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A review by raelovestoread
Noughts & Crosses Graphic Novel by John Aggs, Malorie Blackman
3.0
Noughts and crosses was one of my favourite books as a teenager. It broke my heart. I have no idea whether I would love the book as much reading it now, but at the time it had a big impact on me.
I was sceptical at how a story with so much subtlety of emotion and internal struggle could be adapted into graphic novel format, but by and large they've done a good job.
The art isn't my favourite, but it isn't bad either and there are some excellent panels. I suppose seeing someone else's rendering of imaginary characters is always going to feel a little odd.
My main issue with the adaptation is that Callum seems to switch to being a heartless badass and back again in the space of a few pages. At least in the novel you can see his inner torment slowly bubbling and his behaviour makes more sense. This was always going to be tricky to convey, but if I hadn't read the novel I might have been a bit baffled.
Also, what is with the mid-90s boyband-curtains-cum-tuxedo-mask hairdo that he develops?
I'm not sure whether to give this 3 or 4 stars as it feels so solidly a 7 out of 10. One day I should revisit the original novel and see if it is still the 10 out of 10 I remember it being.
I was sceptical at how a story with so much subtlety of emotion and internal struggle could be adapted into graphic novel format, but by and large they've done a good job.
The art isn't my favourite, but it isn't bad either and there are some excellent panels. I suppose seeing someone else's rendering of imaginary characters is always going to feel a little odd.
My main issue with the adaptation is that Callum seems to switch to being a heartless badass and back again in the space of a few pages. At least in the novel you can see his inner torment slowly bubbling and his behaviour makes more sense. This was always going to be tricky to convey, but if I hadn't read the novel I might have been a bit baffled.
Also, what is with the mid-90s boyband-curtains-cum-tuxedo-mask hairdo that he develops?
I'm not sure whether to give this 3 or 4 stars as it feels so solidly a 7 out of 10. One day I should revisit the original novel and see if it is still the 10 out of 10 I remember it being.