The first thing that struck me about 'Noughts &
Crosses' was how Malorie Blackman
Flipped societal expectations with her characters. Sephy, a Cross, is part of the privileged dark-skinned ruling class, while Callum, a Nought, is from the marginalized light-skinned underclass. Their forbidden friendship-turned-
romance is the emotional core of the series. Sephy's journey from sheltered politician's daughter to someone who challenges the system is gripping, especially when contrasted with Callum's radicalization after enduring systemic abuse.
Then there's Jude, Callum's bitter
older brother who becomes
entangled with extremist groups – his arc is terrifying in its realism. Minor characters like Meggie (Callum's resilient mother) and Kamal Hadley (Sephy's ruthlessly ambitious father) add layers to this dystopia. What I love is how even secondary characters like Minerva, Sephy's initially shallow sister, evolve across the series. The way Blackman uses their relationships to mirror real-world racial tensions still gives me chills.