"Numbers" was one of my favourite. Somehow, I felt that I'd seen the concept of being able to see when someone would die before (i.e. Final Destination) but it was a good, new twist on something that I love to read about.

I liked it because the characters were really believable. Spider was one of my favourite characters, which is strange because I thought that there were many problems surrounding his character. Firstly, it wasn't until the incident with the London Eye that I was told he was black. I thought this was quite confusing, as I'd already built up an image of him in my head. It was strangely, annoying to keep myself thinking of him as he was, as his description was good as far as his physical characetrsistics, which I think is something that contributed to my 4 out of 5 rating.

I also liked his "nan". I liked the relationship between Jem and Val - it was kind of mysterious at first, but it then developedin a way that I really liked Vals' character.

One of my least favourite chaacters was McNulty. He's this kind of, annoying, ignorant teacher who really get's on my nerves, never mind anyone elses. That's not to say that he wasn't written well, in fact it's quite the opposite; I thought he was written so well that I feel I felt about him in the way that the author intended.


All in all, yes, it was a very good book. The concept wasn't neccessarily new, but the take on it was, so it doesn't feel like I've read it all before. If it wasn't for those few things, it would definately have gotten a 5 from me.

Gheorghe gave Numbers 4 out of 5.

Basically, it's a great storyline and idea, but the way it's written is just...UGH! The characters are really annoying and impossible to get behind and love and i, personally, have serious issues with some of the choices the characters make. I mean, how exactly can you take the heroine seriously when she smokes all the time and acts aggressive ?! I mean, no offence to anyone, but i'm really not that sort of person.

Ella gave Numbers 2 out of 5 and now plans to read Bang, Bang, You're Dead.

This book was a good read and i think that many people will enjoy it.
There are many things i enjoyed about this book
1.This book was a good read after i got into this book
2.The plotline was good and there was a lot of interesting parts.
3.There was an unusual twist of fate at the end

There are some things i didn't like unfortunatly,
1.The book was quite boring at the beginning of the book and it took a while to get interesting
2.Some parts were confusing during the book

Overall, it was a very good book and i recommend it to a lot of people

Jonathan gave Numbers 4 out of 5 and now plans to read Bang, Bang, You're Dead.

this had a really good idea for a book. a really good idea that could have made a really good book, even brilliant. but unfortuantely - and i dont like saying it - it wasnt. Numbers started off well. This interesting and original basis of the story was entrancing and imaginative which made me excited to read it. however, i was disappointed. the story could have gone brilliantly but for some reason, the author decided to go down a completely different route, taking the story on a pointless, unnecessary route that ruined the book. and - dare i say it the characters are shallow and dull with few reddeming qualities, seemingly the stereotype of the youth that is always complained about. the ending was disappointing - a total anti climax and it really clarified my view that this is not a great book. true, the twist at the very end was good but it did not make up for the rest of the book

Filippa gave Numbers 2 out of 5 and now plans to read Bang, Bang, You're Dead.

awsom book love it

cameron gave Numbers 5 out of 5 and now plans to read Bang, Bang, You're Dead.

i found this a interesting concept and it was interesting the way it developed. it started exciting but then it drifted off and it was harder to keep reading. however at the end i managed to get more into this book and found the end easier to read.

Charlotte gave Numbers 3 out of 5 and now plans to read Bang, Bang, You're Dead.

it was sort of a weird book. Sad in other parts. A bit odd.

Beverley gave Numbers 4 out of 5 and now plans to read Bang, Bang, You're Dead.

I think this book was excellent, a definite winner in my opinion!
Numbers is all about a girl called Jem, who can see people's numbers in their eyes. The numbers are the date they are going to die. When she meets a boy called Spider, she decides to walk around London with him, but then when a dreadful thing happens, and they get the blame, it's time to run for Jem and Spider, to escape the authority's!
I think this book was great, because the story was great, having Jem being so shy and Spider so out-going. I also loved the way I got straight into Numbers, without any confusion or questions. I was a bit shocked at the ending, which changes the whole book, when you find out about Jem's numbers!
I can't think of any points in the story when I didn't enjoy it, but I would of liked to develop the character of Britney more, as I didn't quite understand how she manages to fit in with the story. I can't wait for Numbers 2 to come out, and I'm hoping that it's as good as the first!
Overall, Numbers was a fantastic book and I personally hope it wins the Leeds Book Awards!

Anna gave Numbers 5 out of 5.

"Numbers" - the book everyone likes - apart from me (so everyone can just laugh at me or chuck stones or whatever you do when someone disagrees entirely with your views). Great idea, worthy of a 5 but bad execution. A child (who's an orphan, surprise, surprise) has a dark secret (surprise, surprise), abandons her foster parents to run off with someone of the opposite sex (surprise, surprise) because they're accused of something they didn't do (surprise, surprise), they run around for a while whilst being chased by police (surprise, surprise), fall in love (surprise, surprise), get seperated (surprise, surprise) followed by a massive climax in which one dies (surprise, surprise), the person makes up with the person she holds most dear (surprise, surprise) and everything is alright and they all live happily ever after (surprise, surprise - I'm getting bored of these). Now, that's extremely original. The only original part is the fact that Jem can see when people are going to die. So "Numbers" - the book full of clichés and ideas that are squashed together in a single book but now I think about it, there is something else original - the involvement of the church towards the end (yeah, that is original). The plot gets absurb in some places, such as they happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and the random bit of in a barn full of cow poo, sure its interesting in some ways but was it really nessacery, it only provided Jem with someone who she could feel for, but hey, books need emotion and I should probably give it some slack but yeah, Jem's a character I really feel for (yeah, and pigs fly). She's treats everyone nastily, she's extremely bad and in real life she would be someone who'd end up living on benefits, unemployed and unliked. She changes at the end but after 16 years of wasting her life, I don't really have sympathy fpr her, especially since we're supposed to like Jem. Why? Her perosnality is weird, I understand that perhaps the numbers have affected her life dramatically and I feel for her for that but that doesn't sway my opinion. One problem, her child can see numbers so therefore it's genetic, thus meaning that she must have got it from someone, if she got it from someone, then it must have been around for centuries yet no one has ever recorded it and the number of people everyone is related too means that a lot of people should be able to see the numbers, now I know this is fiction but this begins to delve into the ridiculous. It may have been better if the child couldn't see the numbers. Spider is a boring character, gee, another bad boy we've supposed to relate too and go 'it doesn't matter that he's bad and an idiot who everyoe would scould in real life'. I just don't feel for people like him, granted, I didn't laugh when he died, I actually felt sorry for Jem but these people are annoying. The foster mum is interesting but the way she forgives Jem after Jem has done so much is extremely contrived. I admit that I like how Jem begins to change before the end and it goes to show how you can change but after 16 years, I think it may be too late. I just don't feel towards he book which had the most original idea until it was plagued by clichés which killed the idea in its footsteps. The whole book failed for me and I totally understand with everyones views but I just thought I may as well explain why I don't like it because I haven't got much else to do right now.

Darren gave Numbers 1 out of 5.

I loved numbers as it was a gripping book with lots of twists and turns and i was so shocked at the ending. It was a fast moving book at the begining but it then went a bit slow in the middle and i almost lost interest but it soon pick up and it had me gripped again. I thought it had an interesting plot and i really loved it as all the way through as it showed about both the main characters back grounds so i felt like i really knew them and could put my swlf in their shoes and do the same thing. i also felt sorry for Jem as she could see everyone's numbers and cept it quite

abigail gave Numbers 4 out of 5.

quite simply one of the best books i have ever read. it was fast paced, exciting, and astonishing. the book is different to any of the books i have read because the main charecter is different from any other i have read she was unruley and others may think she is annoying and a nuscience but she seemed very real. by the i was in tears. the idea of the book is really intesting and original. the auther had obviously put a lot of effort thinking up the premisis and making as good as it is.
the book makes you wonder about the world and life and death.
i think everyone should read this book as it makes you think about the world and it is brilliant!

hannah-may gave Numbers 5 out of 5.

I was very reluctant to read this book, because the blurb really put me off. However, I found that it was a very interesting, well-developed idea, and the author's sense of time and pace was outstanding. It had an incredibly sad ending, but that sorted itself out in a way...
But just when I thought all the tension was gone, the last sentence scared me!

Tonicha gave Numbers 5 out of 5.

numbers was an exceptinonaly good book it gripped me from beggining to end i intend to buy it at a later date to read it again

jack gave Numbers 5 out of 5 and now plans to read Bang, Bang, You're Dead.

It's starts off quite mysterious but becomes more and more gripping the more you read it.It is a fantastic book that iwould recomend to anyone above the age of13

Joe gave Numbers 5 out of 5.

I enjoyed this book because it gripped you right from the begining. Also it told you about the character and their past at the begining so you're not asking questions about things.

Georgia gave Numbers 4 out of 5 and now plans to read Bang, Bang, You're Dead.

This book is not in my age range but nevertheless, i really enjoyed it. It was very realistic and Rachel Ward really knows how to write about the feelings of a typical teenager. I couldn't put the book down!!

Gugandeep gave Numbers 5 out of 5 and now plans to read Sovay.

I love this book and think it is totally amazing!!It makes you really feel for jem and spider and makes you think forward and wonder how spider will die.its a fabulous book and i think it should win!!

jade gave Numbers 5 out of 5 and now plans to read Bang, Bang, You're Dead.

This book, as many few others have managed to do, has changed my perspective totally and really changed my moods and thoughts. It is fast paced, and is close to reality. Alot of things in this book happen i real life. As soon as i started reading i couldn't stop. But, and I'm not trying to give he plot away, with all the death and disaster in it, this book can be found to be quite either depressing or upsetting. But overall i love this book and would reccomend it to people 13 & above.

Izzy gave Numbers 4 out of 5 and now plans to read City of Ghosts.

I really liked numbers right from the start because it grabbed my attentoin and kept it all the way through. Right at the end there is a twist which makes you think that there might be a sequel. I won't give too much away but it is a brilliant book and a definite must-read!!!

Hannah gave Numbers 5 out of 5 and now plans to read Stolen.

I thought the book was brilliant. It had the right amount of excitement to make you want more but not too much to make you think the author was trying too hard to capture your attention. Excellent!

Tamara gave Numbers 4 out of 5 and now plans to read The Demon's Lexicon.

Amazing. The characters were explained really well, and her emotional traumas really made me feel for her. I really hope there's a sequel!! It was an amazing plot idea, and definitely unique, and also showed me alot about the modern world, and how cruel it can be. Definitely a must-read.

Laura gave Numbers 5 out of 5.

This book was an amazing read and really thought provoking.The concept and plot of the book was oringinal and unlike other things I have read before, this is probably why I liked it so much.This book really got me thinking about what I'd do if I knew when people were going to die, what I'd do differently, and how I'd cope with it.It was also very realistic which added to this well written thriller. The main character in the book, Jem, is decribed and brought to life in great detail.She is decribed well and you get great insight into her past and what its like to live knowing when people are going to die.It also explains how it has affected her life for the last fifteen years.Also it gives you a good understanding of why Jem is how she is,as she has kept herself to herself and shunned away the rest of the world in fear of the numbers.This all changes when she meets Spider and she does something she has never done before, let someone into her life.You learn more and more about the Jem and Spider and their characters develop well throughout the book.You discover more and more about their troubled lives throughout the book helping you to understand them more. You can easily believe that they are real people with real lives.Jem immediately knows Spiders death date and it is quickly approaching, she cannot help but get to know him. They form a relationship that quickly progresses past friendship, and turns into a romance.The pace of the story starts off quite fast at the beginning of the book because there is alot going on,then gets a bit slow in the middle, but picks up again towards the end.It all begins when Jem and Spider witness a terrorist attack, and flee the scene. They are then suspects in the police investigation and go on the run across London and the neighbouring towns. It's interesting to see how people survive when they're left to their own devices, and it made me wonder how I would deal with similar circumstances.I was a bit disappointed when it got to the middle because it did drag on so this could have been worked on a bit more to keep the reader involved.However I loved the other characters in the book, they really brought the plot together and showed lots of compassion and care towards Jem and Spider on their journey.There are realistic settings and a very shocking twist which really makes thhe book what it is. The cover of the book was great and it stands out well to the reader.I loved this book and it is certainly worth a try because its a great book to read.

Jasmine gave Numbers 4 out of 5 and now plans to read The Demon's Lexicon.