Whenever Jem meets someone new, no matter who, as soon as she looks into their eyes, a number pops into her head. That number is a date: the date they will die.
Burdened with such an awful awareness, Jem avoids relationships. Until she meets Spider, another outsider, and takes a chance. But while they’re waiting to ride the Eye Ferris
wheel, Jem notices that all the other tourists in line flash the same number. Today’s number. Today’s date. Terrorists are going to attack London. Jem’s world is about to explode!
Num8ers by Rachel Ward
YA Paranormal
February 1, 2010
Hardcover, 336 Pages
The Chicken House (Scholastic)
Reviewed by Mandi
Why I read: It was offered for review and I wanted to read about a character named Spider.
Favorite Quote: And then, a strangely comforting thought trickled through me – I had nothing, so I could do anything now. Anything I wanted, I had nothing left to lose.
Jem has a rather extraordinary power in an ordinary world. When she looks a person directly in the eye, she sees eight numbers. When her mom dies when she is six years old, she realizes these eight numbers give the date of death. This haunts her as she goes from foster home to foster home, living in poverty in London, lost and with no motivation to make her life better.
At the age of fifteen, she befriends Spider, a fellow classmate who lives with his grandmother. Spider is really tall, smelly, and full of energy and has fallen in with the wrong crowd. The lure of cash for some drug runs is too much of an enticement for him. Spider’s number is up in three weeks, and Jem doesn’t want anything to do with him. But, circumstances throw them together, and he soon becomes a friend and more to her.
After many school problems, they cut class and find themselves at the London Eye waiting to get on a ride. Jem starts to notice not only does everyone around them have the same number, but the number is today’s date. Panicked to leave, Jem and Spider escape. Moments later, a huge explosion goes off. Spider knows Jem was on to something and demands answers.
Now they are on the run, suspects in the bombing. Thrown together, they must face even harder times. Jem fights feelings for Spider and becomes desperate that her time with him is running out.
The beginning of Num8ers for me was very slow – so slow I almost put the book down and didn’t pick it back up. However, I persevered, and by the middle I became hooked. I started thinking about Jem and Spider and their journey and didn’t want to put the book down. By the end, I sat there with my mouth hanging open.
Jem and Spider grew on me throughout the book, and they became really great, different characters. They both live in poverty, and their social status really comes across in this book. They don’t have anyone at home to give them a boost and say, you can become someone. They have both pretty much given up on life, just floating along. Spider is described as very dirty, never showering, greasy, uneducated and at first I really had a hard time connecting with him. But after awhile you stop seeing him as dirty crazy boy as he cares for Jem with his grandiose plans. Their teenage love becomes something you root for and the action stays on par.
As they are running from the police as suspects in a bombing I wondered realistically how two teenagers could escape police and intense media coverage for a very long period but Rachel Ward makes it very believable. Jem and Spider turn out to be such interesting, unique characters and their journey is quite remarkable.
As I mentioned, the ending – dear goodness. It made me want to shout and curse. I got on Twitter and thankfully Wicked Little Pixie had just finished at same time so I has someone to say – what the heck just happened? I loved the ending and it totally made the book for me.
Rating: 4/5
For more information about the book, including the first chapter go HERE.
Recent Reviews:
Wicked Little Pixie – 5/5
The Booksmugglers – 7/10
Book Love Affair – 4/10
Goodreads
Rachel Ward’s website.
Giveaway: I have THREE copies of Num8ers to giveaway to US residents only. To enter leave a comment. Contest open through March 18th and I will announce the winner that Friday.
Great that you had someone to say that too :) One of the fun things about ending a book is to talk about the ending.
Now I'm all giddy about buying this book! I love these types of endings. On Twitter, The Discriminating Fangirl told me this book got her out of a reading rut, which I seem to be in one, so I order it yesterday. Now I read your review, double glad I did. :)
Wow, this book sounds great! And I'm also interested in reading about a character named Spider. :)
aikychien at yahoo dot com
OHH that ending, yep – totally here you there! Great review!
I've been hearing alot about this one, sounds good! tWarner419@aol.com
I agree, this book was a very slow start and ended with a bang! Nice review Mandi.
After your review and Donna's comment I have to pick this one up. I'm in kind of a reading rut keep that on the DL.
I love the cover on this one.
I love hearing about a great YA! Nice review!
I think that this sounds really interesting. I'm definitely looking forward to reading it at some point!
samantha.1020@yahoo.com
Please enter me in this contest!! The book sounds amazing!
aliciahall0605(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
Sounds like a fascinating power to have and an even more fascinating read, sign me up!
alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
Okay – now I really want to read it.
carolsnotebook at yahoo dot com
Please enter me!
xxsquigglesxx(At)gmail(dot)Com
Num8ers sounds good. I have heard some good buzz about it. Thanks for the giveaway.
Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot]com
enter me please! this sounds interesting, would like to try it out..
kaylajohnson3969@sbcglobal.net
oooo you have totally piqued my curiosity with all this talk of the ending, please enter me!
I keep seeing this cover all over the book blogosphere – but yours is the first review I've read of it.
Very intrigued, will definitely be adding to the 'TBR' pile.
Sounds like a great book. Thanks for sharing. I look forward to getting the chance to read it.
Sounds like a really great book. I'm ok with a slow start to a book if you get an amazing ending.
Sounds like an interesting read!
kissinoak at verizon dot net
This isn't what I usually read but it sounds like it will be a very good book. I would hate to know when everyone was going to die that would be horrible.
sstrode@scrtc.com
Great review! Makes me want to read it too. Please enter me. Thank you!
cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com
Sounds interesting. Please enter me in the drawing.
forwhlz at gmail dot com
After such a glowing review, I definitely would love to read this. I love a book with an unexpected ending.
joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com
I like that favorite quote of yours seems very freeing, great review!
chicareader@gmail.com
If you have a character named Spider, you definitely need to read the book :]
Thanx!
Leilani
vampiregirl813@gmail.com
P.S for who ever who likes giveaways or contests, go to my blog.
vampiregoddess96.blogspot.com
Would love to give this one a try.
robin@intensewhisper.com
This sounds like a great book. Please enter me. I am a follower.
cherylbaryl@Hotmail.com
The book sounds interesting! Between you and Wicked Lil' Pixie lovin' the book I really need to read it!
Wow! Sounds like a great book! Would love to win and read. My email is bangersis(at)msn(dot)com
The premise sounds interesting–similar to the premise of Pushing Daisies, which I loved.
That must be some ending, though–from the beginning of your review I thought it was going to be rated a 2!
This book sounds great, would love to win a copy. Thanks for the giveaway!
van p.
Littopandaxpress(at)yahoo(dot)com
Love the way you format your reviews!
Sounds like a great book, so please count me in! Thanks!
Alexia561@yahoo dot com
Been seeing this one all over the blogs! Looks like a good one. Please count me in.
mlawson17 at hotmail dot com
I have to read this book now that I heard about this great ending. No spoilers please~
patronus89013 at yahoo dot com
Thank you Mandi. Interesting.
Oh, and please don't include me in the giveaway.
I would love to win this book!! It is not available in kindle format which is the only way I go now.
thank you for the chance to win. :)
Jase
vslavetopassionv(at)aol(dot)com
Count me in! Thanks!
Count me in on this one!
alternate email from blogger
magenta 2 red [at] gmail [dot] com
Man, this book is everywhere lately. I enjoyed your review!
AWESOME giveaway!!!! Love it.
I've heard a lot about this one. I definitely want to read it.
This book is showing up everywhere! I would love to win one!
I could well be the only guy who reads paranormal romance…and I'm heterosexual too! :o)
mckelly74(at)gmail.com
Please count me in, it sounds like an interesting book
myra0502@yahoo.com
Wow, I love the story premise! It sounds so intriguing. Please count me in, I would love to read this book. :D
Anna ♥
goodgonegirl@gmail.com
This is such a cool concept. I'd love to win a copy.
heatwave96(at)hotmail.com
I havent read it yet, heard a lot about it and would lov to read it,its on my list sounds really great, I posted a link to my blog and facebook, also my number is 13 really thats not a joke, lov the number.
I can't wait to read this book!!!
crazypplrok@gmail.com
Sounds great, and I love that quote. Please accept my entry. Thanks!
gevin13{at}gmail{dot}com
This sounds interesting, I'd love to read it.
ajolly1456 at gmail dot com
great review! this one sounds like my kind of book.
paranormalfanatic@gmail.com
This book sounds so exciting I would love to read it, please enter me in the contest.
stella.exlibris (at) gmail DOT com
Thank you
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