Read Noughts and Crosses Online Free Pdf

  About the Book

SPECIAL NEW EDITION INCLUDING AN Heart FOR AN Middle

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

Sephy is a Cross, girl of 1 of the almost powerful men in the land. . .

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

And then the bomb explodes. . .

A gripping, stimulating and totally absorbing novel set in a world where blackness and white are right and wrong.

In 2003 I wrote a volume chosen An Heart For An Eye as a World Book Day special edition. The story timeline occurs after Noughts & Crosses but earlier Knife Edge. As the book only had limited availability later on the year of its publication and because both I and my publisher take had so many requests for information technology, the story is now included at the dorsum of this new edition. Enjoy!

www.kidsatrandomhouse.co.uk/malorieblackman

By Malorie Blackman and published by Doubleday/Corgi Books:

The Noughts & Crosses sequence

NOUGHTS & CROSSES

Pocketknife EDGE

CHECKMATE

DOUBLE CROSS

A.N.T.I.D.O.T.Eastward.

DANGEROUS REALITY

DEAD GORGEOUS

HACKER

PIG-Center Male child

THE Deadly DARE MYSTERIES

THE STUFF OF NIGHTMARES

THIEF!

UNHEARD VOICES

(An anthology of brusk stories and poems,

collected past Malorie Blackman)

For junior readers, published by Corgi Yearling Books:

Deject BUSTING

Functioning GADGETMAN!

WHIZZIWIG and WHIZZIWIG RETURNS

For beginner readers, published by Corgi Pups/Young Corgi Books:

JACK SWEETTOOTH

Snowfall Domestic dog

SPACE RACE

THE MONSTER CRISP-GUZZLER

Audio editions available on CDs

NOUGHTS & CROSSES

KNIFE Edge

CHECKMATE

DOUBLE Cantankerous

www.malorieblackman.co.uk

Praise for the Noughts & Crosses sequence:

Noughts & Crosses

'Packs some powerful political punches to which readers will undoubtedly respond. Only Blackman never compromises the story, which is dramatic, moving and dauntless' Guardian

'A volume which will linger in the heed long after it has been read and which volition challenge children to think once again and once more about the clichés and stereotypes with which they are presented' Observer

Knife Edge

'Devastatingly powerful' Guardian

'A powerful story of race and prejudice' Sunday Times

Checkmate

'Another emotional difficult-hitter . . . bluntly told and ingeniously constructed' Sunday Times

'Blackman is a terrific thriller author, driving her plots frontwards with skill and tenacity' Evening Standard

Double Cross

'The latest book in Malorie Blackman's Noughts and Crosses serial, and potentially the best one yet' Independent

'Blackman "gets" people . . . she "gets" humanity as a whole, also. Most of all, she writes a stonking good story' Guardian

MALORIE

BLACKMAN

Noughts & Crosses

Special new edition including An Eye for An Eye

This eBook is copyright textile and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any manner except equally specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed nether the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or every bit strictly permitted by applicable copyright police force. Any unauthorised distribution or utilize of this text may be a direct infringement of the author'due south and publisher'south rights and those responsible may be liable in police force accordingly.

Version ane.0

Epub ISBN 9781407047966

www.randomhouse.co.uk

NOUGHTS & CROSSES including An Eye for An Eye

A CORGI BOOK 978 0 552 55570 8

Beginning published in United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland by Corgi Books,

an imprint of Random House Children'due south Books, 2006

A RANDOM House GROUP COMPANY

NOUGHTS & CROSSES

First publication in Great Britain by Doubleday, 2001

Corgi edition published 2002

Copyright © Oneta Malorie Blackman, 2001

AN EYE FOR AN EYE

Commencement published in United kingdom past Corgi Books specially for Globe Book Day 2003

Copyright © Oneta Malorie Blackman, 2003

x

Copyright © Oneta Malorie Blackman, 2006

The right of Malorie Blackman to be identified as the Writer of this piece of work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may exist reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Addresses for companies inside The Random House Group Limited can exist found at: www.randomhouse.co.uk/offices.htm

THE RANDOM HOUSE GROUP Express Reg. No. 954009

www.kidsatrandomhouse.co.u.k.

A CIP catalogue tape for this volume is available from the British Library.

Contents

Cover

About the Book

Almost the Author

By Malorie Blackman

Praise

Noughts & Crosses

Copyright

Dedication

Author's Note

Prologue

Three Years Later . . .

one. Sephy

two. Callum

3. Sephy

four. Callum

v. Sephy

vi. Callum

seven. Sephy

eight. Callum

nine. Sephy

x. Callum

xi. Sephy

twelve. Callum

xiii. Sephy

fourteen. Callum

15. Sephy

The Turning

sixteen. Callum

seventeen. Sephy

xviii. Callum

nineteen. Sephy

twenty. Callum

The Picnic

twenty-one. Sephy

twenty-two. Callum

twenty-three. Sephy

20-four. Callum

Breakdown

twenty-v. Sephy

20-six. Callum

twenty-seven. Sephy

twenty-eight. Callum

twenty-nine. Sephy

thirty. Callum

thirty-one. Sephy

thirty-two. Callum

thirty-three. Sephy

thirty-four. Callum

thirty-5. Sephy

thirty-six. Callum

xxx-seven. Sephy

thirty-eight. Callum

thirty-nine. Sephy

forty. Callum

xl-one. Sephy

forty-two. Callum

The Split

40-three. Sephy

40-4. Callum

twoscore-five. Sephy

forty-six. Callum

forty-seven. Sephy

forty-eight. Callum

forty-ix. Sephy

50. Callum

fifty-one. Sephy

fifty-two. Callum

fifty-three. Sephy

fifty-iv. Callum

fifty-five. Sephy

50-six. Callum

fifty-vii. Sephy

fifty-eigh

t. Callum

fifty-nine. Sephy

sixty. Callum

sixty-one. Sephy

60-two. Callum

threescore-three. Sephy

sixty-4. Callum

The Trial . . .

sixty-five. Sephy

sixty-half-dozen. Callum

sixty-seven. Sephy

sixty-eight. Callum

sixty-nine. Sephy

lxx. Callum

seventy-one. Sephy

lxx-two. Callum

lxx-3. Sephy

seventy-four. Callum

The Way It Is . . .

70-v. Sephy

70-six. Callum

70-seven. Sephy

seventy-eight. Callum

seventy-ix. Sephy

eighty. Callum

eighty-i. Sephy

eighty-two. Callum

eighty-three. Sephy

80-iv. Callum

eighty-5. Sephy

eighty-six. Callum

lxxx-seven. Sephy

80-eight. Callum

The Hostage . . .

eighty-9. Sephy

90. Callum

ninety-one. Sephy

ninety-two. Callum

ninety-three. Sephy

90-four. Callum

ninety-five. Sephy

ninety-six. Callum

90-seven. Sephy

xc-viii. Callum

ninety-nine. Sephy

one hundred. Callum

one hundred and ane. Sephy

1 hundred and two. Callum

one hundred and three. Sephy

The Confession . . .

one hundred and four. Callum

one hundred and five. Sephy

one hundred and 6. Callum

one hundred and vii. Sephy

1 hundred and eight. Callum

one hundred and ix. Sephy

one hundred and 10. Callum

ane hundred and xi. Sephy

i hundred and twelve. Callum

i hundred and thirteen. Sephy

Decisions . . .

one hundred and fourteen. Callum

one hundred and fifteen. Sephy

Losing My Religion . . .

one hundred and sixteen. Callum

one hundred and seventeen. Sephy

This volume is dedicated with love to my married man, Neil,

And to our daughter, Elizabeth

Writer'S NOTE

The African-American scientists, inventors and pioneers mentioned in affiliate 30 are all real people and their achievements are very existent. When I was at school, we didn't learn near any of them – except Robert Peary, the white European-American explorer. I wish we had done. Just then, if we had, maybe I wouldn't have written this book…

'That'due south just the way it is.

Some things will never modify.

That'south merely the way it is.

Simply don't you believe them.'

BRUCE HORNSBY AND THE RANGE

PROLOGUE

'Honestly, Mrs Hadley,' said Meggie McGregor, wiping her eyes. 'That sense of humour of yours volition exist the death of me notwithstanding!'

Jasmine Hadley immune herself a rare giggle. 'The things I tell you, Meggie. It's lucky we're such good friends!'

Meggie's smile wavered just slightly. She looked out across the vast lawn at Callum and Sephy. Her son and her employer's daughter. They were practiced friends playing together. Real practiced friends. No barriers. No boundaries. Not yet anyway. It was a typical early summertime'due south day, light and bright and, in the Hadley household anyhow, not a cloud in their sky.

'Alibi me, Mrs Hadley.' Sarah Pike, Mrs Hadley's secretary, approached from the house. She had shoulder-length straw-coloured hair and timid green eyes which appeared permanently startled. 'I'm deplorable to disturb you but your hubby has merely arrived. He's in the study.'

'Kamal is here?' Mrs Hadley was astounded. 'Give thanks y'all, Sarah.' She turned to Meggie. 'His 4th visit abode in as many months! We're honoured!'

Meggie smiled sympathetically, making certain to keep her oral fissure well and truly shut. No way was she going to get in the heart of another inevitable squabble betwixt Kamal Hadley and his wife. Mrs Hadley stood up and fabricated her way into the house.

'Then, Sarah, how is Mr Hadley?' Meggie lowered her vocalism to ask. 'Is he in a good mood, d'you call back?'

Sarah shook her caput. 'He looks about ready to blow a fuse.'

'Why?'

'No idea.'

Meggie digested this news in silence.

'I'd better go back to work,' Sarah sighed.

'Would you like something to potable?' Meggie pointed to the jug of ginger beer on the patio table.

'No, thank you. I don't want to go into trouble . . .' With obvious trepidation, Sarah went back into the house.

What was she afraid of? Meggie sighed. No matter how hard she tried, Sarah insisted on keeping her distance. Meggie turned back to lookout man the children. Life was so unproblematic for them. Their biggest worry was what they'd become for their birthdays. Their biggest grumble was the time they had to go to bed. Perchance things would be different for them . . . Meliorate. Meggie forced herself to believe that things would be better for the children, otherwise what was the point of it all?

On those rare occasions when she had a moment to herself, she couldn't help merely play 'what if' games. Not the big 'what if's that her hubby sometimes liked to indulge in, like, 'What if a virus wiped out every single Cross and not a single nought?' or 'What if there was a revolution and all the Crosses were overthrown? Killed. Wiped off the confront of the planet.' No, Meggie McGregor didn't believe in wasting her fourth dimension on big, global fantasies. Her dreams were more specific, more unattainable than that. Her dreams were all around one subject. What if Callum and Sephy . . .? What if Sephy and Callum . . .?

Meggie felt a peculiar, burning sensation on the back of her neck. She turned to find Mr Hadley standing on the patio, watching her with the strangest expression on his face.

'Is everything all right, Mr Hadley?'

'No. But I'll survive.' Mr Hadley moved forward to the patio table to stand over Meggie. 'Yous were deep in thought in that location. Penny for them?'

Flustered past his presence, Meggie began, 'I was just thinking near my son and your daughter. Wouldn't it be dainty if…?' Appalled, she bit back the rest of the sentence, just it was too late.

'What would be dainty?' Mr Hadley prompted, silkily.

'If they could . . . could always stay as they are now.' At Mr Hadley'southward raised eyebrows, Meggie rushed on. 'At this historic period, I hateful. They're so wonderful at this age – children, I mean. So . . . and then . . .'

'Yes, indeed.'

Pause.

Kamal Hadley sabbatum downwards. Mrs Hadley emerged from the kitchen to lean against the door frame. She had a strange, wary expression on her face. Meggie felt nervous. She started to go to her feet.

'I understand yous had a wonderful time yesterday.' Mr Hadley smiled at Meggie.

'A . . . a wonderful time?'

'Yesterday evening?' Mr Hadley prompted.

'Yes. It was quite repose really . . .' Meggie replied, dislocated. She looked from Mr to Mrs Hadley and back again. Mrs Hadley was watching her attentively. What was going on? The temperature in the garden had dropped by several degrees and despite his smiles, Mr Hadley was obviously furious at something – or someone. Meggie swallowed hard. Had she washed something wrong? She didn't think so, simply God but knew that beingness around Crosses was similar walking on eggshells.

'So what did you exercise?' Mr Hadley prompted.

'P-pardon?'

'Concluding dark?' Mr Hadley'southward grin was very friendly. Too friendly.

'I . . . nosotros stayed home and watched telly,' Meggie said slowly.

'Information technology'due south nice to have a relaxing evening at home with your own family,' Mr Hadley agree

d.

Meggie nodded. What did he expect her to say to that? What was going on? Mr Hadley stood upwardly, his grinning now a thing of the by. He walked over to his wife. They both stood but watching each other as the seconds ticked by. Mrs Hadley began to straighten up. Without alert, Mr Hadley slapped his wife total across the face. The force of the blow sent Mrs Hadley'south head snapping backwards to strike against the door frame.

Meggie was on her anxiety in a second, her horrified gasp audible, her hand out in silent protest. Kamal Hadley gave his wife a look of such antipathy and loathing that Mrs Hadley flinched back from it. Without a word passing betwixt them, Mr Hadley went back into the house. Meggie was at Mrs Hadley's side in an instant.

'Are you OK?' Meggie's mitt went out to examine the side of Mrs Hadley's face.

Mrs Hadley knocked her paw away. With a puzzled frown, Meggie tried again. The same thing happened.

'Go out me alone,' Mrs Hadley hissed at her. 'When I needed your assist, yous didn't give information technology.'

'I . . . what…?' And simply then did Meggie realize what she'd done. Mrs Hadley had obviously used Meggie as an alibi for the previous nighttime and Meggie had been too slow to option upward on what Kamal Hadley had really been request her.

Meggie'southward hand dropped back to her side. 'I call back I should get dorsum to work . . .'

'Yeah, I remember that would be best.' Mrs Hadley's look was venomous before she turned and walked back into the house.

Meggie turned around. Callum and Sephy were however playing at the other terminate of the vast garden, oblivious to everything that had just happened. She stood and watched them, trying to capture for herself some minor part of their pure joy in each other. She needed something good to agree on to. Simply even the distant sound of their laughter couldn't dampen down the deep sense of foreboding creeping through her. What would happen now?

That dark, Meggie sat at the table sewing patches over the patches in Jude's school trousers.

'Meggie, I'm sure you're worrying about nothing,' Ryan, her husband sighed.

'Ryan, you didn't meet the look on her face. I did.' Meggie flake off the thread and picked upward another patch. Jude's school trousers were more patch than original material.

The phone started to ring. Meggie picked it up earlier the showtime band had even died away.

perezwaser1969.blogspot.com

Source: https://onlinereadfreenovel.com/malorie-blackman/41487-noughts_&_crosses.html

Share this post