The Chaos by Rachel Ward

Reviewed by Lori
The Chaos

 Title: The Chaos

Series: The Numbers Trilogy

Author: Rachel Ward

Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 70126

Description: Like his mother, Jem, when sixteen-year-old Adam looks in people's eyes he can see the dates of their deaths and now he sees the same date, six months in the future, in nearly everyone around him in the London of 2026.

Rubric Rating: Level 3 - Laud It.


Why I Read It: Read the first book and wanted to continue the series.  I also love the covers of these novels!

Lori's Notes: This book picks up several years after the end of Numbers.  Adam (Jem and Terry's child) now lives with his Nan and sees the numbers just like his mother did - except he can feel how people die - if it's violent or peaceful.  Adam can tell lots of people are going to die on Jan 1, 2027, he just doesn't know how. Then he meets Sarah, who is terrified of him.  He's the boy from her nightmares.  Sarah has lots of problems of her own.  Pregnant, resulting from abuse by her father, she runs away to have baby Mia on her own and escape the nightmares in her head - an apocalypse.  Fate, however, keeps bringing the two together.  A really fast read that kept me intrigued.

Recommended Readers: Grade 9 and Up but some of the subject matter can be questionable for high school students (Swearing, drug use, teen pregnancy, incest).  Bear that in mind before recommending to students.

Themes: Trilogies, Relationships, Special Powers, Incest, Families, Protection, Safety, Mother/Child, Dystopian (beginnings), Orphans, Race.

Cross-Genre Links: 
Music: Eye in the Sky performed by Alan Parsons Project
Movie: The Frighteners (1996)
Websearch: Apocalypse theories

Post Reading Discussion Topics and Questions: 

  • Why is Adam living with his Nan?  How is Adam similar and different to his mother?
  • Why is Amy afraid of Adam?  Why does she run away from home?
  • Does fate and/or destiny bring Amy and Adam together or is it just happenstance?
  • What makes Mia special?
  • What would you do if you knew the date of something apocalyptic?  Would you tell everyone or keep it to yourself and why?  What if you were wrong?

Other Books in this Series: 
Book 1: Numbers
Book 3: Infinity






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