Blackman, Malorie. Naughts & Crosses.

BLACKMAN, Malorie. Naughts & Crosses. Simon & Schuster. 387p. c2005. 0-689-04333-3. $15.95. JS

Blackman takes modern society and turns it inside out. Naughts are nothing, the lowest class, as pale in society as their white skin. Crosses are the ruling class, black, powerful and in charge. And naughts and Crosses do not mix. Ever. Callum, a naught, and Sephy, a Cross, grow up and play together while Callum's mother works for Sephy's family. The two continue their friendship over the years in secret, meeting on the beach out of sight of everyone else and sharing their hopes and dreams for the future. But everything changes once Callum is one of a handful of naughts selected to integrate Sephy's Cross school.

In this modern-day Romeo and Juliet story, told by alternating narrators, the two teens face the pressures of family and society that condemn their relationship and place them on opposite sides of the social continuum. When the conflict between them escalates after a terrorist bombing involving Callun's family, Sephy and Callum face off, fueled by fear and prejudice. Blackman pulls no punches in taking readers inside the terrorist psyche. This is, in fact, a tragedy, reminding readers that sometimes love isn't enough. But the author does leave a seed of hope for the future, reminding each of us of our responsibility to stand up for what's right. Michele Winship, Asst. Prof., Capital Univ., Columbus, OH

J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers.

S--Recommended for senior high school students.