Check Mate by Malorie Blackman

 Review by: Samantha M. Siciliano

 

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QUICK SUMMARY:

 

This book is the third in a series of a world where Blacks (Crosses) have privilege and higher status than noughts (Whites). This book demonstrates what is still wrong after having freedom from slavery for about 50 years from the Crosses that held the noughts as slaves. This book is the third in a series called Noughts and Crosses. Instead of focusing on Callum’s brother, Jude, and Sephy, Malorie Blackman focuses on multiple characters at different stages of their life. 

 

THE REVIEW

 

Writing a review for a series is probably one of the more difficult things that I have done in my lifetime. I want to just let all the information just spill from my mind onto the computer, but I can’t because then I will basically just rewrite the damn book! 

 

Okay, so the focus characters that are in this book are Jude, Callie Rose, Sephy, Meggie, and Jasmine. This book is structured around the life of Callie Rose growing up and what is happening to each character during that time period. Sometimes we were in the past and sometimes we were in the present, but man was it a thrill ride. This book made me feel so many emotions from each character. I know what a torn family feels like, I know what it’s like to search for acceptance and love in the wrong places, I know what it’s like to not know that you love someone and want to be with them in a romantic way. I know what it is like to struggle with alcoholism. I know what it is like to have a family member slam a door in your face and treat you like garbage. I related to a lot of the heavy topics in this book. I understand that in the United States (and many other countries) there is white privilege. So I relate to the Cross class more than that of the Noughts. But the great thing about this book, is it really helps you see the pain that others in society also struggle through.

 

I related a lot to the trauma of this book, but I also related to the healing that took place. Healing between daughters/ in law daughters and their mothers/ in law mothers. Friendships that should never be taken for granted, yet sometimes we do. Forgiveness not only with others, but within yourself. This book has it all. The timeline tripped me up a little bit once in a while, but once I slowed back down to read it, there was major healing for Sephy and Callie Rose. Thank goodness for a good familial support system. Race was still a theme in the book, but it was not the huge in your face theme like the last two books. I would say that the major theme in this book was complicated relationships. I am a person that wants to resolve a problem when I see one and so I struggled reading this book a little bit because I just wanted to force all the characters to sit down, hold the feelings stick, and just talk it out.

 

A little about the book, now. Callie Rose meets her Uncle Jude (who is still trying to destroy Sephy and the Hadley’s lives). Sephy continues to live with Meggie and her daughter Callie Rose. Jasmine struggles in this book, but is also so damn strong that you just can’t help but be amazed at her conniving and scheming ways. Meggie finally finds the truth out about Jude and Jude is the leader (or General) of the Liberation Militia. The book leaves you on a fabulous cliff hanger which makes me need to read the next book starting tomorrow, because as you can tell… it’s very late at night (BUT I JUST HAD TO KEEP SAYING JUST ONE MORE CHAPTER)! 

 

I would rate this book a solid 4/5. A little bit of a lower score due to the jumping around of ages and readjusting of ages and time frames. I did like how the author showcased her strength of tying both the first and second books together very well with the third book. 

 

IN CONCLUSION, READ THE FRACKING BOOK!

 

Up Next: Double Cross by Malorie Blackman