Numbers 12+

About this book

Ever 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 horrible knowledge, Jem avoids relationships. Until she meets Spider, another outsider, and takes a chance. Maybe they can find happiness together, if only in 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!

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