Since the day her mother died, Jem has known about the numbers. When she looks in someone's eyes, she can see the date they will die. Knowing that nothing lasts forever, she shuts out relationships - until another outsider, Spider, manages to penetrate her spiky shell. Suddenly Jem's world seems brighter. But on a trip to London, she foresees a chain of events that will explode their lives forever. In the queue for the London Eye, everyone has the same number in their eyes. Right here, right now, their numbers are up. Something terrible is going to happen... Shortlisted for the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize.
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 grim 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