Numbers by Rachel Ward
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Adele
Year 9
Brighton & Hove High School
I think Numbers was definitely the best book I have EVER read. It was a rollercoaster of emotions. It made me laugh, cry and made me angry all at the same time. Overall it was AMAZING and inspired.
Grace
Year 9
Brighton & Hove High School
Numbers is a book about a girl called Jem who is in care. Her mum died when she was young and that is when she realised that she has a special ability to know the date when somebody will die just by looking into their eyes. When she meets a boy called Spider, an event in London happens which changes their lives for ever. It was a very gripping book, and sad as well. I couldn’t put the book down and I thought it was very well written. However I thought that the ending was not quite as good as the rest of the book, but overall it was very good and gripping and a really good read. Excellent!
Matthew
Year 9
Beacon Community College
This book is very entertaining and gripping. The story type allows the reader to be able to relate to the characters and empathize towards them. The story also keeps the reader on edge; the fast moving plot and action stops the reader from becoming bored. Whilst the book is mostly action, there are a few slow and romantic times between our two main characters. A great book to read.
Lilly
Lycée Henri Avril – Lamballe (France)
Shadowing School
It’s the first time I have ever read such an original romance story. The actuel intrigue, the fact that the main character Jem can see the date of people’s death except for her own; takes a backseat.
The two characters are suburbian teens : their speech is hardly eloquent and neither is the seduction.
Nothing in their relationship suggests the usual, clean, clichéd, too-good-to-be-true sort of boy-girl relationship that novels are always full of. Their words are rough and yet there’s a certain clumsy tenderness in their relationship that gives a deliciously realistic feel.
Now the main intrigue isn’t a very original idea : the tragedy of the character who knows when those around her will die. The originality of the book is how the author has applied that attribute to a young suburbian teenager who lives on the rough side. The author brilliantly shows that fictional character don’t need to be well-educated and flawless to draw out emotions from the reader; and also that romance is still romance even if you stink of cow and your significant other is a slang-speaking, clumsy rascal.
A very entertaining read, with completely original, unpredictable characters and human relationship (therefore refreshing realistic). The intrigue’s development is rather predictable but this is made up for by the lovely ending which is like a reminder of how life goes on without having radically changed ( the characters have changed but they can’t escape their way of life) : again, nice and realistic.
Miriam
Year 9
Brighton & Hove High School
When I read Numbers, it really grabbed me from the beginning, showed me the life of kids who don’t have the comfortable one that I have. I found this book insightful, enjoyable and I like the fact that it wasn’t all realistic, it had a twang of fantasy that made me intrigued enough to read on. It was written with good description, but definitely not as well written as some of the other books. Because it gives you what was going to happen at the end near the beginning, my interest was not in what the end was, but how they got there. I would recommend this book, definitely in my top three so far.
Alice
Lycée Henri Avril – Lamballe (France)
Shadowing School
This book was the first I read.The plot had pleased me, and I wanted to find out the whole story. It deals with Jem, who'd received a gift, and is able to see the death's date, the "numbers", in people's eyes. Obviously that gift makes Jem feel excluded and ill-at-ease in society. In fact I expected the writer would have developed the story with the numbers but it turned out to be much more a romance novel than what I was waiting for. Nevertheless if it had been a sentimental story, I guess I wouldn't have finished it, but the writer mixed romance, action and suspense so that I clung to my book and kept reading it.
Mathilde
Lycée Henri Avril – Lamballe (France)
Shadowing School
Numbers is a quite original book.
Firstly, even if I couldn't really identify with the characters, they were still engaging. Indeed, the main character Jem doesn't have a family anymore, she is antisocial, doesn't have any friends and doesn't want to make any ; but all the things happening in the book make her change, she grows up very quickly. She is young like us, and I often tried to imagine what my behaviour would have been if I had been her.
Then, the plot is surprising, and the end made me cry because I didn't imagine it that way. This book is full of suspense and it contains a great romance between two really different teenagers.
At first I thought Numbers may be boring, because this story of a girl who can see when people will die seemed to be unbelievable. But the way the book is written makes you think that it could be possible. And when I started reading it, I couldn't stop without knowing the end ; I kept on reading until the end without a break.
All in all, I really recommend this book.
Max
Year 9
Brighton College
This story is about a teenage girl called Jem who has the power to see the other person’s day of death if their eyes meet. Her life is pretty miserable as her mum died of an overdose when she was young. A boy called Spider comes along and he promises to be a friend to Jem. All is well for a bit with the new foster parents and school, but Jem suddenly gets caught with a knife and things go down from there.
This book is one of the best books I have read. The plot for Numbers is simple but effective as you cannot predict what is going to happen next. I think the “seeing other people's date of death” theme was really good as it brought originality to the book. The book is set in some shabby parts of the London Suburbs and then it moves to the countryside and other towns later on in the book. Another thing that makes this book really good is the characters. They are what I think would be the sort of people that would live in a run-down part of London. My favourite bit of the book is the bit when the London Eye falls down because, for me, this is really where the story begins as this is where Jem tells Spider about the numbers. The book has a quite quick ending but it would be good for creating a second book, and again the theme of the ending is a really simple idea and yet I think it is the perfect ending.
Delilah
Year 9
Hove Park School
Numbers is a book about a girl who can see the dates of people’s deaths. She does not realise until she sees someone’s number who dies on that date. She has a friend called Spider who is very active. But she can see his death which is soon. I found this book very good and very interesting. I enjoyed this book.
Megan
Year 9
Hove Park School
I enjoyed Numbers. At the beginning of the book it describes what some kids go through in life. It reminded me of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, when, at the beginning you know that the boy (Spider / Romeo) will die, yet you do not know how. The book was very gripping, and at times very emotional, but these two opposites made a great book.
Connor
Year 9
St Richard's Catholic College
This book, written by Rachel Ward, is a very gripping book with an extremely good set of interesting characters.
Follow the story of Jem, a misunderstood youth who sees the date people die, shunted from normal society, bullied and abused at school for her faults, Jem believes herself friendless, until she meets Spider, the only person who she seems to connect with. She meets new people on the way and discovers love, and still the numbers come...
Charlotte
Year 11
The Causeway School
Numbers is an amazingly creepy, yet reassuring book. Creepy, because it’s about how mortal and fragile we all are but reassuring because it explains that we must therefore treasure every moment that we do have.
The book follows the adventure of social outcast Jem and her new friend Spider, as they run from the police after a tragic mix-up caused by Jem’s ability to see the numbers: the death dates of everyone she meets. During the time they spend running, they learn more about themselves and the nature of humans than would usually be possible for anyone, whilst making new friends along the way, before finally, life achieves meaning and everything comes into perspective – with an interesting revelation at the end.
I loved this book because of the twist and turns of the novel and that it draws you in immediately! I think this is the best book I have read this year and would recommend it to all my friends!
Naomi
Year 7
Seaford Head
If Jem meets you then she knows your date of death….
A sad yet gripping book it will hold you to the end. It is a book that is long without being too long. You need to read it carefully to keep up with the story. I would rate this book 9/10.
Kate A
Year 9
Brighton & Hove High School
This book is thoroughly enjoyable. The story is about Jem and Spider, two teenagers who after visiting the London Eye have an interesting journey through fields, towns and danger. Together they battle through Jem’s secret and the problems it brings. Once separated they both realise how much they miss each other and Jem is insistent that they will meet again. I would recommend this book.
Beatrice
Year 9
Brighton College
Rachael Ward’s ‘Numbers’ is about a girl called Jem, who can see everybody’s death dates. She has never let anybody close to her or made any friends until she meets Spider. From there the police get involved and there begins the epic journey of two runaways.
I liked the idea of the book, as it was interesting, and I wanted to see how the problem is resolved in the end. I was disappointed with the end of the book though, because I wanted it to end differently. It was annoying. I didn’t find it very emotional; however I did enjoy reading most of it.
The story flowed nicely, and I wanted to read on to know what will happen next, and the description really helped me to imagine what the characters are like
I quite liked ‘Numbers’ although I found it frustrating at times, and I began to understand how Jem would feel, and how her gift could be a problem.
Charlotte
Year 10
St Richard's Catholic College
Jem has known about numbers since the day her mum died. When she looks in someone’s eyes, she can see the date that they’re going to die. But Jem meets a boy called Spider and her life gets brighter, until a day in London, where Jem sees a chain of events that will change their lives forever.
This book has a really unique idea to it. It was quite a risk to take but I think the author pulled it off. I think that this book is a very good read for over 12’s and that it would help you widen your horizon of reading. 8/10.
Sam
Year 11
The Causeway School
Love and Hope Amongst the Hopeless
Fast paced and touching
Rachel Ward’s ‘Numbers’ is a heart wrenching and tear jerking novel. Based on a girl who’s been passed around so much she’s practically given up unpacking, Jem is 15 and already she knows better than most about the harsh realities of life. Nothing lasts for ever. Jem stares death in the face every day of her life, gift or curse she knows the date of death for every person she looks in the eye. Over time she builds up walls around herself as to never let anyone in but when she gets her first friend things can take a turn to a more thrilling life when a final day out ends in disaster.
This is an imaginative yet relative book in which the readers’ heart reaches for the characters as they embark on a journey both mental and physical. The story line is one that grips and entices the reader, as it is full of twists and turns, although there are a few more predictable ideas to the book; I wouldn’t change them. You’re hooked.
Throughout the book there are a lot of different settings which keep the reader interested though you can still follow the story and depict the scene along the way. The descriptions are highly detailed and from school to secret hide-outs the style and pull to us is consistent.
The characters in this are that of people you can actually imagine in London with our modern day and being a more down to earth base helps massively with the attraction of novel to us teens. I love the way that Jem, our leading lady, chooses to build up layers to protect herself from the world and all we want is for her to break them down; it works fantastically. And our fast paced male keeps us on our toes, as he’s full of risky business! We’re tied to the page. This reviewer can’t imagine why anyone wouldn’t like these characterisations.
Overall, this is a fast paced, fascinating book that will have you turning page after page. A MUST read!
9/10
Davina
Year 9
Brighton College
Numbers is a fast paced story about Jem, a teenager who can see the date of when people will die by looking at them. She meets up with Spider, an erratic character, and he brightens her world. Then a series of events shatter her world again. When they go to the London Eye Jem sees that all the people queuing have the death date and she knows that something dreadful will happen. The story is then about Jem and Spider on the run and their developing relationship. It is gripping right from the beginning and is a real page turner. Each chapter is cleverly written so you want to carry on. The author describes each character well and the story line is clear, modern and enjoyable. I would recommend this book.
Millie
Year 9
Brighton College
When Jem looks into someone’s eyes, instead of seeing hazel or sea blue, she sees numbers, not just any numbers but that person’s death date. Ever since she was born she has seen these numbers as well as seeing many people’s deaths, including her mother’s. Jem has had a tough life being tossed around between care homes and thinks this is it for life until she meets Spider, someone who she can actually trust. Her world is turned upside down after a disastrous event at the London eye, both she and Spider know it is time to run, some great and scary events follow and Jem learns to trust and let more people in.
This book for me was great in some aspects, but not so in others. Some parts are very interesting and I really got into it. But in others I struggled more and found it a bit dull. The big problem for me was that the book didn’t really flow very well and I found it hard to keep reading. However that was only some of the time. Other parts really made me think about how people actually do live, it is a very life-like and realistic story (other than the telling people’s deaths part) but it is, in my opinion, very well set and I find it easy to imagine and paint a picture of the places she went to.
Tegh
Year 9
Brighton College
Numbers is written by Rachael Ward and is aimed at teenagers,13 years and higher as it has mature themes and a handful of foul language.
The main characters are Jem and Spider (Terry),who are both 15 years old and do not like school and skip class most days of the week. They are also always on the wrong side of the law. Jem has this vision of people's death dates by looking into their eyes, which sounds very useful but may turn out to deceive her! Spider is tall and lanky and is very good at hijacking cars.
This book is set in the present age but has a few references to past and future. It takes place in East London and moves west towards Weston-super-Mare.
Jem has been troubled since her mother’s death and ever since then she has rebelled and gone off the rails until she meets Spider who is in the same kind of situation. They seem to gel together well and she starts to fall in love with his personality. Suddenly an event in London causes a domino effect for both of them and their family.
The author uses short sentences to create tension and uses assonance and onomatopoeias for expression but needed to be more child friendly in language as it could then get another type of audience.
During the book, you feel a wide array of emotions from being quite appalled at the start to quite relieved and shocked at the end.
The storyline flew pretty easily but some bits could have been cut out as they just became extra words but it was still easy to understand. I also believed that the story was not that predictable also and always kept you guessing.
Overall I think this book had a lot of meaning and shows how much some of us take for granted from our parents.
I would rate this book 4/5 as it did take a long time for the book to get hooked on to.
Anja
Year 10
Bishop Bell CE Mathematics and Computing Specialist School
I found Numbers a brilliant book! The plot was full of surprises and I loved all the different twists in the story. The plot was very believable and I think it was one of the best books I have read this year.
Matthew
Year 8
Bishop Bell CE Mathematics and Computing Specialist School
Sam
Year 9
Lancing College
Numbers is the first book I read and I am starting to get a feel for the standard of the books. I really enjoyed Numbers and I hope the next one will be just as good.
Numbers was unlike any other book I read with its Sci-Fi based in 2009. I had a feeling the plot was happening as I read. During the course of the book I developed a fondness for the characters and their circumstances:
Jem - every time I read about her I felt about how upsetting her childhood was and how sorry I was for her. This character had serious problems and towards the end of the book I wondered if they were ever going to get sorted.
Spider - I really liked this character but no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t paint a picture of him in my mind. He pretends to be so tough but I could tell he had a soft inside. I found myself not being able to put the book down; it was addictive. I couldn’t believe how fast I finished Numbers.
Rosie
Year 10
St Richard's Catholic College
This book was very enjoyable; however, I feel that the stereotypical image of teenagers portrayed in this book was extremely exaggerated. I also felt that some parts of the book were very unrealistic and hard to imagine. The ending of the book had a great twist to it leaving a good impression in the reader’s mind and inviting them to continue the story but without the aid of a book. I think that this book would appeal more to teenagers if it was not gravitated around the drug and teenager mix. Overall, I give this book 7/10.
Emily
Year 9
Bishop Bell CE Mathematics and Computing Specialist School
Georgie
Year 9
Lancing College
What a fantastic book, I couldn’t put it down! It was a very down to earth sort of book and it made you feel like you were actually there. It also gave you an insight into what life would be like for a teenager living in London. It is a very emotional story; it almost had me in tears at the end. There are so many fantastic twists in the story, every page is a surprise. I would definitely recommend it to 13-15 year olds.
Lucy
Year 9
St Richard's Catholic College
Numbers is a story about a girl called Jem who hasn’t had the best start in life as when she was young she saw her mother dead in front of her eyes and since then she has had the power to see people’s death days.
This is a very well written book as it uses descriptive language in a well thought-out structure for the story. Also, throughout the book it gives subtle hints towards the events at the end of the book. The type of language the book uses is quite casual as it is written as if someone had just thought about it with minimal effort. This adds an atmosphere to the book which matches the personality of Jem which is quite casual and uses some slang words.
This is definitely a good choice for the winner of the award.
Stars: 
Kimberley
Year 10
St Richard's Catholic College
15112014. When Jem looks into someone’s eyes, this is what she sees, the date of their death.
‘He grabbed my hand, and we went for it, blindly running wherever our legs took us’. What really does happen on this extraordinary journey and will this nightmare ever end for Spider and Jem?
I think that this was an amazing book and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I would recommend this book for teenagers because I’m not sure that younger children would really understand the book.
I would give this book 10/10 and I think that I will be voting for this book.
Jemima
Year 9
Benenden School
The moment you pick up this book you are taken into its world. Its original idea of a girl who sees the date people will die immediately makes you wonder what problems she will face. The relationship between Jem and the other characters is well written. After meeting Spider and witnessing a tragedy they are on the run from the police and the story unfolds…
Georgie
Year 9
Benenden School
I really liked Numbers because of its original plot; I have never read a book like it. I particularly liked the character Spider and his out-going personality. Jem, the main character can see when people are going to die and she holds the story together.
Harriet
Year 9
Benenden School
Jem, the main character, can see the date in which someone will die when she looks into their eyes. Because of this she hides away from the world, not getting close to anyone, but that soon changes when she meets Spider. After a series of events the two run away together on an exciting journey. This is an exciting book about two completely different people who were at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Iona
Year 9
Benenden School
Ward has delivered the characters in a good light and has made them easy to relate to. It has a very imaginative plot and the cover of the book is very clever. I like the way you are not sure what is going to happen at the end. The tone is good and easy to read and understand. I like the way Spider is portrayed. The book is the right length as it is not so long that you get bored, but not too short so you finish too quickly.
Hebe
Year 9
Benenden School
Numbers is an extremely gripping read; the language is written as if the author was a Londoner. The main plot is about a girl called Jem, who is also the narrator. Jem is quite a troubled girl who can see the numbers of when people are going to die; she is an orphan who lives with a foster mother called Karen. One day when Jem is down by the canal she meets Spider and they become friends, but they get into trouble at the London Eye because whilst in the queue Jem sees the date in people’s eyes and the day they will die is today. So they run from the scene as the Eye gets blown up and then their troubles really begin.
Robert
Year 9
Brighton College
I really enjoyed this book as the plot was so easy to follow, with just enough characters so you can have a good storyline as well as it being enthralling and totally immersive. Half the time I thought I was actually there with them.
Jem, who is the story’s narrator as well as its main character, is very informal with you and you feel as though she is gossiping with you. It makes you feel as though you are her friend, much like the style of How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff.
Spider is described to be one of those people you wouldn’t hang around but as it is from the view of one of the people you wouldn’t, you get a good feel of his real personality.
This book enthralled me, so much so that at the end I felt so sad I had to work hard to stop the tears welling up inside me.
In the end this book was quite unpredictable and it made me guess and guess and guess, and because it was like this it made it very fast paced and overall the best book I’ve ever read.
Luke
Year 9
Bishop Bell CE Mathematics and Computing Specialist School
Numbers is one of my favourite books. I love the way it is written for both adults and children. The author has written it in a first person view. What happened really shocked me! LOVED IT!
Esther
Year 9
Bishop Bell CE Mathematics and Computing Specialist School
I had high expectations of this book, but a little way in I thought - hang on a minute! This book is really depressing. I can see why people like it, but I personally don't like that type of book.
Emma
Year 9
Brighton College
Numbers is about a girl called Jem who can see the date a person will die if she looks into their eyes. On a trip to the London Eye with her boyfriend Spider, she sees everyone has the same number…
I think the book has good description of the places and characters. You feel very connected to the protagonist, Jem, as she narrates the story. Jem is a bit of a loner and feels unwanted by everyone, which most people don’t usually feel, so it gives a good description of what it’s like.
Numbers is an exciting book with lots of action. I enjoyed reading it, but I thought the plot was a bit obvious after reading the blurb. However,Numbers is a great book and I would recommend it to most people.
Shannon
Year 8
St Richard's Catholic College
Numbers was alright, but I thought Rachel Ward padded the story out in the middle. I wondered if Spider hadn’t been messing around, things might have been different. I liked it at the end. I was amazed that Jem could tell when people could die, but as Val said, “it is a curse as well as a gift”. I would recommend this book to fourteen or fifteen- year- olds plus.
Megan
Year 9
Bishop Bell CE Mathematics and Computing Specialist School
The book is set in modern times which makes it quite understandable. The story is very good, original and never predictable! I loved the book and the characters. I didn't want to put it down. The ending was great!
Amy
Year 9
Bishop Bell CE Mathematics and Computing Specialist School
The ending of this book had a very good twist to it. Spider has a believable character, as does Jen, when you understand why she is like she is; you get inside her head. My favourite part was in the church near the end of the story.
Patrick
Year 9
Bishop Bell CE Mathematics and Computing Specialist School
I found the plot of this story predictable and you know what's going to happen in the end. Spider was a dodgy, and a bit of a dangerous character. He could have got Jem in trouble. I liked Jem's character best when she was moaning about walking for a long time. Some good books have endings which I hate, but this definitely does not have an ending like that! I loved it!!
Ella
Year 9
Bishop Bell CE Mathematics and Computing Specialist School
I found the plot of this story a bit predictable, but the characters were all believable. I enjoyed the book though.
Amy
Year 9
Peacehaven Community School
Numbers is an amazing story with a shocking plot. I couldn't believe what happened at the end of the book leaving it on a cliffhanger. I wouldn't be able to cope knowing when someone you hold dear is going to die . I give this book 9 out of 10.
Claudia
Year 7
Seaford Head Community College
This is an amazing book! It is so fantastically incredible it is hard to write about! I would also have to say it is the best out of all five books, with a great plot, action, drama and heart-throb!
Jem isn’t like anyone you or I have ever met! She sees numbers - the numbers belonging to anyone. When Jem was a baby she knew she was different but she couldn’t help seeing the numbers, to her it was natural. She was an only child with an addict of a single mum. Her Mum was addicted to heroin, there would be no stopping it, no-one could. When she was in her pram she would shout out the numbers she saw, thinking she was so clever! When her Mum told her to shut up she decided to never say one in her presence. As she grew older and wiser she found that not only was her Mum an addict but no-one else saw the numbers. Day after day she saw them in her Mum’s eyes. Bleeding through her like there was no tomorrow, well not for her Mum at least. When she came to wake her Mum one morning she was confronted with a dead soul and a reason for the numbers. They were the date of your death.
She grew up a foster kid, bounced from house to house. She was going to her special place by the canal for some peace and quiet from her foster Mum Karen, when she was confronted by a six foot four tall boy. He was black, tall and skinny. She didn’t know what to do. His name was Spider. Through this book Spider and Jem go on frightful adventures, but when their eyes meet…they fall in love.
This is the best out of all the books. I would definitely love to read it again! I would give it 10 out of 10 it is so superb! It is an amazing book and I would like there to be a sequel!
Max
Year 9
Brighton College
Numbers is a book written by Rachel Ward. It’s about a girl called Jem and her boyfriend nicknamed ‘Spider’. It seems normal enough until she reveals that when she looks into people’s eyes she can see a number. That number is the date that they will die.
The story is unpredictable with a surprise at the end! Exciting, saddening and scary all in one book! It’s wonderful!
The characters are very well presented. Their unique personalities and emotions are revealed throughout the story, keeping it real (I think knowing everything about the character at the beginning of a book leaves little to the imagination).
It’s a story of trust and conspiracy, love and compassion. It tests how far a person will go to help another in the same position.
I have looked up a few more of Rachel Ward’s books after reading this because I liked it so much. My mum had to shout at me a few times for staying up too late reading it!
Overall the book is extremely thought provoking and very exciting. I would recommend it to all the people I know!
Sophia
Year 9
Brighton College
At a first glance, Numbers by Rachel Ward seems like the type of book that might be read by some stereotypical boy; really keen on science-fiction, enjoys watching programmes on robots, and has a one of those ‘make-your-own: chemistry experiment kit’ things. However, they do say never to judge a book by its cover, and ‘they’ have never been more right.
I am a girl, and I do not have anything against people who like robots or are obsessed with science-fiction. But, I prefer to read a book that involves thrill, love, comedy, fear, crime, is realistic, and is something that I can believe and relate to. This is why I think that Numbers is probably one of the best books I have read in a long time.
Numbers involves every kind of emotion possible, and at points will have you laughing, crying, and literally sitting on the edge of your seat.
The book is about a fifteen year-old girl named Jem, and how she is anything but typical. Jem has a secret, and this secret has managed to practically dictate the whole of her life. She hates physical contact. She is withdrawn, and if she begins to become even the slightest bit involved with someone, she will bail out. She meets a boy named Spider, and Numbers is about their journey, where they will encounter every barrier imaginable. It is about Jem’s progress as a person, and how she manages to overcome and deal with secrets that have been haunting her from the very beginning, with the help of Spider.
What I particularly loved about this book was the fact that it was so near to modern-day life, at points I actually though I was reading an autobiography. The author has written with such amazing emotions. Ward manages to sustain the tenseness throughout, and I don’t think there was a part of the book which I found boring.
Ward also manages to highlight some of the real issues and situations that some teenagers are put in today. She made me think how fortunate we are and lucky for the support from our families.
The ending leaves you with a bit of an unsolved problem, which was probably the only down-side, for me. All-in-all, I think it is a great book to read, especially if you are looking for action and thrill, as well as romance, as Ward manages to combine both very well.
Sophia
Year 9
Brighton College
The book Numbers by Rachel Ward is a fascinating and intriguing book. It is about Jem, a teenage girl who foresees the date of death for everybody she makes eye contact with. Everywhere she looks, she sees numbers, and it is only when tragedy strikes that she realises what they mean. Her drug abusing mother dies of an accidental overdose when Jem is seven, and she learns the hard way what her curse is. Passed from foster parent to foster parent, she finally ends up with Karen, who certainly tries her hardest with Jem although it isn’t easy, as she feels her life is going nowhere.
Then, on a day skiving off from school down by the canal, she meets Spider, a classmate who doesn’t seem to spend much time in class. They become fast friends and regularly skip school together to hang out by the canal.. When both Spider and Jem are suspended from school however, they go on a jaunt in London together...
This is an incredible book, taken down an unexpected and interesting route. In this book you meet a variety of every day occurances, such as crime, love and violence. Rachel Ward’s debut novel is perfect for the teenage generation today.
Ella
Year 9
Brighton College
Numbers, unlike most other books, holds a certain blunt edge to it, which enhances the characters and the story that unfolds around them. Like Numbers, Jem, the protagonist, is unusual. She has the gift, or burden, of being able to see the day that the person will die, whenever looking into someone’s eyes. She feels it is a curse that constantly haunts her, she cannot escape the feeling of controlling the death of everyone around her, yet she can’t change the day of which they will die, however she tries to prevent it. She has seen it happen first hand to her mother, she knows the pain it brings and soon finds herself cold to the outside world. Better not to get attached and you don’t get hurt; you don’t need to let anyone go, because you don’t have anyone or anything to hold on to, her being a foster child and an orphan.
During the whole of this book, you try to find a way to relate to her, and often you do, but it is hard to try and know the feeling of what she is, what she knows, because we don’t. However this doesn’t decrease the enjoyment you get out of the book for you want to read on, to feel it, to see the numbers she is seeing first -hand.
I feel this book is good for the age group it is aimed at. Jem feels like an outcast with her, more than just good friend, Spider. It describes the feeling of being rejected and the hardships of school and friendship and racism. Although it counteracts that by saying that no matter what people have labelled you as, as a failure, as a girl or boy with no future, you can overcome that and achieve, find love and live the life you want. However, considering the age group it is aimed at and the type of contents it has, I feel it could have been better description, or have a higher level of writing style as at times it was a little simple or predictable, but this could have just been my opinion.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book overall, it had an interesting plot, unusual. It is so nice to have a book to pick up and dive into when you feel bored or what to relax. There is nothing better than reading under the covers with a torch!
If you are 12-15 and enjoy reading about your own age group and want to try something different, then go for it. This book contains love, life, death and birth. It tells a story that no-one else has told.
Jessica
Year 10
St Richard's Catholic College
I thought the plot of this book was original and well written. It was easy to follow despite being quite fast paced and kept the reader hooked.
Numbers tells the story of teenager Jem, who has the ability to look in a person's eyes and see a series of numbers. The numbers show a date. The date that the person is going to die. Because of the “gift” Jem has no friends, until she meets Spider. Together on a trip to London, however she witnesses something that will change both their lives…
I thought the author portrayed teenage emotions well and the characters were believable. The ending was unpredictable and came as a shock.
I would recommend Numbers to both boy and girl teenagers.
Darragh
Year 8
St Richard's Catholic College
Jem isn’t the ordinary girl. She has a gift. Whenever she looks into someone’s eyes she sees the worst thing of their life. The day they will die...
I thought Numbers was a great book and would recommend it to both boys and girls between the ages of 13-15. I would give it nine out of ten. I thought the story was a good idea and that the adventure was good.
Tyler
Year 9
Brighton College
Numbers by Rachel Ward was an exciting piece of writing which I did enjoy reading. I couldn’t put the book down after a few days, once I’d got into it. I did like this book but it had a few flaws: after the first few chapters you realised what was going to happen, but you couldn’t’ quite be sure. This is a flaw and an upside at the same time because knowing what was going to happen is sometimes a good thing, for example, anticipation to see if you are actually right. This is a good technique used by the author to draw the reader in and no doubt that this is a thrilling book. It’s about a girl called Jem who can see the date in her head when the person she is looking at is going to die. This is, no matter what anyone says, a pretty scary thing. I found this book a real page turner and a great book for teenagers. I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone not taking part in the event because it would always lead onto something new, that is what makes it such a great book.
Grace
Year 9
St Richard's Catholic College
Something was going to happen to these people.
Today.
Now.
I adored this book right through to the end. I thought it had a very interesting plot and storyline and thought it was very well written. I particularly liked the end. I really think this book has an excellent chance in the award and wouldn’t be surprised if it won!
Peony
Year 9
Brighton College
Numbers is an inspirational book which has characters who are normal but ever so slightly down to earth Londoners, however Jem is withholding a massive secret… will she ever let it out?
The book is set in South England (around London and Bath) which meant that it was easy for me to relate to it. Jem (the narrator and main character) also speaks about many sites that I recognise which made it interesting and fun to read.
The plot was fun, interesting and easy to follow but not at all predictive: it has a massive twist at the end which almost left me tearful. The ending was original and suited the book well. Numbers was always enjoyable and gripping and I would recommend it to all.
It was brilliant from the start because the main action happened very near the beginning of the book. I wasn’t sure how the author was going to maintain her quality of description and action to the end but she managed, making her book a fantastic one.
Ruth
Year 8
St Richard's Catholic College
Jem lives in the knowledge of knowing everyone she meets date of death. This terrible burden creates a chain of devastating events which change her life forever . . .
I really enjoyed this book; it did contain some bad stereotypes but when you got past that it was a very enjoyable story with a surprising twist at the end.
I thought the characters were quite good though they were very stereotypical “bad” teenagers but I still really came to like the characters.
I think its winner status was 4/5.
Rebecca
Year 9
Peacehaven Community School
Jem is a teenage girl with the power to see the dates of people's death by one glance in their eyes.Jem's life has been hard and difficult since her mother died and she found out about her gift, until one day when she meets a boy called Spider. When Jem and Spider adventure into London, Jem sees a chain of disasters happening which makes her life impossible and it will never be the same again.
This book was great. It was one of those exciting books which really gets you going. A must read.
