Noughts & CrossesNoughts & Crosses
Score Modern
What it's about
Callum is a Nought, an inferior white citizen in a society controlled by the Black Crosses. Malorie Blackman's novel follows him and a Cross girl, friends since childhood, as their love collides with a world built to keep them apart.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of the best books of the 21st century and the BBC's Big Read. It's a powerful young-adult novel about racism.
You'll love it if you liked
The Hate U Give
All American Boys
The Hunger GamesGood to know
It's the first of a series. It's emotional and violent.
By the numbers
- Readers17 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics51 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller30 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #333 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #1180 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #2178 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Thought-provoking, Moving
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Quick answers
Is Noughts & Crosses worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of the best books of the 21st century and the BBC's Big Read. It ranks #2,178 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 62.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Noughts & Crosses about?
Callum is a Nought, an inferior white citizen in a society controlled by the Black Crosses. Malorie Blackman's novel follows him and a Cross girl, friends since childhood, as their love collides with a world built to keep them apart.
How long does it take to read Noughts & Crosses?
About 3 hours (132 pages), or about 6 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Noughts & Crosses?
If you liked it, try The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely or The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.