Numbers-Rachel Ward

Since the day her mother died, Jem has known about the numbers. Numbers that pop into her head when she looks into someone’s eyes. They’re dates, the numbers. Dates Predicting with brute accuracy each person’s death. Burdened by such a grim knowledge, Jem avoids relationships. Until she meets Spider, another outsider, and takes a chance. Maybe they can find happiness together, if only the brief time that remains before his expiration date. But on a trip to London, Jem foresees a chilling chain of events. The city’s a target. The clock’s running out. The countdown is on to a blowup!

When I first saw this book, it reminded me of the tv show Numbers. Now, i don’t know much about that show. I just know that they use math to figure out crimes. Or am I wrong? But, anyways, this book is nothing like i expected. And, that’s good and bad.

My sister told me what this book was about. She just said that, a girl can see people’s death dates, and to me, as brief as that description is, i found it interesting. So, i ignored her comment on how she couldn’t finish it, and checked it out from the library.

I was glad i did. Beginning to read this book, i understood what i was like to be an outsider, to be afraid to look at people. To want to be alone. I felt like i could feel what Jem was feeling. With her relationship with Spider, and their fear as they run away. It’s pretty compelling, their love i mean. It’s also pretty obvious that’s how it’s going to work.

Jem can see Spider’s death date, but, she doesn’t want to tell him the exact day he’ll die. Even though it’s days later from when they fall in love. Now, i originally thought that the ending would be happy. That she would find a way to save him, and he wouldn’t die. But, i was wrong. And, that made me sad truthfully. I hated the book because of that. For killing off a character i had a connection emotionally with.

The main characters of this book are Jem and Spider. Jem is a 16 year old girl, who’s an orphan because her mother died when she was young. She’s rebellious, and doesn’t like to make contact with people because she’s afraid she’ll see their numbers. No one likes her really, she has no friends. And, in the beginning. I didn’t like her either. She really didn’t have any feeling for anyone else. She was kind of selfish. But, i guess that’s understandable considering that she really has no one to talk to, or trust.

Then, there’s Spider. A tall black rebellious kid. Who’s actually very smart. Both being outcasts, him and Jem become friends. When Jem sees people’s death dates at the London eye are all the same, she worries and they run. When a short distance away, the ferris wheel blows up. People expect it’s Jem and Spider because they ran. So, afraid they’ll get caught for somthing they didn’t do, they run away on a wild, romantic adventure.

I found the love between Spider and Jem very predictable, and sweet. That’s why i was sad that Spider died in the end.

There’s two more books after this one. I’m not sure if i’ll be reading them or not. All in all, i rate this book 4/5 stars.