Knife Edge by Malorie Blackman

WHEN TRUTH AND JUSTICE ARE NO LONGER BLACK AND WHITE ISSUES...
Sephy is a Cross, one of the privileged in a society where the ruling Crosses treat the pale-skinned noughts as inferiors. But her baby daughter has a nought father...


Jude is a nought. Eaten up with bitterness, he blames Sephy for the terrible losses his family has suffered...


Now Jude's life rests on a knife edge. Will Sephy be forced, once again to take sides?


A razor-sharp and intensely moving novel, the second in the Noughts and Crosses trilogy.


WARNING: Spoilers alert. Don't read this review if you haven't read the first book.

I was so excited, and eager to begin reading this book when my mum brought it home from the library. If you have read my review of Noughts and Crosses, you will know how much I loved it, and so obviously I wanted to read this one. Who doesn't love a good sequel?! And it certainly didn't disappoint! Knife Edge had some wonderful new characters, and plot twists all the way through, so it kept me on the edge of my seat, hungry for more.

I found that this book explored the characters personalities more, whereas the first book concentrated more on the background of the characters, so that was interesting. I felt that we, as readers, got to know the characters better. On the subject of characters, I have to say, even though he has done some unforgivable things, I felt sorry for Jude the whole way through the book. He is filled with rage and hatred towards Sephy, because he blames her for his families,especially Callums death. He doesn't know where he's at, and what he wants from life, he is just focused on getting revenge on Sephy, which is an awful way to have to live your life.

I think anyone considering reading this book should read Noughts and Crosses before doing so as it contains information that you need to know to understand what's going on. And I would definitely advise you to read them, ASAP! This book gets a rating of 6/5! Thank you so much Malorie Blackman, for writing these books!OK, bye!!!

Age Group: 12+
Official Publication Date: 30 June 2005
Publisher: Random House Childrens Books
Author Website:www.malorieblackman.co.uk

Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman

Callum is a nought - a second-class citizen in world run by the ruling Crosses...


Sephy is a Cross, daughter of one of the most powerful men in the country...


In their world, noughts and Crosses simply don't mix. And as hostility turns to violence, can Callum and Sephy possibly find a way to be together?They are determined to try.


And then the bomb explodes...


Callum is white - a nought. Sephy is black - a Cross. They have been friends since they were very young. Callums mum used to work for Sephys, until they had an argument and she was sacked. Since then, neither families have wanted them to be friends, so they have to go behind their parents back to be with each other. The story follows Callum and Sephy as they grow older, and the difficulties they run into while trying to live in a world where black and white are right and wrong. A touching, emotional story, that teaches young people how wrong racism is.


This book is amazing! Malorie Blackman manages to give a whole new twist to the racism storyline, and makes it wonderful and brilliantly unique. My favourite character is Sephy. I love how innocent she is, always trying to please everyone. Although that does sometimes get her into difficult situations. Towards the end of the book, not giving anything away, Sephy is a lot more mature. This book has it's fair share of sad and happy  moments, and a lot of unexpected twists. It kept me on the edge of my seat, and I can't wait to read the sequel.


I will definitely give this book 5/5 and would definitely read it again, but maybe not too soon, as I was quite sad after reading it. I found no faults at all with this book and would recommend it to everyone! Definitely read this book people! 
OK, well bye!!!


Age Group: 12+
Official Publication Date: 15th January 2001
Publisher:2001 Doubleday,2002 Corgi Publishing
Author Website:www.malorieblackman.co.uk