Noughts and Crosses
Check out some great assignments handed in by students who read “Noughts & Crosses”, one of the most intriguing young adult novels ever.
I firmly believe that engaging with literature in a creative and personal way helps us reflect ourselves. It encourages us to take over different perspectives and helps us grow emotionally. In short, it makes us better people. If anyone needs proof of this theory, read the brilliant texts provided by Don Bosco students. They reflect everything I believe in when it comes to literature and reading.
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Supervarious 
I think “Noughts & Crosses” is an extremely valuable book because it´s not just a typical teenage novel. The more you deal with that story and read between the lines the more questions come up, questions which at the end everybody has to answer for himself.
It made me think about the topic it deals with (racial segregation in the 20th century) and inspired me to write the following poem.
When I wrote it I thought of a speaker of this time who is standing in front of a large amount of people, trying to show them the social problems but giving hope at the same time.
Words of a hopeful
One world, two parts
and the stakes so high
in a game with marked cards
in which some people die
An invisible wall
built of trees which used to grow
hundred meters tall
centuries ago
But I believe in a fire
which can burn it to the ground
of hope and desire
after a healing wound
Everybody will win
at the end of the chase
no matter which colour of the skin
there will only be one race
A new time, a new hope
where love grows and grows
equality around the globe
and every letter ends with X´s and O´s
– Magdalena Grill-Kiefer –
Love that poem!!!
In my opinin the novel is very moving, sad but it can be also very funny. It´s a good way to see that not everything in your life is fair and can be perfect. What´s more the book is a great way to show people how it would be if the black people were well of and the white people were poor. The book is just a treat for all readers who are interested in topics like immigration, human rights and issues like this. An absolutely must read!
First I wrote a letter about Cullum´s last words to Sephy:
Dear love Sephy,
I hope that you have received this letter. This is a very hard letter to write. Nevertheless, there are so many things that I want to tell you.
First of all, thank you for everything that you have done for me. You have always stood by my side and have never let me alone no matter what happened. I remember when we sat on the beach and we forgot the worries of the world for a while and we were just friends and nothing was between us. Then I kissed you for the first time, I had never kissed a girl before. It was the strongest feeling I had ever had. There was only you and me. Sephy and Callum. I have often asked myself what would have happened if I had read the letter you wrote before you went to Chivers Boarding School. Maybe, we would have set off together and stayed together and lived together and nobody bothered us.
My wish for you is that you never give up no matter what will happen. I´m a Nought and I will always be a Nought and nothing will ever change that. You are a Cross and nothing can change this either. Our child will be of mixed race. Half a Nought and half a Cross. I hope that its life won´t be so hard like our past was. Everybody should accept it and don´t discriminate against it because of its race. Please tell our baby that I love it and stay strong, because our child will need you to handle the challenges of life.
All my love,
Callum
What´s more a compiled a soundtrack for the book:
Playlist- Noughts and Crosses
1. “Vance Joy – ‘Riptide’
First of all, this is my favourite song, because it reminds me of
2. my last summer holiday when I was lying on the beach. I chose this song for the part when Sephy and Callum where sitting on the beach and Callum kissed her for the first time. In my opinion the sea rushing in the background of the song is just perfect for this scene. This sound gives this part a special effect. What´s more, for Sephy and Callum the beach is a place where both of them can forget the worries of the world for a while. For me it´s the same; when I´m listening this song I can forget my worries and problems for a while.
3. Wiz Khalifa – See You Again ft. Charlie Puth
To my mind, this song describes the part when Callum read Lynette´s farewell letter. After he reading this letter he sat still for a minute and then he tore the letter into a hundred pieces and let them fall to the floor like paper rain. He thought about all the “Good things they’ve been through” like Wiz Khalifa sings in his song….
4. Major Lazer – Powerful
“Powerful” reminds me of the part when Callum came to Sephy´s house through the rose garden. They lay in Sephy´s bed, kissed each other, wrapprd their arms around each other and they trusted each other again. In my opinion this scene is so beautiful and Malorie Blackman describes this scene in detail, which is just perfect. The way I see it, for Sephy and Callum it´s so “powerful” when they see each other and spend time together.
5. Passenger – Let Her Go
This song is just perfect for page 329 when Callum tried to follow Sephy´s car because she went to Chivers Boarding School. He couldn´t catch them because, as the car was almost out of sight. He gripped Sphy´s letter in his hand, lay on the ground and started dreaming and burst into tears…
The lyrics of this song describe Callum´s thoughts perfectly.
6. ROBIN SCHULZ & J.U.D.G.E. – SHOW ME LOVE
“Show me love” I chose for the part when Callum and Sephy had sex. In my opinion the whole atmosphere and situation is similar with the text and video of this song. Show me love describes Callum´s and Sephy´s thoughts. They want and need each other.
“So baby if you want me
You’ve got to show me love
Words are so easy to say, oh ah yeah
You’ve got to show me love”
7. REA GARVEY – Armour
Generally, this song describes the book best. “Sometimes weak, sometimes strong” These are the first words of the song. When I listened for this song for the first time I thought about the book and I knew that this song is perfect for the book.
“Hey, hey, don’t get lost in the crowd
Hey, hey, don’t be afraid to get loud
Say what you want to say
I’ll be okay
I’ve got no armour on my heart
So fire away”
For Sephy and Callum it´s also important that they stay strong and don´t give up..
Oh my that reminds me, I still have your CD! Must be somewhere in my car. You’ll get it back soon, I promise!
No problem! The CD belongs to you, it was a present for you! 🙂
Awesome! Thanks!
I love the book! It was neither difficult nor easy to read. The book is very moving because you know how Sephy und Callum are thinking and how they feel. The best thing is that you really feel with them! There are so much connections to ‘real life’ which made me think about my own attitude to people with other races, or other descents.
I wrote a letter of Callum’s last words to Sephy which turned a bit into a love letter.
Dear Sephy,
Even though you cannot see me, I will always be watching you an know how you are. I don’t want you to become sad ’cause I still live in your heart.
I hope you know how much I love you. Oh dear, I really do love you! You an our little baby. I have been so lucky to know you. You have been my steady rock, my best friend, my one an only, my everything. I wish you a happy life, full of love and joy. Tell our baby that I wish him or her happiness and a fairer world than we had. Make a difference, Sephy! So that our kid can live in peace.
I want to tell you, my dear, I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I didn’t reach the car in time. I’m sorry that I won’t be there when our baby grows up. I’m sorry that I leave you alone with all your future problems. I’m sorry for everything.
I hope, you will find an marry another man, a cross man. ‘Cause then there won’t be any trouble. You deserve a better life than you had with me.
Please forgive my many faults and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless, how foolish I have sometimes been!
My love, I will be in heaven kissing you from afar.
Yours,
Callum
Some days ago I found the book “Noughts and Crosses” in my room. It reminded me how good and amazing the book was! The novel is written in an easy language and includes so many exciting but also some sad moments.
The book was so good that I haven’t forgotten the story it was about. A teenage couple tries to find a way to be together in a world where Noughts and Crosses don’t mix. I prefer the book a lot and can recommend it to everyone!
After I read the book I wrote my idea of Callum’s last letter to Sephy:
Dear Sephy,
When you read this letter, perhaps I’m already dead. I rest in peace. But before I have to tell you something, my love, and our unborn baby something: I’m sure that it was the right decision. The life of our child is a thousand times more important than mine. Besides, your father would kill me anyway.
So I hope you have the vitality to give birth to our pretty and wonderful baby. If it’s a boy, name him Ryan and if it’s a girl, name her Callie Rose. Teach our child good behavior and bring him or her up. If you have the chance and fall in love once again, give my baby a good father and look after it. I will be in heaven and your own guardian angel. Sephy, I love you. I’m always there for you. Thanks for the good time and all the touching moments with you. It was a time full of love, sadness but also anxiety. I’m really sorry, Sephy, for the last weeks. Sorry for Kidnapping, it wasn’t my fault. I was tied to the L.M. and I couldn’t think. You gave me your love and I came to my mind. Sephy, thanks for all you have done for me! Now I’m sitting here in prison, crying and writing this letter. I’m glad when the hanging tomorrow is over. My life will be over. Please, Sephy, look after you and our child. I love you!
Yours,
Callum.
I hope you enjoy it! 🙂
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