Number 8
by Anna Fienberg
by Anna Fienberg
NUMBER 8 by Anna Fienberg
Category: Mystery/Thriller
Age Recommendation: Grades 6+
Release Date: 7/24/07
Publisher: Walker Books
Reviewed by: Cana Rensberger
Rating: 4 Stars
Have you ever had the urge to eat M&M’s in multiples of five? Maybe you try to walk out to the car in an even number
of steps? Brush your teeth the same number of times on each side? Top and bottom? If so, this book is a perfect square
for you!
Jackson loves even numbers, especially the number 8. He always does one extra repetition to avoid an odd count.
When he moves across the street from Esmerelda, he finds his love of numbers is a perfect match to her need to make
some sense out of math. Not only is she okay with his numbers fetish, but her fascination with his mother’s love of
singing the blues encourages Esmerelda to frequently pop by for a visit. At school, he meets Asim, who not only
understands Jackson’s love of numbers, but who might actually be better at math that he is.
Jackson and his mother were forced to move to the suburbs to avoid unpleasantness from his mother’s old casino boss.
Now Jackson has a new best friend, and a potential girlfriend. His luck is running hot. Until he gets in a fight with
Badman, the school bully. And a blue mustang, license plate number 777, the ugliest and most ominous number of them
all, starts trolling his neighborhood. And, finally, Esmerelda disappears.
NUMBER 8, told in the alternate voices of Jackson and Esmerelda, is a fascinating read. I found Esmerelda’s passages
more engaging in the beginning. But as Jackson begins to live outside his inner world of numbers, his passages become
more active and pull you along as you feel his fear and sense of purpose. The way Anna Fienberg ties up all the plot
lines leaves the reader feeling like they’ve just sat through a perfectly executed guitar riff while drinking a warm cup of
cocoa. Well done.
Category: Mystery/Thriller
Age Recommendation: Grades 6+
Release Date: 7/24/07
Publisher: Walker Books
Reviewed by: Cana Rensberger
Rating: 4 Stars
Have you ever had the urge to eat M&M’s in multiples of five? Maybe you try to walk out to the car in an even number
of steps? Brush your teeth the same number of times on each side? Top and bottom? If so, this book is a perfect square
for you!
Jackson loves even numbers, especially the number 8. He always does one extra repetition to avoid an odd count.
When he moves across the street from Esmerelda, he finds his love of numbers is a perfect match to her need to make
some sense out of math. Not only is she okay with his numbers fetish, but her fascination with his mother’s love of
singing the blues encourages Esmerelda to frequently pop by for a visit. At school, he meets Asim, who not only
understands Jackson’s love of numbers, but who might actually be better at math that he is.
Jackson and his mother were forced to move to the suburbs to avoid unpleasantness from his mother’s old casino boss.
Now Jackson has a new best friend, and a potential girlfriend. His luck is running hot. Until he gets in a fight with
Badman, the school bully. And a blue mustang, license plate number 777, the ugliest and most ominous number of them
all, starts trolling his neighborhood. And, finally, Esmerelda disappears.
NUMBER 8, told in the alternate voices of Jackson and Esmerelda, is a fascinating read. I found Esmerelda’s passages
more engaging in the beginning. But as Jackson begins to live outside his inner world of numbers, his passages become
more active and pull you along as you feel his fear and sense of purpose. The way Anna Fienberg ties up all the plot
lines leaves the reader feeling like they’ve just sat through a perfectly executed guitar riff while drinking a warm cup of
cocoa. Well done.