Numbers Game
by Rebecca Rode
Publication date: March 16th 2015
Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult
Publication date: March 16th 2015
Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult
Treena can’t wait for Rating Day. Her high score will mean a life
of luxury, showing the world that she’s a valuable member of society, not a
pathetic waste of space. It won’t hurt her chances with her top-Rated
boyfriend, either. But when the big day arrives, her true number shocks
everyone.
To get her life—and boyfriend—back, she must go undercover and
expose a military spy. Doesn’t sound too hard, except that someone seems to
want her dead. And then there’s the mysterious soldier with a haunted past and
beautiful brown eyes. Together, they discover a dark numbers conspiracy, one
that shatters the nation’s future. They must band together if they are to
survive the dangerous game of numbers—and the terrible war that rages within
Treena’s heart.
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Q: Will you tell us about Numbers Game?
A: Absolutely! In the New Order
Republic of America, 16-year-olds are given a Rating, a number that encompasses
what they’re worth to society. It determines their career, living conditions,
and potential partners. This is the story of Treena, who gets a different Rating
than the one she earned. She decides to fight for what is rightfully hers,
determined to get her boyfriend back in the process.
Meanwhile, she meets Vance, a
mysterious prisoner-turned-soldier who has his own agenda. When someone tries
to kill Treena—twice—they uncover a dark conspiracy that risks much more than
Treena’s Rating.
Q: Great. You probably get this
question a lot, but the concept is so unique that I have to ask—where did you
get the idea for Numbers Game?
A: I love this question! My husband
sent me to the bank to finalize the loan on the truck he was buying. I looked
at my credit score and thought how strange it was that one number was supposed
to incorporate everything about me—my purchase history, how reliable I’d been,
whether they could trust me to make payments, that sort of thing. And then I
thought how strange it was, that we as citizens are so trusting of the accuracy
of that little number, and how important it is in our lives. It spiraled from
there—what is someone was manipulating the numbers? What if the number included
appearance and intelligence rather than just financial history? It didn’t take
long for the plot to unfold in my mind.
Q: What type of reader would like this
book?
A: I tell people that it’s like a
thriller version of The Scarlet Letter, but
set in the future. With bombs. And kissing. Dystopian fans who like Divergent, Hunger Games, and Matched
would love it.
Q: Who is your favorite character and
why?
A: At first, Tali was my favorite. She
knows exactly what she wants and doesn’t put up with anything. But now that the
book is done, I think Vance has overtaken her as my favorite. The way he sees
the world and struggles to survive while torn between two worlds really
resonates with me.
Q: What was your favorite part of the
writing process? What was the hardest?
A: I really enjoyed taking an idea and
running with it. Once I had the world solidified in my head, it was fun to
explore all the different aspects of it—political, social, financial,
emotional, etc. I wrote myself into a dozen corners because I was just having
too much fun.
The hardest part? Probably the time it
took to finish it. When I began writing Numbers Game in 2012, I was also
juggling a journalism career and three kids, and then my nonfiction book was
accepted for publication, so that took all my remaining hours. When my fourth
child was born, everything came to a screeching halt for a while. It wasn’t
until Numbers Game won first place in a statewide writing contest in that I
decided to buckle down and get serious with it.
Q: Why did you decide to make it a
series instead of a stand-alone book?
A: You know how some authors say that
their characters grab hold of the story and steer it in a different direction
without their permission? That’s kind of what happened here. It just couldn’t
end with this book. There was so much more that needed to be explored. Besides,
Treena had a little more growing to do, and I think you’ll love the person that
she becomes.
Q: Thanks for joining us. Where can we
find out more?
A: Visit my website at www.AuthorRebeccaRode.com or sign up for my monthly newsletter at http://eepurl.com/bdwUKL. I give away free stuff sometimes, if
you’re into that type of thing. But remember, Numbers Game is only discounted
on Amazon for a few days, so you may want to snatch it up quick.
REBECCA RODE is an award-winning author, journalist, and mother
of four. She is the author of the YA dystopian novel, NUMBERS GAME,
and the inspirational book, HOW TO HAVE PEACE WHEN YOU'RE FALLING TO
PIECES. She also writes for Deseret News, KSL.com, FamilyShare,
and Provo Daily Herald. However, her true love is writing for
teenagers. She enjoys traveling, reading, and martial arts, and she has a
ridiculous addiction to chocolate-banana shakes. Visit her at www.AuthorRebeccaRode.com.
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