Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman.This is a story set during the black civil rights movement in America - except in a world where the roles are reversed. The skins of the oppressed are white and the oppressors are black.
Callum is a white struggling for a decent education to make his way in the world. Sephy comes from an upper class black family in the spotlight regularly.
Their friendship goes from strength to strength as Callum's brother and father join the Liberation Militia, a violent terrorist organization supposedly aimed at promoting equality between the two races, and Sephy's mother becomes an alcoholic.
They develop a more intimate connection.
Sephy's dad is a high-ranking politician - strongly anti white integrating - (racist) which does not help the problem. Matters are somewhat complicated further when Sephy receives an unexpected surprise.
The book shows a different but effective "how would you like it?" view, and shows the difficulties and struggles of a racist society. The book is part of a series of four books and is followed by Knife edge, Checkmate and then Double Cross.
