Review: Numbers by Rachel Ward

I read Numbers, by Rachel Ward, for Around the World Tours.

Summary: Jem, a trouble-making, bad mouthed, 15 year old in England, sees a number for every person she meets. The number is the date they are going to die. She can't avoid it, and their deaths cannot be prevented. She feels overwhelmed and burdened by this, pushing away everyone, until Spider, a schoolmate, and fellow troublemaker befriends her. When Jem forsees a huge tragedy in London, authorities believe she had something to do with it, causing her and Spider to run away together where they encounter many difficulties, hardships, and love.

My Thoughts: I thought this book got off to a slow start, though the premise was interesting. About midway through the book though, it picked up quite a bit and I enjoyed it more. Jem and Spider are rough kids, in a class for "bad" kids, always ditching school, swearing, and living life on the edge. As two outcasts, they made a perfect pair, once Jem let her guard down. Now, Jem was particulary rough around the edges, constantly dropping F bombs and things like that. She seemed like a real street kid. The whole tone of this novel was dark, but revealing, showing the underbelly of rough city life and neglected children. Anyways, the two of them find themselves in many situations and troublesome settings once they take off to avoid the police. Spider is also fleeing for a purpose... he was involved with a rough crowd and stole a big sum of cash he was supposed to deliver for them. A lot of interesting things happen, and it also even got a bit emotional at times. All in all, I did enjoy the book, but the first half didn't capture me right away.

My Rating: 3/5