Numbers (Numbers (Chicken House)) [Hardcover]

I have always loved reading a wide range of books so I'm always ready to try something new. And I was surprised to find this teenage book so addictive, I usually find that although I am a teenager myself (I'm 16)teenage books never quite have the depth of adult ones, but 'Numbers' is a clear exception.

When I first read the description for this book I was immediately reminded of a music video by Nickleback which features the same idea: that there is someone who can see the numbers of a person's life. When I saw the music video I really liked the idea, so I thought I would see how it had been converted into a story.
At first I was a little critical. How could a writer give such an unusual talent credibility in today's society? But the character of Jen is perfect for this. She is not the stereotypical 'Mary-sue' character who usually gets the ability, instead she is a slightly dysfunctional girl who has had to take the hard road in her life. But despite her spiky, and sometimes brutal, attitude I found, as a reader, that I could really sympathise with her. Something I found myself scoffing at, as a character like Jen would surely despise such sympathy!
As the book continues so does the relationship between Jen and Spider. Again, they are an unusual choice of lovers, but it is this uniqueness that becomes so addictive when reading. And the fact that both of them are relative outcasts give their relationship a poignancy as they begin to depend upon each other.

The one thing I think let the book down was the placing of the London Attack. It happened around halfway through and then I expected something similar to happen later on as Jen and Spider spent time together. Instead, I found myself waiting and anticipating a similar occurrence to put more cats amongst the pigeons, but was a little disappointed to not find this. Although, admittedly, I realised after a while that the book focused mainly on the escape and chase rather that the actually event. But nevertheless I still think that the idea of an attack was a imaginative one and should have been developed further, especially considering Jen's ability.

But despite this one point I was truly hooked by the novel. And if a reader has any doubt during the book they should persevere, because the ending is heart-wrenching and the last page is guaranteed to give you chills...

Jem is a 15 year old with the ability to see that date people will die when she looks someone in the eyes. Poor girl. Because of this, she's a lonely narrator with a hardened London teen attitude and a lack of emotion toward others. How can you if you knew when they'd die?

Typically, though, she meets someone and they start going out: Spider. And she looks in to his eyes. It's all doom and gloom.

When they go to the London Eye (have you read the blurb?) and she sees everyone will die that day, Jem grabs Spider and they leg it. Next thing, one of the pods explode. They survive but end up becoming suspects after they're seen running from the scene.

'Numbers' starts off with the type of concept that captures your attention - it would be scary to see the date of people's deaths - set in urban surroundings. It's when the characters become fugitives, certain twists in the story seemed rather unlikely rather than thrilling. Hmmm.
It leaves you reading on for the sake of reading on, as the end of each chapters don't always go for suspense, which is what you seek in a thriller.

That said, the love story that plays out is written touchingly, I just don't see 'Numbers' faring well against books competing for teenagers' money this January, although a solid debut.

Sometimes a novel comes along just at the *right* time, and Numbers by Rachel Ward was one of those books for me. We are experiencing riots here in the UK at the moment (hopefully settled down now, fingers crossed) and there has been a lot of discussion about what drove the kids to riot and loot. There was one particular part of Ward's novel that stood out for me and made me sit up: "Why do you think? It's all so simple, isn't it? Tell the truth and it will all be all right. Maybe it's like that here, but it's not where I come from. They see a black kid with some money, they see a dealer. They see a couple of kids, just chilling somewhere, hanging out, they see a couple of muggers. They need to collar someone for a crime, they collar someone - one of the usual suspects, anyone who fits the picture, doesn't matter. Truth and lies, it all gets mixed up."

Rather than the high concept science fiction novel that Numbers appears to be on first contact, it is actually more of an examination of society. It was written in 2009, two years after the bombs hit London. It shows an uneasy attitude towards certain parts of society; it highlights particular prejudices that have been around since the idea of 'haves' and 'have nots' was introduced.

Jem, the main character, is fiercely independent and knows her 'place' in the world. She is outside looking in at all those who have proper jobs, relationships and money. When she meets Spider, it is an encounter between two kindred spirits. Spider is a tall black guy, already dabbling in drugs and "deliveries" for a local gang boss. He is looked down on by some, and is intimidating to others. For me, Ward did superbly presenting these two misfit characters, and the reasons behind why people in real life might end up in poverty, excluded from school, on the outskirts of society etc. In this time of riots, it was immensely powerful.

The other part of the novel that I really enjoyed is the burgeoning love affair between Jem and Spider - it is inexpressibly tender and, above all, very real. I completely invested in these two characters.

Unfortunately, Numbers is prevented from being a top quality read by two factors. The first is that Ward seems not to know how to deal with the high concept of seeing people's death date number - at times it is used as a clumsy plot device, rather than as something that can introduce deep discussions about free will versus destiny. I would have liked to see much more of the numbers idea, including how and why this gift/curse might have been given to Jem. Some airy-fairy waved-away idea that she can just see auras is not a strong backdrop to the concept.

The second problem, for me, is that the ending of the book was a) very hurried and b) signposted from practically the start of Numbers. It was just a question of how Ward was going to get to the destination. I'm usually a gullible fool when it comes to what might happen in a novel, so, for me to grasp the ending so soon, meant that it was flagged in a very heavy-handed manner.

There was a lot to enjoy in this debut novel by Rachel Ward, albeit countered by some fundamental weaknesses. Nothing that wouldn't prevent me from picking up the second novel in the Numbers trilogy, however! I do wonder, though, how much of this review is flavoured by the fact that I could associate Numbers very much with current affairs - or is it just that bad attitudes and prejudices will always exist towards those at the bottom of society and, in fact, Ward has written about a timeless issue? Regardless, Numbers is worth your time - it is dark and poignant by turn, and kept me interested throughout.