Numbers (Numbers, #1)

Jun 17, 2013 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Jem has an unusual gift--when she looks people in the eye, a set of numbers pops into her head. When she was younger, she thought nothing of this. However, when her mother dies of an overdose, the numbers suddenly make sense to 6 year old Jem: the numbers are the month, day, and year on which the person in question will die.

Now 15 years old, Jem has lived a tough life in inner-city London. Shuffled from foster home to foster home and understandably withdrawn and guarded because of her secret, Je...more Jem has an unusual gift--when she looks people in the eye, a set of numbers pops into her head. When she was younger, she thought nothing of this. However, when her mother dies of an overdose, the numbers suddenly make sense to 6 year old Jem: the numbers are the month, day, and year on which the person in question will die.

Now 15 years old, Jem has lived a tough life in inner-city London. Shuffled from foster home to foster home and understandably withdrawn and guarded because of her secret, Jem keeps to herself and avoids making contact with anyone else. Kind of tough to make friends when every time you look at them you’re reminded of the date they’re going to kick it, right? All of this changes for Jem when she meets Spider, an energetic boy from the wrong side of the tracks who forces his way into Jem’s life. The problem? Jem knows that Spider will die in two weeks unless she figures out how to manipulate the numbers. Things don’t get any easier for the two when they are spotted fleeing the scene moments before a terrorist attack on the London Eye. Now on the run, time and fate seem to be forcing Jem and Spider into dangerous situations that will surely result in Spider’s rapidly approaching expiration date.

I really enjoyed that Rachel Ward took some risks in this young adult novel. These are not the spoiled, beautiful teenagers that populate so much of this genre today. Life for Jem and Spider is grim and gritty, a lifetime of disappointment and failure all mapped out for them as victims of cyclical poverty and its associated pitfalls. They’ve both been in trouble with the law, and the reader can see how their inherent distrust of a system whose deck seems to be stacked against them leads to one poor decision after another. They’re also both stubbornly obtuse to the fact that they are as much perpetrator as victim in the downward spiral that is their lives.

The one fault that consistently nagged at me was that Jem’s gift is forgotten for entire chapters and seems almost secondary once the characters are on the run. From that point on, it’s a typical chase narrative with Jem and Spider struggling to stay ahead of the mounting manhunt. I was just expecting a little more of the plot to hinge upon Jem’s ability and was disappointed when it didn’t. If I had such a power, I would seriously be messing with some people’s heads. However, because of its strong characterization and one hell of an ending, I enjoyed it enough to give the sequel a shot when it becomes available.

Cross posted at This Insignificant Cinder (less)

16 likes · like · see review

Apr 29, 2012 Ruth Belano rated it 1 of 5 stars

Review before finishing the book:

I am so sorry to my friend who willingly spent her money just to buy me this disappointing book for Christmas. When I read the overview, I was like, "This is going to be a great book!", and so, I spent months craving for this book because I don't have the time to buy and read it, until my oh so good friend gave it to me as Christmas gift. I was so excited to read it!! but...

It.was.horrible. The plot was just so irrelevant to the supposed main idea of the book. I...more Review before finishing the book:

I am so sorry to my friend who willingly spent her money just to buy me this disappointing book for Christmas. When I read the overview, I was like, "This is going to be a great book!", and so, I spent months craving for this book because I don't have the time to buy and read it, until my oh so good friend gave it to me as Christmas gift. I was so excited to read it!! but...

It.was.horrible. The plot was just so irrelevant to the supposed main idea of the book. I could not bring myself to finish it. The ending was so predictable.. Okay, start from the beginning. Jem is a troubled child under foster care who doesn't want to get emotionally attached to anyone because of her ability to see other people's death dates when she looks into their eyes, blah blah blah. Then she meets Spider, a guy who finally understands her, lets down her guard and takes a chance, blah blah blah. The back of the book was way more interesting than the story itself.

So the London Eye explodes right after they left the area (they ran away, she predicted it, obviously), so the police got suspicious and they're being hunted, accused of being terrorists. And that's where the interesting part ends. The rest of the book comprised of their runaway and hiding from authorities and civilization. It was booooring. I didn't care about the characters all that much. The only character I liked was Britney, who played a minor, short role in the book.

Personally, I was expecting something more exciting after the explosion. Like, there would be another terrorist attack, and Jem and Spider would get caught, but they found out about Jem's abilities (somehow) and she would be used to help stop the future terrorist attack. Or something. Or maybe even reveal Val to be some sort of former agent or something. ANYTHING. Anything that doesn't involve running away over and over. It was just so... repetitive. Okay, maybe I'm like this 'cause I just finished reading Eve, which was full of surprises (AWESOME BOOK). I wanted more from the story, I don't get how the rest of the events relate to her ability. I mean, it's just so pointless to have that factor in the story if the author isn't even going to make it useful. It's like.. "I can see the person's death" WOW and as the story progresses.. SO WHAT NOW??

I don't recommend this to anyone. The sort of love story part here isn't even sappy. I'm so so so so so sorry Christa!! Thank you, though!! I tried, but it was just so boring... It sucked, really. I didn't even get into the the characters.. Sooooorry. Anyway, I'm going to try to finish for the sake of finishing it.

(less)

30 likes · like · see review

Aug 22, 2010 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Rachel Ward has written a really dirty and gritty novel here, one that will stick with me for a while...the ending was packed with a very sad punch...and the last few sentences really left me wanting Numbers 2, The Chaos!

So while, I was sure in the beginning this novel was NOT one I would like, thinking I would never finish it, in the end it's a 4 mushroom book for me! A book that reminded me that, while it might take a while, you need to give a book a chance...it just might turn out to be somet...more

23 likes · like · see review

Oct 24, 2011 Sam rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fiction

Imagine if every time you looked into someone's eyes you saw the date they would die.

This is the overwhelming burden Jem, our protagonist, has to carry.

Jem has hardly had what you would call a stable childhood; with no dad around and her mother dying when she was seven, Jem has been forced to live with her fair share of foster parents. It doesn't help that her dreaded 'gift' prevents her from getting close to people.

Yet when she lets Spider - a young male and classmate - into her small bubble,...more Imagine if every time you looked into someone's eyes you saw the date they would die.

This is the overwhelming burden Jem, our protagonist, has to carry.

Jem has hardly had what you would call a stable childhood; with no dad around and her mother dying when she was seven, Jem has been forced to live with her fair share of foster parents. It doesn't help that her dreaded 'gift' prevents her from getting close to people.

Yet when she lets Spider - a young male and classmate - into her small bubble, she is pleasantly surprised to find she can have fun with him. On a day out with Spider to the London Eye, the cold realization hits Jem that every person around her has suddenly got the same number branded in their eyes. And it also happens to be that day's date.

With the sense that something fatal is about to occur, Jem and Spider get as far away as they can from the area. This cautious move is caught on the CCTV cameras in the area and raises suspicions following the terror attack.

Jem and Spider run. They run for their lives in an attempt to evade the authorities. All the while, their friendship blossoms into love in the most poignant of ways as Jem is little to aware of the number she sees when she looks into Spider's eyes. She knows he will soon be dead.

My take: It took me a while to decide how much to rate this book.

If I just think of it on its own, ignoring all the other Young Adult novels I have read, I reckon it would just about scrape a 4.0 rating. While I was reading this book, I thought it was amazing idea and perfectly executed. Rachel Ward writes very well and keeps the reader turning the pages until the end. I was particularly impressed by the way she developed the plot line. The characters were hard to like at first, but as the story progressed, I found myself really warming to Jem and realizing how very perfect Spider was for her.

However, as you can see, I haven't given Numbers a 4.0 rating - I've given it 3 stars. I pondered over it for ages, but thought 3 stars would be more appropriate in the end. The only reason my opinion of this book has lowered ever so slightly is because of some of the other books I have read lately. I'm namely thinking of books such as Divergent by Veronica Roth, Gone by Michael Grant and perhaps even Unwind by Neal Shusterman. Although Numbers is a great book, I kind of feel it dims slightly in comparison.

I still think it is brilliant, but just not as brilliant as some of the other brilliant YA books.

I recommend you read it and see where you would place it yourself.

(less)

9 likes · like · see review

Jun 16, 2011 Emily May rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-na, sci-fi, 2011

I was pleasantly suprised by this book, I really liked the story and the exploration of the underclasses and labelling in society. The questions asked about the current justice system in Britain and whether or not the police are simply looking for a likely candidate to blame, are often a question faced in reality. The exploration of racial issues also gives insight into a dark world where the police see a black boy (or girl, but less so) automatically as a criminal or at least a suspect.

The plot...more I was pleasantly suprised by this book, I really liked the story and the exploration of the underclasses and labelling in society. The questions asked about the current justice system in Britain and whether or not the police are simply looking for a likely candidate to blame, are often a question faced in reality. The exploration of racial issues also gives insight into a dark world where the police see a black boy (or girl, but less so) automatically as a criminal or at least a suspect.

The plot intrigued me as soon as I heard of it. The protagonist, Jem, has been able to see the numbers all her life, as soon as she looks into someone's eyes, she knows the date they will die. The numbers have always been absolute and unchanging. But one day she sees the exact same numbers on everyone waiting in the London Eye queue and flees, knowing the tragic fate of the passengers. The Eye becomes subject to a terrorist attack and the only CCTV footage shows Jem and her friend Spider running away from the scene. Instant suspects, the two attempt an escape, heading for a seaside town of Spider's childhood.

The story idea was very good, it seemed fairly original to me unless someone better-read would like to correct me. The focus on the lower working class was insightful but, most likely, exaggerated. I find it stereotypical of the author to paint every one as a drug-dealer or criminal of some kind, all with a low life expectancy to go with it. Some of it may be an accurate depiction of the struggles faced when you aren't born into wealth and opportunity but I grew up in a very mixed-class English town and the only difference between those defined as 'working class' and 'middle class' was their income. Neither were criminals, neither lacked education or ambition.

The race issue, however, can still happen and the author made her point very effectively by the way that the police assume without question that Spider must be a criminal.

The love story is something I didn't expect and when it first happened I didn't expect to get into it either. Actually, I became rather absorbed. Jem is such a strong character, I like how she is the one to pull Spider out of the river instead of waiting for him to come to her rescue (Twilight, anyone?); and how the two are partners, equally helping each other and sharing one another's strengths and weaknesses - there is no damsel, no knight in shining armour, they are both equals who have been labelled by society since they were young kids.

The ending, well the bit just before the ending, made me cry. I felt unexpected emotion for the characters and was left with no doubt as to whether I would read Numbers #2. And even if that bit before the ending hadn't been enough, the very last line would have been the cliffhanger to seal the deal. I was very impressed.(less)

18 likes · like · see review

Jun 28, 2010 Arlene rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, read-2010, ya-paranormal, young-adult

I've been going back and forth on how I wanted to rate this book, and I'm still not sure it's worth a full three stars, but that's what it's going to get from me at least for right now. I guess I was expecting something more… maybe different from Numbers by Rachel Ward. It wasn't really creepy, dramatic, suspenseful nor intriguing at any grand or significant scale. The story just shifted my suspended reality from here to there with no consistent path or flow, but I never really lost interest, so...more I've been going back and forth on how I wanted to rate this book, and I'm still not sure it's worth a full three stars, but that's what it's going to get from me at least for right now. I guess I was expecting something more… maybe different from Numbers by Rachel Ward. It wasn't really creepy, dramatic, suspenseful nor intriguing at any grand or significant scale. The story just shifted my suspended reality from here to there with no consistent path or flow, but I never really lost interest, so I guess it worked out okay.

The story is about Jem, a fifteen year old girl who's been tossed back and forth in the foster care system after the death of her mother, which I believe was around the age of 4 or 5, not 100% sure, but she was young. Anywho, the creepy, well not really creepy, but unique thing about Jem is that she can read peoples' numbers when she looks into their eyes. Those numbers reveal the date of the person's death with an uncanny accuracy. So, Jem never really forges any relationships with people for fear of what she'll learn about them. This all changes when she meets Spider, a boy that somehow captures her attention and begins to make her feel emotions she doesn't quite know what to do with. The story takes off, well not really takes off, but progresses, not that either, but you get it, when Jem and Spider are at the London Eye and Jem notices the people around her at the station share the same number. Predicting something is about to happen, her and Spider take off before a b0mb eventually detonates. Jem and Spider are caught on camera fleeing the scene and making them potential suspects. Lots of other stuff happens, but not really.

There were a couple things to note about this book. One, Jem and Spider are both fifteen and the author detailed an event that I didn't think she needed to describe so vividly considering the age of the two characters. Not going to say much about it, just that yes I know that stuff happens, but does it really need to be spelled out and gloried? I'm not passionate enough about what she wrote to take a stance one way or the other, just simply surprised that she did… that's all I'm saying about that. Second, the last few sentences really gave me cause to screech WHOA, but after 300 pages or so of bland, her final wow factor seemed a little late in coming. Lastly, the language is really foul, but I wasn't too vested into the story to care too much, so I just wanted to simply mention… the language is foul. That's all.

Overall, just an okay read that really had a ton more potential that I don’t think the author took advantage of. I guess if this story really grabbed my interest and the characters moved me to compassion, I'd have written a better review, but not really, so I"ll just blame my crappy review on the June gloom here in Cali...(less)

14 likes · like · see review

Mar 10, 2013 Casandra rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When I first saw this book I couldn't wait to read it.When I started reading it I was really disappointed.I thought that it will be really interesting with Jem's creepy abilities,but it was just boring.I didn't like the characters(I liked Britney,but she was suspiciously kind) and neither the action.Jem and Spider were just running and hiding and I think that it could be more exciting if someone was following them.Actually they were followed by everyone...
When I reached the middle of the book I...more

4 likes · like · see review

Jul 14, 2010 Eliora Vespera rated it 3 of 5 stars

http://scholarberry.blogspot.com/

"While I existed, the number existed. I was the number and the number was me."

You'd think that Jem is just the ordinary wallflower, the kind that skips the class and avoid social structures. The kind that would grow up just like her failure mother, a junkie who never cared about her own daughter.

It's true Jem doesn't understand most people, but the real reason why she avoids people (specifically eye contact) is because that she sees a set of numbers. At first whe...more

3 likes · like · see review

Mar 02, 2010 Sophia (FV) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Jem can see the death date of people by looking into their eyes. As if that’s not a big enough burden to bear, Jem lost her mother to a drug overdose as a young child and is now in the foster care system. She considers herself an outcast and does her best to avoid personal relationships.

When she meets Spider another so-called outcast, Jem gives in to her loneliness and she slowly begins to build a friendship with him. One day when spending a day together in London they witness a terrorist attac...more Jem can see the death date of people by looking into their eyes. As if that’s not a big enough burden to bear, Jem lost her mother to a drug overdose as a young child and is now in the foster care system. She considers herself an outcast and does her best to avoid personal relationships.

When she meets Spider another so-called outcast, Jem gives in to her loneliness and she slowly begins to build a friendship with him. One day when spending a day together in London they witness a terrorist attack and flee the scene. Believing they could be suspects, they go on the run together and their friendship grows into something more.

I was intrigued by the concept of this book right away. I can’t imagine how it would be for a teen, or anyone else for that matter, to know the death date of everyone she meets. I would think the psychological impact of that would be too much for anyone to bear let alone a teen with a very tragic background.

Right off I struggled to connect with Spider and Jem on an emotional level. I continued to read but after reading 18 chapters I decided not to finish the book. I thought the story started out slow, failed to gain momentum and I eventually came to realize the book just wasn’t for me. It was at the point where Spider and Jem decided to take their relationship to a physical level where I decided to give up. I didn’t feel a strong romantic connection between the two characters and felt that the physical relationship was born of desperation and loneliness, lacking a romantic connection.

After discussing the book with fellow book bloggers, Natasha at Wicked Lil Pixie and Mandi at SmexyBooks and hearing their contrary opinions of the book, I decided to give it another go. I am going to admit, I am really glad I did. While the first half of the book seemed slow and the characters just didn’t move me, the second half picked up nicely and the characters came alive. Although Jem was somewhat hardened, I found her to be remarkably vulnerable and yet strong in ways I didn’t pick up in the beginning. Spider and Jem’s emotional journey was touching and ending did not disappoint.

After finishing Numbers I decided to see what other readers thought of the book. I was surprised to find a wide range of opinions on it. Some glowing reviews, others less favorable. I was interested to see that some readers thought the book started strong and ended on a weak note, completely opposite to my impressions. (less)

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 17, 2011 Julie H. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Num8ers is the unlikely love story of Jemma (a.k.a. Jem) and Terry (a.k.a. Spider, nicknamed for his constant and ungainly motion). Jemma is a child of the foster care system who at age six found her mother's dead body after a heroin overdose. All her life, she has learned not to form attachments because the people she loves either don't love her in return or they all leave. Jem goes through life making as little eye contact and no physical contact whatsoever with the people around her. This is...more Num8ers is the unlikely love story of Jemma (a.k.a. Jem) and Terry (a.k.a. Spider, nicknamed for his constant and ungainly motion). Jemma is a child of the foster care system who at age six found her mother's dead body after a heroin overdose. All her life, she has learned not to form attachments because the people she loves either don't love her in return or they all leave. Jem goes through life making as little eye contact and no physical contact whatsoever with the people around her. This is a protective strategy that has served her well given the fact that for as long as she can remember, when she looks into another person's eyes she sees a number written there (e.g., 12152010). She quickly learned that a person's "special number" is, in fact, their death date. Spider, in contrast, lives with his Gran, who provides a constant source of love if not direction, supervision, and/or material support. At the same time, it's also the story of children who are processed through a series of systems (e.g., the school system, the foster care system, the prison system) that seem to care little about their ultimate welfare. Jem and Spider's teacher, Mr. McNulty (aptly referred to as the Nutter for his trigger-hair temper), is a classic example given that he's already written his entire class off and daily instills in them a pervasive sense of their own worthlessness.

This might sound like a terrible concept for a novel, but it's really quite clever. While a bit obvious, Jem and Spider's unlikely friendship quickly develops into a much deeper and abiding relationship. Over the course of the story--which takes place in only a few weeks--a number of individuals are able to slowly scale the previously unreachable heights of Mt. Jem as a consequence of Spider's ability to break her protective emotional shell. The story is set in 2010, but with a different set of numbers it could just as easily have been set any time in the past or future. What's so very effective is that the plot and sparse description (just enough to paint a great image in the reader's eye but not enough to call attention to itself) nicely juxtapose past and present--Jem's, humanity's, Britain's, etc.

I had selected this from my library's new fiction shelf, so wasn't even aware that it was young-adult fiction until the user-friendly font size registered in my mind. But by then I was hooked! This is a good story, with a good mixture of creep factor, danger, and eccentric yet still highly likeable central characters. What truly does make it YA fiction, though, is the sometimes incredibly frustrating fact that the main characters think, act, and react to things--and fail to foresee the likely (if not obvious) implications of certain actions. That is, Jem is truly a 15 year old and not a 30-year old in a 15 year old's body. In that regard, I think that Num8ers will draw--and possibly retain--a strong young-adult following.

One final comment bears mentioning. It was not until sitting down to write this review that I see that this is to be the first novel in a series. Yikes! In my estimation, this totally detracts from the chill factor at novel's end. I won't spoil it for you, but read the book and consider these two different courses (i.e., stand-alone story vs. first in a series) and see if you don't agree. I wouldn't suggest that this fact should dissuade readers from the book, but I do think that it greatly lessens the ending's punch.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 21, 2011 Ericaj rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The book I read was Numbers by Rachel Ward and it is 325. This book is fiction and it takes place in England. The two main charters are Jem and Spider. Jem is a 15 year old girl with a big problem she knows when people are going to die and for years she didn’t know what is was until her mom died and that is when she found out that she can tell when you are going to die. Spider is a 15 year old guy who just has so such energy it is scary but when a friend with Jem his life becomes gets turned ups...more

2 likes · like · see review

Aug 01, 2011 Megan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, not-mine-library, young-adult

Loved it! Numbers is the story of Jem; a fifteen year old girl who has spent over half her life orphaned and bounced from family to family in the foster care system. Therefore, it almost goes without saying that she is a troubled girl with issues a plenty. In addition to the crap load of, well crap life has piled on her; Jem sees a number whenever she looks someone in the eye. That number is always there, always the same, and it is the date that person will die. As a result, Jem grows up learnin...more Loved it! Numbers is the story of Jem; a fifteen year old girl who has spent over half her life orphaned and bounced from family to family in the foster care system. Therefore, it almost goes without saying that she is a troubled girl with issues a plenty. In addition to the crap load of, well crap life has piled on her; Jem sees a number whenever she looks someone in the eye. That number is always there, always the same, and it is the date that person will die. As a result, Jem grows up learning to avoid looking anyone in the eye, shuns friendships and attachments, and barely skates by in school. Her philosophy is you’re born, shit happens, you die. Everything is random; nothing is for a reason or has a real purpose. How can she think otherwise when she knows someone’s death date has been predetermined from the moment they are born?

Regarding the numbers Jem sees, I think a case can be made for the numbers being real as well as it all being a figment of her imagination. Jem has always seen the numbers, but she didn’t figure out what they are all about until she discovered the body of her junkie mother. Suddenly, six (or seven?) year old Jem is alone and sees death everywhere, in the eyes of everyone she sees. Under ordinary circumstances, facing death at a young age (let alone something as traumatic as Jem’s experience) is going to influence a person. So, considering what has happened to her, it it any surprise that Jem turns out to be an antisocial loner obsessed with death? Under the disguise of mental illness, Jem may be a very perceptive girl who is able to sense when someone has an illness, or when someone is living a life so dangerous that it will be ended before their due time. I hate to play the “hysterical female” card but if Jem has a sense that Person X will die today, and they do, does that make her prophetic? Or it is a coincidence? Perhaps she has had that sense about others, yet they lived so we are not privy to those experiences? I should probably stop this line of thinking in this review though, because it is fairly clear that author Rachel Ward intended for Jem’s numbers to be real. However, what added to my enjoyment of Numbers is the fact that they could also be explained away by life circumstances, mental illness and stress. I can’t help thinking of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake and Madapple, both of which drew a fine line between reality, magic/paranormal, and mental illness.

As so many people have mentioned, this isn’t the sci-fi story it is marketed as. It is a fast moving, engrossing and plot driven book. It is also a very sweet story of friendship and growing up. Numbers completely captivated me from beginning to end. Admittedly, we are thrown a pretty big teaser early on and I have no impulse control. None whatsoever. Needing to know what will happen next was a large part of my drive to finish this so quickly. Even so, I look forward to reading this again, and seeing if the story is just as compelling the second time around (although I have a feeling it will be.) The ending is one of the best I’ve read. It left me with a punched in the gut feeling, and good or bad, it’s hard not to appreciate a story which makes the reader to feel anything so profoundly.
(less)

8 likes · like · see review

Jul 24, 2012 Susana rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, para-troca, 2012

One and a half stars would be the ideal for this book.
I thought this one, was a big, waste of time and money, mess. The first hundred pages were painful to read. Dialogues in "street talk" is not my idea of a good book. Because the dialogue just doesn't "flow". I don't care if Jem and Spider are fifteen years old, and if that is a way to ilustrate their social background. I understand it, but i don't have to like reading it.
In fact it became painful to do it.
But i'm more than thirty years old....more

4 likes · like · see review

Jun 25, 2011 Marissa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopian

I'm having a hard time deciding what to rate this book. I have come to the decision to give it a 4.5/5. This book starts out with a girl named Jem, who seems to be an ordinary teenage girl who hangs out under bridges and smokes with others. But Jem can see things that no one else can see: numbers. The numbers represent the date of your death. By just one look in your eyes, Jem can see it. Jem has been seeing these numbers ever since her mom died. She has been shuffled from one foster home to the...more I'm having a hard time deciding what to rate this book. I have come to the decision to give it a 4.5/5. This book starts out with a girl named Jem, who seems to be an ordinary teenage girl who hangs out under bridges and smokes with others. But Jem can see things that no one else can see: numbers. The numbers represent the date of your death. By just one look in your eyes, Jem can see it. Jem has been seeing these numbers ever since her mom died. She has been shuffled from one foster home to the next. Since Jem can see the numbers, she avoids any sort of relationship. Basically, she is like a social block of ice, until she meets Spider. Spider is like your typical "bad boy" type. I found Spier hilarious though. Jem tries not to get close to him because whenever she sees him the only thing she could think abut is 121510, which is his number.
They eventually grow close, and take a visit to the London Eye. All seems normal, until Jem starts seeing the crowds numbers. Why are they all the same date? And why is the date today? Jem and Spider quickly rush out and watch as the London Eye gets destroyed from a bomb. Spider and Jem were caught on camera and now the entire city of London want answers. Now they are on the run from the police, who suspect they are the bombers. (view spoiler)
I'm not gonna lie, those last few sentences in the book had me almost in tears. The only thing you should know if you are thinking of reading this is that there are a lot of curses, especially at one part. Although this book wasn't my favorite, I have to give props to Rachel Ward. This is a pretty amazing book for a debut. I will definitely be picking up the sequel. (less)

1 like · like · see review

May 31, 2011 Donna {Book Passion for Life} rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, from-publishers, ya-dystopian-scifi-thriller

Posted on: http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.com/

After receiving this book for review I was really looking forward to starting it and after reading a few....not so great books recently, I was praying this wouldn't let me down and guess what? It didn't!

The story follows Jem who has been in the care system ever since she was 7 years old after her mother died of a drug overdose. She's always been able to see numbers on people, numbers she wasn't sure what meant but after her mother dies she final...more Posted on: http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.com/

After receiving this book for review I was really looking forward to starting it and after reading a few....not so great books recently, I was praying this wouldn't let me down and guess what? It didn't!

The story follows Jem who has been in the care system ever since she was 7 years old after her mother died of a drug overdose. She's always been able to see numbers on people, numbers she wasn't sure what meant but after her mother dies she finally understand that they are the date of death for that person.

After making friends with a boy named Spider, they decide to skip school and take ride on the London Eye but Jem suddenly notices that all the people in the queue all have the same date of death....and that its today's date! This leads to Jem and Spider start their journey they are also being hunted down....as suspected terrorists.

I'm really surprised by this book and how much I liked it. To be honest, I'm not usually one for reading books based in London. I just feel sometimes author's give it a bit of a mis-conception about what British people are really like but Rachel Ward did a fantastic job. Her style of writing was so unique that you can really imagine the hard life that she created for poor Jem but she also managed to create a really likeable character too. Spider of course was great and although Jem & Spider both had there own issues, it was nice to see their story come together. It was really sweet at times to watch and I loved their relationship but of course, I'm so upset that Jem can see Spider's date of death. So sad!

There were so many great scene's in this story, the rain scene was a highlight for me. It really showed the emotion between both characters and you could really feel what they felt, it was truly beautiful. The cliffhanger was also another one, not one I expected but a great addition to the book.

Overall, Rachel Ward has done a fantastic job creating this world surround by death. Not only was it exciting but it completely draws you in that I just have to go and purchase book 2. If you haven't read it, read it, your'll love it! (less)

1 like · like · see review

Jan 04, 2011 Andrea Vazquez rated it 5 of 5 stars

i choose this book to read because it seemed very interest, this book is fiction. the main character is jem and she is very unique because since her mother die she knew about the numbers she saw on people everytime she saw them on the eyes. she lives with a foster mom her name is karen and she is not happy she describes herself different like she doesn't belong there. in school she has a hard time trying to be with otheres she avoids them because she doesn't wants to see their numbers. one day w...more i choose this book to read because it seemed very interest, this book is fiction. the main character is jem and she is very unique because since her mother die she knew about the numbers she saw on people everytime she saw them on the eyes. she lives with a foster mom her name is karen and she is not happy she describes herself different like she doesn't belong there. in school she has a hard time trying to be with otheres she avoids them because she doesn't wants to see their numbers. one day while she was waling by a canal she meets a boy named spider he also goes to same school as her and when he tries to be nice to her she won't let him she tells to never tell her nice things to her, he accepts it and promise to never to do it. then spider takes her to his house and she meets spider's nan a old lady who smokes alot and she pretty knows whats happening to jem when she tryis to talk to jem she tryis to make jem comfortable so she can see on people's eyes eventhough jem wants to tell her she just can't do it. nan thinks that jem has a very special gift that other people don't have. spider gets suspended of school for punching guy to defend jem in their english class. jem and spider kind of hangs out together but she doesn't really wnats to have a relationship with him. until one day when spider and jem both get suspended. jem attack a boy with a knife because he wouldn't let her go through and he was bugging her when a teacher from the school catch her and she was taken to the princials office and she got suspended then she finds out that spider also got suspended. then she finds out that she was going to be moved from the fster care that she was on but she didn't wanted that so she went with spider to his house and from there they went to the london eye and they were having some good fun when jem steares at sope people and they had the same death date which was tody's date and she knew that they were going to die some how today. so she saks spider to go home but then suddenly and explosion hapen and many people die and some got injured she knew thats was going to happen but them spider started questioning her about it so she decides to tell him but when she tells him she makes him promise that he will never ask her about when has his date. he promise then they go to his house and from there they decide that they have to leave to go to somewhere else. nan helps them pack some cloths, food and other stuff they might need for the trip. when they leave nan asks jem to protect spider to not let anything happen to him. jem promise to do it and they left into they trip. they traveled for days and they try to survived with the food they had. they stayed in the car they were traveling on but then later they had to stay in some woods, when they try to cross a river they pass first their bags but one fell in the river and spider try to reach it when the waterc current took him aeay so jem jumped into the river and save him and they also got the bag out after that they keeped going by foot and they got to a cafe were they got some food after that they weretraveling again but then they found this guy which they call him blue face and he stared chasing them because he wanted his money that spider got but they got away but jem was closed to get hurt so they hide in a barn with cows when it started raining jem went outside to clean her self in the rain then spider went and they ended up together. this book is amezing i really like it and i do recomended. you need to read the book to find out what happen next.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Oct 11, 2010 Erica - Bonner Springs Library rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, arc, ya

What if you knew the day that someone, everyone would die? Could you live with that secret?

Jem lives with the burden of knowing everyone's numbers. She's known about the numbers since she was a little girl. In her stroller, she used to tell her mom everyone the numbers but it's not until her mother dies that she knows exactly what the numbers mean. When she looks someone in the eye, she sees the numbers in her head.

Knowing people's numbers, Jem avoids friendships and relationships until she meet...more

like · see review

Jun 08, 2013 Dotty rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-13-school-year, add2bktalks, fantasy-sci-fi, ebook-read, romance, suspense, adventure

It was everything I thought it could be and more, but not nearly as science fiction as it could have been. Jem is an intense person and it takes awhile to understand how she got that way. The turmoil and spectre of seeing death dates in everyone's eyes takes a toll on her personality and her way of life, her attitudes and her choices. And that's what SF is about - the impact of scientific changes on society. Often SF life alterations are huge and wide spread in the impact. This alterations was m...more

like · see review

Jun 05, 2013 Andrea Hussey rated it 1 of 5 stars

plot spoilers
Did Not Finish
I really debated quitting on pg. 2. Spider (and what kind of name is that? I’d like to have an actual name to call the guy instead of some stupid street name) talked like a 5 year old with ADHD, and his appearance was less than pleasing. In fact, it was a turn-off. The word giraffe was used, along with the phrases gangly and lanky, and he had BO. Yep, that top quality traits in a romantic interest. And I hate the cussing these teenagers are doing, as well as the smokin...more plot spoilers
Did Not Finish
I really debated quitting on pg. 2. Spider (and what kind of name is that? I’d like to have an actual name to call the guy instead of some stupid street name) talked like a 5 year old with ADHD, and his appearance was less than pleasing. In fact, it was a turn-off. The word giraffe was used, along with the phrases gangly and lanky, and he had BO. Yep, that top quality traits in a romantic interest. And I hate the cussing these teenagers are doing, as well as the smoking, drugs, and living on the streets. That’s not my idea of a good book at all. I wish this power would have been paired with something a little more appealing.

I really didn’t care for when the teacher, oh excuse me, the Nutter, (and how very childish—at least this book is consistent with something) asked the class what they wanted to be, and she said mockingly that she wanted to be just like him. That was really mean, and I don’t like mean characters. And then when she realized his death date was set for Christmas, she said it would forever be spoiled for his family, and said it would “serve him right, the cruel bastard.” That was cruel. And you should direct that word to yourself, not the guy who’s actually trying to make a different in your pathetic life.

There were several phrases used that only someone living in England would know. A little clarification wouldn’t go amiss. Like, she said Spider went to the bog, which I assumed was the bathroom, but didn’t know for sure because I don’t live in England. You can’t write and have only the people that live in your area know what you’re talking about. A dictionary would’ve been nice.

I also didn’t like how she kept calling people retards. And when she said she finally got with someone, it would have to be someone descent, not like Spider. He would have to be at least an 8 out of 10. Who is she to have such standards? That’s really conceited. I wish I knew what she looked like but the author has deemed it unimportant to give readers a physical description of the character we’re reading about, even though it’s page 41. It’s unbelievable that you wouldn’t let us know what the girl looks like. And I just found out very recently that she was 15. Thanks for finally tossing that out there. Do you realize how important these details are? Any reader knows that you visualize what you’re reading about, but it’s kinda hard to do that when you have no details about the character’s appearance. Idk what her hair color is, eye color, anything, just that she’s small and white. So I’m just envision a faceless blob at this point.

At the party Spider offers her pot, and that was surprising because she asked him if he did drugs and he said he didn’t. But I guess she didn’t consider it drugs because she said it wasn’t heavy. That was so distasteful.

Jem was a spoiled, distasteful, careless brat that bemoaned her solitary, poor life but then did things like pull out a knife at school and somehow find no fault with herself, blaming others, and trash all of her stuff and yet insist she had nothing, when she had brought state into being entirely on her own. Yeah, that makes sense.

Finally, on page 60, after she stole someone’s milk, obviously proving that she had learnt nothing, and was no closer to redeeming her ways, I had to do something I haven’t done in a really long time: I flipped to the back of the book.
Spoilers ahead:The ending was so messed up. I wondered how she was going to save Spider from his demise, yet I saw the author had no intention to ever do that. Spider is dead, and she’s spreading his ashes over the sea, and somebody gets his ashes in their eye I think. Really great stuff. That’s a sure-fire way to create a really crappy novel: just have one of the couple die off in the end. And to top this trashy story off, she gets pregnant at 15, and 5 years later her kid has the same gift as her. I guess they’ll be in the next book, and their love interest will die. What a colossal, disgusting waste of my time. Drugs, violence, poverty, drinking, cussing, and teen pregnancy. That makes for great reading.(less)

like · see review

Jun 02, 2013 Canni rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-could-not-finish

First of all, I have to state that I didn't finish it! But I am unable to write a review unless I put it in my 'read' pile!!

I started reading and right away I was bored. I was so excited to read it, because it sounds so exciting and intense! I was utterly disappointed.
Everything bothered me; The fact that Jem just acts like a whiny little brat, Spider (and Jem for CALLING him that), the lack of intensity there is for her 'talents', the writing style, the constant need to mention Spider's lack...more

1 like · like · see review

May 21, 2013 FantasyWereld rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adults

Deadline is het eerste deel van de Deadline-trilogie en gaat over Jem, een meisje van vijftien jaar. Ze is een buitenstaander: ze hoort nergens bij en wil nergens bij horen. De reden hiervoor is dat Jem al vanaf dat ze het zich kan herinneren een nummer ziet bij ieder die ze aankijkt en op een harde manier heeft moeten leren wat deze nummers betekenen: het zijn sterfdata. Ze ontdekte het op haar zevende, toen haar moeder stierf, en sindsdien, door deze voorkennis die ze heeft bij elke persoon di...more

like · see review

Apr 20, 2013 Jane rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Rezension:
Die 15-jährige Jem sieht das Todesdatum eines Menschen in seinen Augen. Das fand sie auf die harte Tour heraus als ihre Mum an einer Überdosis Drogen starb. Seitdem meidet sie Menschen und wandert in verschiedenen Pflegefamilien herum.
Jem ist im allgemeinen ziemlich frech und patzig. Ihre Einstellung gegenüber der Schule und ihrem Leben ist ziemlich mies und sie fühlt sich missverstanden und im Stich gelassen; besonders von ihrer Mutter. Sie weist automatisch jeden ab der ihr näherkomm...more Rezension:
Die 15-jährige Jem sieht das Todesdatum eines Menschen in seinen Augen. Das fand sie auf die harte Tour heraus als ihre Mum an einer Überdosis Drogen starb. Seitdem meidet sie Menschen und wandert in verschiedenen Pflegefamilien herum.
Jem ist im allgemeinen ziemlich frech und patzig. Ihre Einstellung gegenüber der Schule und ihrem Leben ist ziemlich mies und sie fühlt sich missverstanden und im Stich gelassen; besonders von ihrer Mutter. Sie weist automatisch jeden ab der ihr näherkommen und lässt niemanden an sich heran aus Angst später verletzt zu werden und das gleiche durchmachen zu müssen wie bei ihrer Mutter früher.
Als dann schließlich Spinne auftaucht, will sie anfangs auch mit ihm nichts zu tun haben. Es lässt sich nicht vermeiden dass ihr seine Zahl ins Auge sticht und sie erschrickt. Er hat nur noch 3 Wochen zu leben. Doch Spinne lässt nicht locker und schließlich gibt Jem nach. Die Beiden freunden sich an. Als sie durch die Stadt streifen landen Jem und Spinne zufällig beim London Eye. Jem weiß dass etwas Merkwürdiges vor sich geht denn auf einmal haben alle Leute um sie herum dieselbe Zahl. Sie weiß heute wird hier etwas Schreckliches passieren und drängt Spinne mit ihr zu verschwinden. Wenige Minuten später sehen sie wie das London Eye in die Luft fliegt. Ein Terroranschlag. Und von nun an sind die beiden auf der Flucht, denn sie werden von der Polizei verdächtigt etwas mit dem Anschlag zu tun zu haben da sie kurz davor wie die Besessenen weggerannt waren. Doch die Zeit bleibt nicht stehen, Spinnes Todestag rückt immer näher und Jem beginnt sich zu fragen ob sie das Schicksal von ihm abwenden kann, denn sie hat sich inzwischen rettungslos verliebt...

Da mir die Grundidee der Geschichte sehr gut gefiel hatte ich hohe Erwartungen an das Buch. Leider war ich dann doch etwas enttäuscht. Nach dem Ereignis beim Riesenrad geht es nur noch um die Flucht von Jem und Spinne vor der Polizei und den Menschen. Es ist wenig abwechslungsreich und die Spannung geht zwischendurch komplett flöten. Ganz am Ende gibt es dann noch einmal einen Spannungshochpunkt als sich die Frage stellt ob Spinne nun stirbt oder nicht. Das Ende ist ganz gut gelungen und lässt Raum für einen zweiten Teil, in dem es dann aber nicht um Jem sondern um Adam, ihren Sohn, geht.
Alles zwischen dem Anfang und dem Ende ist ein ewiges hin und her geplänkel zwischen Jem und Spinne. Immer wieder stellt Jem sich die Frage ob sich die Zahlen ändern können, ob sie sie ändern könnte, und und wie sie Spinne beschützen soll. Insgesamt ist die Stimmung im Buch eher düster und melancholisch, weshalb ich mich an manchen Stellen schwer getan habe weiterzulesen.

Sprachstil:
Die Geschichte wird aus Jems Perspektive geschildert (Ich-Erzählerin). Das Buch ist nicht besonders anspruchsvoll geschrieben und von der Sprache her hauptsächlich in Jugend- und Fäkalsprache verfasst. Ich konnte mich zwar gut in Jems Situation hineinversetzen, fand ihre Sprache und auch die Sprache der anderen Protagonisten aber ein bisschen zu krass. Das nahm mir auch beim Lesen ein bisschen den Spaß.

Fazit:
Gute Idee; es hat allerdings ein bisschen an der Umsetzung geharpert. Sprachlich ist es auch nicht gerade anspruchsvoll und insgesamt eher mittelmäßig.(less)

like · see review

Apr 04, 2013 Sullivan Harris rated it 3 of 5 stars

Ever since Jem was little, she saw the numbers. Everyone has one, their special number. And only Jem knew of their existence. Now 16, Jem, a high school orphan with little to no future, still sees the numbers. She still hasn’t learned to cope with them, seeing them only made her sad. Jem was lonely, her only friend herself, until one day where she meets Spider, a spastic, smelly kid who also had no future. He became what Jem never thought she’d have, a friend. But when the numbers get the best o...more

like · see review

Mar 07, 2013 Trisha rated it 1 of 5 stars

Well, I'm not sure how I should even begin on this excuse of a book.

*Note: what I'm saying is my personal opinion, and I might be extremely harsh on this book.

Firstly, I must comment on the overall "feel" of the book. Before reading "Numbers," I had this almost science-fiction feel, and I thought it was going to be an interesting book about how she uses this superpower for interesting ways.

Instead, I get this crude tone of gangsters and drug addicts talking all the time, and rude, offensive Jem,...more

3 likes · like · see review

Feb 21, 2013 Anne Mallamo added it

"There are places where kids like me go. Sad kids, bad kids, bored kids, and lonely kids, kids that are different. Any day of the week, if you know where to look, you'll find us: behind the shops, in the back lanes, under bridges by canals and rivers, round garages, in sheds, on vacant lots. There are thousands of us. If you choose to find us, that is-most people dont. If they do see us, they look away, pretend we're not there. It's easier that way. Don't believe all that crap about giving every...more

like · see review

Jan 23, 2013 Jade Clements rated it 2 of 5 stars

Full Review-http://bedtimeandcandles.blogs...

The story plot and the idea is unique. Yet the book itself was not suspenseful or grand at all, at points it was boring and hard to get through. The flow, well there really wasn't one it dragged and got boring.
I couldn't relate to either of the main characters spider and Jem, they were hard to picture. narrative got bogged down and the conclusion was disappointing.She keeps to herself, doesn’t make eye contact, and has passed through several foster h...more

like · see review

Jan 16, 2013 Alex A rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

NUM8ERS by Rachel Ward was a great book. It had action, excitement, and kept you guessing throughout the entire thing. The main character is Jem, she has always had this gift that whenever she looks people in the eyes she see’s there numbers which is the day that they are going to die. When she was a child she saw her moms numbers 10102001 and later she saw a man write down on a piece of paper 10102001 or the day her mom died. After that she get’s put into this home with other kids kind of like...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 06, 2013 Riley Barker rated it 2 of 5 stars

I read this book because it was recommended to me, and honestly, I wasn't too impressed with it. It's lacking a lot of elements that make a book great in my opinion. Perhaps if I hadn't read so many amazing books that set my bar higher, this might have been an okay read.

The book is about a 15-year-old girl, Jem, who has the ability to see the date a person will die by looking into their eyes. She meets a boy, Spider, who only has a couple weeks left. After the two of them witness a terrorist att...more I read this book because it was recommended to me, and honestly, I wasn't too impressed with it. It's lacking a lot of elements that make a book great in my opinion. Perhaps if I hadn't read so many amazing books that set my bar higher, this might have been an okay read.

The book is about a 15-year-old girl, Jem, who has the ability to see the date a person will die by looking into their eyes. She meets a boy, Spider, who only has a couple weeks left. After the two of them witness a terrorist attack on the London Eye, and are seen fleeing the scene minutes prior, they become prime suspects. The remainder of the book takes place when they are on the run. Death is an obvious theme in this story, and a common idea of knowing how long you have and how it affects you is explored. The characters are nothing special: rebellious female protagonist (noting new) and a flawed male protagonist to accompany her.

Jem is poor, and this is emphasized by the first lines, "There are places where kids like me go. Sad kids, bad kids, bored kids, and lonely kids, kids that are different"(Ward 1). She likes to hang out places where nobody is, where she can't "see their numbers"(Ward 1). Spider is described as "tall. One of those people who stand too close to you, doesn't know when to back off"(Ward 2). This dynamic duo is on the run most of the story, and at the end (spoiler alert), Spider dies, and on the exact date she saw in his eyes. But, Spider doesn't die before getting Jem pregnant. She has the baby, and in an epilogue, her baby boy tells his teacher that he wrote "Mummy's special number"(Ward 325).

Themes of the story are dreary, no denouement at any point in the novel, and include death, loss, and the concept of mortal knowledge. I think Ward wrote the book as an expression of feelings she had and things she pondered, things I think we all ponder. She materialized these thoughts and concepts with mediocre characters. I don't think the book was much of a success. They idea is unique and interesting, but the execution of it and technique used (if you can even call it technique) were amateur at best.

I don't recommend reading this if you're looking for something meaningful and insightful, but if you just want something to eat up some time, go for it. Honestly, I wish I'd chosen something different, but maybe I'm just really subjective. Maybe it's a great book. Probably not, though.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Dec 17, 2012 Kasin rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Teenagers

I thought this book was a very, very good novel. It was suspenseful and there was action and even a little bit of romance. The whole time throughout the book was intense and you never knew what was going to happen next. It was very unpredictable, some of the same type of things kept happening but the outcome for those things were always different. There were a couple things that would repeat themselves a couple times though, even continuing into the sequel things that had happened already happen...more

like · see review

Dec 14, 2012 Bean rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book is about a teenage girl Jem, who's lost her mother at an age of 6. She then realizes that the numbers she sees in people's eyes are the dates of deaths. She likes to keep to herself and avoid contact with people, because whenever she looks at someone, the numbers appear. With such curse, Jem avoids relationships,until she meets the boy Spider. They go on a trip to the London's eye, realizes that everyone waiting in line has the same numbers, She knows something is going to happen.

After...more

like · see review

topics	posts	views	last activity
Number counts	4	15	May 01, 2013 02:17am
Was it hard to picture Spider as black (not to be racist)?	21	125	Mar 07, 2013 07:56am
Young Adult Talk: Numbers	10	11	Jul 30, 2012 02:32pm

title link	preview: Numbers
avg rating	preview: Numbers Goodreads rating: 3.42 (8840 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6609758-numbers?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327873457l/6609758.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6609758-numbers?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Numbers by Rachel Ward[/url]

Numbers (Numbers #1)

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (37)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Rachel Ward

Books by Rachel Ward

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Numbers

Quotes from Numbers