Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Noughts and Crosses, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Racism, Division, and Tragedy
Awareness and Privilege
Love, Lust, Power, and Violence
Friendship
Youth, Innocence, and Growing Up
Family
Summary
Analysis
Now that Callum has testified, he can watch court proceedings from the public gallery. He refuses to sit with Mum out of shame—he knows he and Sephy have condemned Dad. But then, Kelani calls a Cross man named Leo Stoll to the stand. Mr. Stoll explains that he’s a retired police officer. Then, Kelani asks Mr. Stoll to identify Callum—and Mr. Stoll says he was in the mall café and watched Callum drag a girl out. He asked the girl if she was okay, but the girl said Callum was a friend and wanted to show her something. He also notes that Sephy didn’t seem afraid. Callum is ecstatic.
Leo Stoll’s testimony backs up both Sephy and Callum’s stories of what happened at the mall café on the day of the bombing. Tracking him down and getting him to testify is another nod to Kelani’s skill as a lawyer. Again, though, most noughts probably don’t have access to lawyers like her, so Dad might be getting a fairer trial than many noughts on trial for similar offenses.
Themes
