Numbers By Rachel Ward

Series: Numbers #1
Genre: Young Adult, Romance
Release Date: November 8th 2008
Source: Bought
Overall Rating: 1.5/5 Stars
Cover Rating: 2/5 Stars
Synopsis: Since her mother’s death, fifteen-year-old Jem has kept a secret. When her eyes meet someone else’s, a number pops into her head - the date on which they will die. Knowing that nothing lasts forever, Jem avoids relationships, but when she meets a boy called Spider, and they plan a day out together, her life takes a new twist and turn. Waiting for the London Eye, she sees everyone in the queue has the same number - something terrible is going to happen.

I did not like this book. I had reasonably high expectations since the premise sounded quite interesting but I actually found that the synopsis is very misleading. I fully expected the story to revolve around the London Eye tragedy that Jem knew was going to happen. I thought she'd do something to try and save the people there but I was very wrong. In fact, the only reason why the London Eye is mentioned is because she runs away from it, is spotted suspiciously running away and then goes on the run because running is apparently now illegal in Britain. Sure I understand why it might seem suspicious but it would've been explained away so easily! For example "I was late for a meeting," or "there was an emergency at home," but no, she goes on the run because they are of course going to blame a fifteen year old for a bomb attack because she happened to be running at the time.

One thing I found totally unbelievable was that people were recognizing them while they were on the run from a description that could fit anyone and a blurry CCTV camera.
This is the incriminating description:
“London is reeling after a massive blast ripped apart the London Eye…seven dead and many more injured…police are looking for two youths: one black and very tall, the other shorter and slightly built.”
That could be anyone but somehow everyone recognizes them.
Another thing that annoyed me about this book was how racist Britain was made to look. Sure there are some racist people here, like everywhere, but this book exaggerated it enormously. Spider was given dirty looks by everyone and automatically blamed for anything that happened, because he was black. I know it happens sometimes but they traveled halfway across Britain and it happened everywhere, I'm not sure that's accurate.

Ugh. I hated both characters. Jem was annoying, her cold behavior seemed way too forced and she was much to stereotypical. Spider was the same but male, their relationship was much too 'insta love out of necessity' for my liking. Jem's big gift seemed awesome at first but then it was boring. The gift seems more like a catalyst put there to begin the story nothing more. Spider's bad boy persona and actions was the same, just something to fill the pages and add substance to an otherwise flat story.

I really did dislike this book and I'm beginning to be put off the publisher, 'The Chicken House'. I never judge a book by it's publisher except this particular one. Of the five books I've read from this publisher I've hated all but one and that, in my opinion, is not good statistics. I may steer clear of it for a while. I would reccomend this book to people who don't mind huge plot holes and prefer fluff to substance. I can say for certain I will not be reading the next book, it's called Numbers 2 for goodness sake!

My Favorite Quote:
“My best day ever. Got up. Had breakfast. Came to school. Bored, as usual. Wishing I wasn't there, like usual."

Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.UK