Checkmate (Noughts And Crosses)

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Although I don't think Jude's actions are justified as there is nothing in the world that justifies terrorism, I find it really unfortunate that he ended up in his current position due to such strong injustices in his from such a young age. His whole hatred towards the way things were stemmed from him not being able to continue getting his education after getting a glimpse of it and loving it more than anything while he had it. It's like if you deny a human his basic human rights, how can you expect him to have any humanity left? It makes sense now as well of the little bits of Jude's resentment towards Callum in the first book for taking school for granted. I really wished Jude would be redeemed in some tiny form at least... I suppose he was slightly in the sense that he finally realised that Cara Imega was his ultimate love, despite being a cross. He realised that he could and in fact did love a cross for who she was and her being a cross didn't contribute to her personally. It's what's inside that matters as some clever person once said. The General watched as his Liberation Militia commanders took their places around the imposing mahogany dining table. He studied each of them in turn. Years of self-discipline honed from childhood made it easy for him to keep his expression neutral. Six men and three women finally settled and looked at him in respectful anticipation. Most of those around the table were older than the General who, though in his late thirties, was the youngest leader the L.M. had ever had.

The first Nought Prime Minister, Toney Durbridge, is about to go on trial for the murder of notorious ganglord, Dan Jeavons. Tobey insists he is being framed. I loved this book, it was brilliant! The third book in the Noughts and Crosses quartet definitely lived up to the first two books and in some ways surpassed them. This series is drastically deteriorating. It's not that the story is that bad - on the contrary the story and the layout of jumping through the timeline kept me intrigued - but that I really did not like the writing.

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The Noughts & Crosses series are still my favourite books of all time and showed me just how amazing story-telling could be' STORMZY Growing up dual heritage in a world where bitter prejudice divides Noughts and Crosses has meant she's an outsider wherever she turns. No, Anna,' said the General evenly. 'This isn't a dictatorship. If Jon or anyone else for that matter has something to say then I encourage them to say it. I hope each of you feels able to express your ideas and voice your concerns to me at any time. I value your input.' The General turned to face Jon directly. 'It's better that you don't know, Jon. You're a valued member of my council and I know you and everyone else here would rather die than betray your brothers and sisters in the L.M., but what I have in mind will make every one of us fugitives for the rest of our lives. The Secret Service will leave no stone unturned in their efforts to hunt us down. Only two people will be involved in the job I have in mind, myself and one other. And it'll be carried out on that basis.' Brothers and sisters,' the General began in a practised tone. 'The General Election date has been set. In just over twelve weeks, the country will go to the polls. It's time for all of us Noughts in the Liberation Militia to make our voices heard like never before. Make no mistake, we are being watched. We're being watched by our L.M. brothers and sisters who have given up their freedom or, in too many cases, their lives, in the quest for true equality between Noughts and Crosses. Failure is not an option. In front of each of you is a folder containing your objectives. Each of you has a target which is to be eliminated before the forthcoming election. Some of the targets are strategic buildings, some are our enemies in prominent positions. As regional commanders, you will be in charge of the planning and details.' The General paused to give himself time to fix each commander with his piercing brown-eyed stare. 'I know you won't let me down. None of us in the L.M. can afford to give up this fight until we have social justice and political equality for all Noughts.'

However, this is a useful tale about radicalisation and grooming. I feel like maybe if more children read this series, they might understand how to be more aware of potential groomers in their own lives and be able to protect themselves accordingly. That might be a reach, but an awareness is better than nothing. In addition, I still wonder if this series should be mandatory for law enforcement or anyone in a position of power to read. Or even parents; to them, though, maybe it just becomes another “love conquers all”-type tale. Either way, important moral lessons can be digested from this content. In the world of Noughts & Crosses, racism is not ‘fixed’ – it is simply inverted. Photograph: Ilze Kitshoff/BBC/Mammoth Screen These facts are the only things that are mine and real. So I don’t mind so much that I’m leaving it all behind. There’s nothing here worth holding onto. Sixteen years have passed since Sephy Hadley first met Callum McGregor. For Callie Rose, growing up mixed race in a world where bitter prejudice divides Noughts and Crosses has meant she’s an outsider wherever she turns. Jude, Callum’s brother and Callie Rose’s uncle, was even less sympathetic as a character in this one than in Knife Edge, the second in the series. You really got to see how life had turned him into someone cruel, cold and calculating. He had risen to power in the Liberation Militia, but had never truly learned to love or to find the hope bad light in life.

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But soon Callie is caught in a trap she can’t get out of – one which will have deadly consequences. She qualified in Computer Science and followed a successful career in computing, before becoming a writer at the age of 28. Her first published book was Not So Stupid! (1990), a book of short stories. Since then she has written many books and scripts, and her popularity has steadily grown. Her scripts for television include several episodes of Byker Grove, Whizziwig and Pig-Heart Boy, and she has also written original dramas for CITV and BBC Education. Her stage play, The Amazing Birthday, was performed in 2002. There is quite a bit of dotting about in the timeline, indicated with statements such as 'Callie Rose is seven', and we gradually see how the child develops from a happy trusting child who has been taught to love the father she has never known, without being told what really happened to him, into a disillusioned, confused and embittered teenager who is vulnerable to being groomed by Jude on behalf of the organisation for which he works.