Sephy’s actions offend Callum and make him feel angry and ashamed, and Callum’s lack of enthusiasm makes Sephy feel bad just for being a Cross. Meanwhile, Sephy tries to help the noughts at school by sitting with them at lunch, but the school punishes her for this, and three girls viciously beat her up in retaliation. Callum also starts to suspect that Dad and Jude are part of the Liberation Militia, an underground resistance group.

At home, Callum’s m um and dad fight about how to best fight for racial equality, while his brother Jude and sister Lynette (who’s mentally ill and suffers delusions that she’s a Cross) butt heads. Over the next few weeks, life gets harder for Sephy and Callum. A mob outside protests the nought students, and Sephy gets the mob to disperse by screaming that her classmates are acting like “blankers.” Callum is hurt and offended, so Sephy agrees not to use the slur again. The first day of school is horrible for Sephy and Callum both. Hadley, meeting with a nought man and saying that he’s angry “ blankers” (a terrible slur for noughts) are attending his daughter’s school. That night, Sephy overhears her father, Mr. Callum, though, isn’t sure he and Sephy should act like friends at school-he’s a nought and she’s a Cross, and noughts and Crosses don’t mix. Sephy is almost 14 and is thrilled that 15-year-old Callum will be attending her school this year to integrate it. Best friends Callum and Sephy are at their secret spot on the beach, where they kiss to see what it’s like.

Naughts and crosses book