Genre bending and blending in Malorie Blackman's Noughts and Crosses YA series

Abstract

This chapter examines Malorie Blackman's first three novels of the Noughts and Crosses YA series, namely: Nouglus & Crosses (2001), Knife Edge (2004), and Checkmate (2005) as an example of YA romance literature that transgresses the allegedly formulaic and merely escapist view of the genre. Blackman's novels follow some conventions of the popular genres of romance and YA literature, yet introduce generic innovations to produce an ethically and politically committed narrative. I shall argue that Blackman's novels fil in a gaping hole in YA British literature which has traditionally failed to portray issues of ethnic diversity. Likewise, I shall examine the novels as a literary exercise ofre/writing dominant discourses around love and a tool to re/right socio-historical wrongs.