A new Noughts & Crosses book is coming.

For a load of adults, Malorie Blackman’s Noughts & Crosses series were the books that got us into reading.

They were the books that sparked conversations about racism and made important concepts readable for teens and children.

So naturally, all us adults are now pretty excited that Malorie Blackman plans to launch a fifth book in the series, called Crossfire.

Crossfire will be published in summer 2019 by Penguin Random House Children’s, and is said to be inspired by Brexit, Trump and the rise of the far-right in Europe.


Yes, it’ll be just as topical and incredibly important as the original books.



Crossfire will be set several years after the end of the fourth book, which was released ten years ago, and will include the same characters, such as Sephy, Tobey, and Callie-Rose, as well as newbies called Libby and Troy.

Malorie Blackman has confirmed Crossfire will be inspired by Trump and Brexit (Picture: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Sky)

Malorie Blackman told The Bookseller: ‘The previous books in the Noughts & Crosses series were inspired by and written in reply to contemporary events. Crossfire is no different.

‘I wanted to write a book that turned the spotlight on not just elections and politics but the pursuit of power.

‘At the heart of Crossfire however are the relationships between Tobey and Callie-Rose as teens and adults, as well as the relationship between two new characters, Libby and Troy, who represent the third generation of protagonists within the Noughts & Crosses series.

‘I’m thrilled to be revisiting the Noughts and Crosses world again.’

We’re pretty thrilled too.

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