BB FANS

I don't know if anyones kids have read this. I am reading it at the moment to my 9 year old daughter. It's an amazing story. It is about Sephy who is a Cross and Callum who is a Nought and they fall in love. They live in a world like ours but in which black people are Crosses and white people are Noughts and are pretty much second class citizens. They are poor, kept segregated from the Crosses and imprisoned for the slightest thing. It's an interesting concept for a child to get their head around and I would say it is probably more suitable for children over 12. I am reading it to my daughter for two reasons. Firstly there are some parts which are not suitable for her (sex and abortion which she wouldn't understand so I skip over those bits) and secondly because it's a fantastic book and I am really enjoying it. My daughter has been asking me some very thought-provoking questions on why some people are treated differently on the basis of their colour.

strangley enough ellie my daughter read this book and loved it so much she wants me to read it with her too! She's 11 and found some parts hard to deal with but wants to read it and discuss it just the same as you did.

I noticed HC that there is a follow up, which is about Sephy and Callum's brother Jude. I'll probably get that when we have finished this one. I have already finished this as I wanted to check what I could read aloud but still have about 100 pages to finish reading to my daughter.

Another good book you might like to read with your daughter ellie (and anyone else who may be interested of course!) is Yankee Girl by Mary Ann Rodman. It's based on her childhood in the 60's where black people were being integrated into white schools and the problems with racism. A young black girl is chosen to star in the nativity play because of her good singing voice and there is an outcry because of it. It's a young peoples book but I am enjoying it and it's a good one for discussion with your chldren. I bought it for my daughter but decided to read it myself first.

you can pick it up at Amazon

The follow up is called 'Knife edge',though I've not got round to reading it yet though it comes recommended by my daughter.We both really enjoyed the 'windsinger trilogy' by William Nicholson.Though it didn't deal with race it dealt with other issues of social segregation.

We have read Knife Edge, I use my daughter as an excuse but think I would probably read it myself. It is just as good as the first book but probably slightly more adult in content. I left some sections out (though I did tell my daughter I was doing this) , particularly the sections referring to abortion as she is only 9. There is a final book which we will get next but are currently reading Terry Pratchet's, Hat Full of Sky so will wait until we have finished that.

we have all three ellie but my daughter is older and thinks they were all absolutley brilliant.

Anyhoo so is the Yankee girl one which was politley ignored

Not ignored HC politely or otherwise. I'm sure we will get round to it eventually.

get around to what? noticing I'm in the room?

Did somebody speak?

I SO knew you would say that

Finally I have got around to this book. My daughter loves it and has read it four times. She insisted I read it as she's been nagging me (well according to this thread since she was 11 )

I am about half way through and it certainly is very thought provoking. I can see why it won awards. We also have the two follow up books which I shall read soon though not straight after this one.

Anyway 'tis good stuff

Told ya

Having finished it I would say it's well worth a read. I had to get over the fact that it is clearly written for young people so the style was a touch annoying for an adult reader. However I loved the fact that it wasn't all happy ending. I like books that don't always make everything neat and tidy at the end. Sh*t happens. I enjoy a book that deals with that at the end.


Hope I haven't spoilt the ending for anyone by telling you the boat sinks