Numbers
Scholastic Inc | ISBN 9780545143004 Paperback
336 Pages | 5.28" x 8.03" | Ages 14 & Up
Scholastic Inc | ISBN 9780545142991 Hardcover
336 Pages | 5.75" x 8.5" | Ages 13 to 17
"Engrossing and au courant... Numbers is ace." - The Los Angeles Times
Now in paperback, the gripping psycho-thriller that pairs sci-fi with a tender, touchingly real love story! Starred by PW and SLJ!
Countdown to a blowup! A gripping debut psycho-thriller that pairs futuristic sci-fi with frighteningly real themes of global terrorism!
Ever since she was child, Jem has kept a secret: Whenever she 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 awful awareness, Jem avoids relationships. Until she meets Spider, another outsider, and takes a chance. The two plan a trip to the city. But while waiting to ride the Eye ferris wheel, Jem is terrified to see 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!
Raves & reviews:
Praise for Numbers
"A page-turner: What starts as a simple extrasensory gimmick grows into an increasingly engrossing and aucourant plot line involving terrorism, class tensions, and youth." - Los Angeles Times
"It's a gritty tale, unsparingly told, and debut novelist Ward demonstrates exceptional control of her material. Her characters remain true to themselves and their bleak circumstances, making for some excruciating moments.... Despite its supernatural premise, Jem's story shines a stark and honest light on the lives of teens on the fringe." - Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Gritty, bold, and utterly unique. Jem's isolation and pain, hidden beneath a veneer of toughness, are palpable, and the ending is a real shocker." - School Library Journal, starred review
"A lovely, bittersweet tearjerker about living life to the fullest." - Kirkus Reviews
"A moving portrayal of life and love lost." - Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books