Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman
In recent years many schools are choosing this book but as a teacher, this concerns me. In my opinion, it is a far cry from the wonderful literature contained in the older curriculum and has very little actual literary content to speak of. It is more like a cheap teenage novel which contains the usual modern mix of violence, sex, gangs, racism, dysfunctional familial relationships, violence, bad language etc.In the story, Sephy, a minor, has sex with Callum -a young man she has fancied for ages- who kidnaps her and ties her up. She later recalls the experience with longing. Is this the kind of sexual experiences we want to introduce our young people to? Is this appropriate for the classroom?
Verdict: Not a good choice for our daughters to be reading. Or our sons for that matter. It does not contain any moral values or messages which I wish to convey to my students or children.
(Sharon McM. Mother and Teacher, Co.Dublin)
Verdict: I read through this book -Noughts and Crosses- because it was on my daughter’s curriculum, and felt disappointed that such an ordinary kind of teenage romance book would be replacing quality literature on the Irish schools’ English curriculum, going down the same road England and America have gone…..this book is pretty shallow and is only of average writing style and contains a pretty descriptive sex scene which in my opinion is wholly inappropriate to be read aloud in a classroom. I know some of my teacher friends are mortified about it and ask the students to read out this scene as they are too embarrassed to read it themselves! ‘Nuff said. This book should be replaced with something a lot more suitable.
(Monica, Co.Clare)