Parent warning: While the reading level is appropriate to preteens, there is some sexual material here that probably isn't. ( )

very good 10th century, Celtic, monastic, wood-witch, Viking raider, adventure and romance, for young people. ( )

This novel had a couple of interesting concepts that I liked. As far as being a full and truly engaging story, it never really got off the ground, but it was decent.

Aiden is a monk in Celtic Ireland around the turn of the nineteenth century, working hard to be allowed to illuminate the books and manuscripts he loves. But he also has a strange talent; the ability to hear numbers in people and things around him, each revealing aspects of character through its sound, pitch, and volume. And when a fiery and proud girl named Lana comes to the abbey, humming of the very rare number eleven, Aiden is immediately caught.

Viking raids, herbal and druidic nature lore, religion, lust, and love all collide in this story, which feels like it could have been a lot more. I identified with Lana's strength of character and love for nature and her special magic, as well as Aiden's fascination with books and learning. An okay book to pass the time, but don't expect too much of it. ( )

The Humming of Numbers
ELIB 530A – LibraryThing Part C – Historical Fiction - Book 1
This book is about an older adolescent boy (Aiden) who lives in a 10th century monastery in Ireland. He wants to become a scribe and work on illuminated manuscripts. He also has a peculiar affliction, which is that numbers have sound to him and everyone he is around emits a different number sound to him. He is relatively content there until he meets a girl (Lana) about his age that emits the sound of the number 11. Eleven is a new sound for him and he is transfixed. The girl also has a gift. She is able to communicate with trees and wood (she is a sort of “wood witch”). The two of them are thrown together in an adventure that requires them to work together to save the rest of their village after Vikings raid the monastery. Aside from Aiden’s talent/affliction the story is very believable historically. The author does a very good job describing life in a 10th century monastery; the clothing, the buildings, some of the art and technique of calligraphy and daily chores. Viking raids on monasteries in that part of the world at that time were occurring and the author did not skimp on violent detail. Also, paganism and superstition were still very much alive in people’s everyday lives and so Lana’s talents as a wood witch would not be much of a stretch of the imagination. I really liked this book for it’s story, but I also like to read about this time period in general. I also really loved the intensity of their budding attraction to each other and its implied climax at the end of the book.

Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

If you are looking for something different to read, pick up a copy of THE HUMMING OF NUMBERS. Several things combine to make it a quite unique reading experience.

First, there is the setting - the 10th-century in a Celtic monastery. Most books I've read lately have been set in 2008 and have included the latest in modern technology. In THE HUMMING OF NUMBERS, the main character, Aidan, is in training to become a scribe. He lives at the abbey and is a novice monk. His days are spent following their strict rules and dreaming of the day he will be able to work magic with his calligraphy pen.

Next comes the magic. Aidan possesses a mysterious talent. He associates numbers with everyone he meets. It's almost as if each person emits an aura (hum) that communicates to Aidan. The story begins one day in the abbey when Aidan hears an eleven. Until that day he has never heard anyone above a ten. Most of those he meets hum the number three. From the moment Aidan meets Lana, her special number and her lovely face become the focus of his attention. As the story unfolds, it also becomes clear that Lana has her own unique magic, and Aidan hopes her magic can be used to save the lives of those around them.

Another element that adds a different dimension to this story is the presence of raiders attacking and pillaging the countryside around Aidan's abbey. Aidan's life is spared when he is sent on an errand away from the abbey. Lana insists on accompanying him, so she is safe as well. When the two realize the horrors that have destroyed the villages and killed many, they offer to use their talents to rescue the local lord's kidnapped young son. Complicating matters is the fact that Lana is actually the illegitimate child of the local lord and has been sent away to the abbey as punishment.

THE HUMMING OF NUMBERS is truly an escape into another time and place. It is filled with likeable characters whose lives revolve in an entirely different direction than ours. This book gives readers a peek into the past, into the world as it once was. ( )