NOUGHTS AND CROSSES by Malorie Blackman
3 stars
Verdict: An important story but no-frills writing.
I’ve wanted to read this book since I was a child. Now fully grown and still
enjoy YA fiction of all kinds, I couldn’t ignore how this has been recommended
to me throughout the years. That’s why I don’t like that I didn’t enjoy it. Despite
seeing its value as a teaching device, the truth is I found it taxing to reach
the end.
Plot and themes aside, the author’s writing style isn’t one I particularly
enjoy. The writing sticks mostly to dialogue so there’s almost no description,
no visuals, no imagery or flare. There’s a slow grind to the fifty percent mark
where the actual plot hits, and beforehand, the only real world-building is
swapping around the words ‘white’ and ‘black’: a powerful idea in it's simplicity, but there's not really enough going on for half the book. Then years fly by in paragraphs,
a writing choice that leaks the tension for me. Truth be told, I almost stopped
reading after the first third because I knew I wasn’t going to be able to offer
a raving review like I’d hoped.
I know the writing is designed to make the issue of race accessible to
the young, but the style is flat as possible. I don’t think it needs to be
quite so simple, and other books aimed at this age range aren’t. I found it
hard to engage with it, no matter how much I wanted to like it. I couldn’t help
but think this book is dated.
The pace did pick up around the halfway mark. The court room scenes were
great and it ends on a striking note. I have to admit, the ending elevates the
book in my opinion. It made me respect the author and felt very powerful in a thought-provoking
way – finally engaging!
I also like where the story for the series is going. Book two sounds like
it could be interesting, but I don’t think I’ll continue. I’m glad this book found
popularity when it did, but I didn’t enjoy reading it.
Source: Bought it.
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