Malorie Blackman’s seminal YA novel, NOUGHTS & CROSSES, celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, Penguin have published a special anniversary edition, complete with sprayed edges and a new foreword by Stormzy.
NOUGHTS & CROSSES follows Callum and Sephy, friends since childhood but divided by their race and status. Sephy, a Cross, lives a life of privilege and power, while Callum- a Nought- is considered to be less than nothing, a blanker there to serve the Crosses. Noughts and Crosses are fated to be bitter enemies – love is out of the question. Then- in spite of a world that is fiercely against them- these star-crossed lovers choose each other. But this is a love story that will lead both of them into terrible danger and which will have shocking repercussions for generations to come.
In the years since its first publication, NOUGHTS & CROSSES has grown into a bestselling series and has been adapted for both stage and screen. It has garnered a huge fanbase, including famous names from Benjamin Zephaniah and Zawe Ashton to Candice Carty-Williams and Stormzy, who has said “The Noughts & Crosses series are still my favourite books of all time and showed me just how amazing story-telling could be”.
NOUGHTS & CROSSES has been named one of the UK’s best-loved books in countless lists over the years, including a 2023 BBC Culture Poll of The 100 Greatest Children’s Books of All Time- one of only fourteen books published in the 21st Century to make the list.
Today, NOUGHTS & CROSSES is considered a true modern classic. Its 25th Anniversary has been marked by a host of outlets, with Malorie being interviewed by The Guardian, The Independent, The Times and the Today programme on Radio 4. The Story Museum also honoured the book with a special event “Exploring Noughts & Crosses: 25th Anniversary” which saw Malorie in conversation with actor/writer Paterson Joseph (who starred in the BBC series) and Dr Darren Chetty.
The NOUGTHS & CROSSES 25th Anniversary edition is out now, published by Penguin, with signed copies available at Waterstones.
Find the links below to read the full articles mentioned:
