Sephy is a Cross - a member of the dark-skinned ruling class. Callum is a Nought - a 'colourless' member of the underclass who were once slaves to the Crosses. The two have been friends since early childhood. But that's as far as it can go. Until the first steps are taken towards more social equality and a limited number of Noughts are allowed into Crosses schools...Against a background of prejudice and distrust, intensely highlighted by violent terrorist activity by Noughts unable to accept the injustices any longer, a romance builds between Sephy and Callum - a romance that is to lead both of them into terrible danger...

 

This book was recognised by the Children's Book Award. It was recognised in the Big Read Top 100 category by the Bbc Book Awards.

There are 448 pages in this book. This book was published 2002 by Random House Children's Publishers UK .

Malorie Blackman was the 8th UK Children's Laureate and is one of the UK's highest profile authors for teenagers and young adults. She has won the Children's Book Award and a raft of other prizes and is the force behind the annual YALC event.