreciate the ones I liked. This book is extremely inspirational and has a great insight to a Italian teenage girls life.
Review: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The first time I read this book I was 8 and I had the flu, it was winter and I was extremely grouchy since I had read all my books and the library books I sent my mum out to get [daily], so my mum bought me "The Secret Garden" and told me that I would enjoy it since I was really into "The Famous Five" at the time. I can still remember the first time I read it I got stuck in right away and I loved it!
So now, years later I've decided to re-read it and I can see why I loved this book so much, it is the perfect book for a child [a definite present for any kid aged 8].
I will be giving quite a bit away, so DO NOT read further if you have not read this book. The story is centred around Mary a spoilt 10 year-old who's parents had just died and has been sent to live with her uncle in an empty mansion on the Yorkshire moors where she makes many discoveries. Such as a her cousin, who has been hidden away in the mansion, she finds a key in the ground and so much more, this is a perfect story for a child since this is a story through the eyes of a child, a child's curiosity and kindness that many children are able to relate to.
So now, years later I've decided to re-read it and I can see why I loved this book so much, it is the perfect book for a child [a definite present for any kid aged 8].
I will be giving quite a bit away, so DO NOT read further if you have not read this book. The story is centred around Mary a spoilt 10 year-old who's parents had just died and has been sent to live with her uncle in an empty mansion on the Yorkshire moors where she makes many discoveries. Such as a her cousin, who has been hidden away in the mansion, she finds a key in the ground and so much more, this is a perfect story for a child since this is a story through the eyes of a child, a child's curiosity and kindness that many children are able to relate to.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)