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The Number 7 by Jessica Lidh
Sixteen-year-old Louisa's antique telephone is disconnected, but that doesn't keep it from ringing. And it doesn't keep Louisa from answering. Her caller is someone with a message from beyond the grave. The mysterious caller is somehow familiar, and has a message that unravels the mysterious past of Louisa's Swedish family, including the deeply hidden secret from World War II. She'd welcome the distraction of the cute boys competing for her attention, but instead, Louisa must figure out her role in her own story--before the telephone rings for the last time.
Hardcover
First published November 7, 2014
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About the author
Jessica Lidh
1 book16 followersJessica Lidh pulls inspiration from her Swedish heritage and experiences as a high school teacher in suburban Maryland. In encouraging young minds to suck the marrow out of life, Jessica often uncovers the fascinating and hilariously horrifying insights of the twenty first century teenager. When Jessica isn't fervently teaching or writing, she loves to watch old musicals, bake Swedish cinnamon buns, and go on imaginary bear hunts with her daughter, Elsa.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
February 23, 2015
First things first, that cover is awesome because it represents the story perfectly!! Secondly, this was a fascinating and intriguing read. I had never heard of it before but loved the sound of it when I got it for review so dived right in.
Louisa, her sister and her dad move back to his childhood home. While in the attic one day, the antique phone up there starts to ring. She answers only to hear her dead grandmother on the line. She tells Louisa that she has a secret that needs to be told, and so begins the tale of Louisas grandfather and his Swedish roots.
For me, the best thing about this was the Grandfathers tale. It was absolutely fascinating. I also loved how the author brought the secret to life. The fact that it came in the form of telephone calls every so often was awesome. It made the story that more suspenseful and intriguing. You could also feel how frustrated Louisa was with not hearing the full story and only getting it in bits.
The book is told from both Loisas POV and her granddads POV. Louisa side of the story centers on her adjusting to life after losing her mother and moving to a new place. She has a lot to deal with and now she is getting phone calls from beyond the grave. I really liked Louisa, she was level headed although I didn't like the way she was with the boys in her life. There is a love triangle, which I hate!!!! Louisa just acts weird around them. When she is with one guy she seems to forget about the other. She couldn't make up her mind and that annoyed me.
I cant say too much about the granddads story because I could ruin something but I will say that it was fascinating. Its set in the time of Hitler and just before WW2. I loved the setting for it because Sweden was neutral during the war and its such a beautiful place.
The only bad thing about it is the love triangle (I cant stress how much I hate them) and how Louisa was with the boys. It felt unreal and brought down the rating.
Anyway, overall I really enjoyed the book. It was a fascinating and quick read. Its a tragic tale but also a hopeful one. Its a story of love, loss and family and one you will enjoy.
Louisa, her sister and her dad move back to his childhood home. While in the attic one day, the antique phone up there starts to ring. She answers only to hear her dead grandmother on the line. She tells Louisa that she has a secret that needs to be told, and so begins the tale of Louisas grandfather and his Swedish roots.
For me, the best thing about this was the Grandfathers tale. It was absolutely fascinating. I also loved how the author brought the secret to life. The fact that it came in the form of telephone calls every so often was awesome. It made the story that more suspenseful and intriguing. You could also feel how frustrated Louisa was with not hearing the full story and only getting it in bits.
The book is told from both Loisas POV and her granddads POV. Louisa side of the story centers on her adjusting to life after losing her mother and moving to a new place. She has a lot to deal with and now she is getting phone calls from beyond the grave. I really liked Louisa, she was level headed although I didn't like the way she was with the boys in her life. There is a love triangle, which I hate!!!! Louisa just acts weird around them. When she is with one guy she seems to forget about the other. She couldn't make up her mind and that annoyed me.
I cant say too much about the granddads story because I could ruin something but I will say that it was fascinating. Its set in the time of Hitler and just before WW2. I loved the setting for it because Sweden was neutral during the war and its such a beautiful place.
The only bad thing about it is the love triangle (I cant stress how much I hate them) and how Louisa was with the boys. It felt unreal and brought down the rating.
Anyway, overall I really enjoyed the book. It was a fascinating and quick read. Its a tragic tale but also a hopeful one. Its a story of love, loss and family and one you will enjoy.
December 1, 2014
Review also found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Merit Press via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is December 5th 2014.
This book provided me the best of both worlds in my favorite genres of historical fiction and YA. I found myself really enjoying it.
The main concept of the story was Louisa trying to adjust to a new life in a new town while still dealing with the death of her mother after several years. Then add to the mix the story of her grandfather and his ordeal during the war.
I will start with Louisa's story. This was a typical YA story where she has two boys interested in her and she needs to choose between them. This was cute. I admit I found it kind of awkward how she would forget one when in the presence of the other. She seemed head over heels for both without thinking of consequences until the latter part of the story. Her secondary story was the relationship with her sister and her father. This is where the main issues were and where you saw her true character.
The story of her grandfather was a tragic one. I liked how the whole story came together in pieces through the telephone calls to Louisa. As a huge fan of war stories I really enjoyed this part. As a twin it was even better. I looked forward to the passages on his story.
As a whole this was a really entertaining read for me. I can see how it may suffer an identity crisis with the two storylines as I don't know how well the YA audience will respond to the historical part. I personally really like the fact that you got both a light YA read and then the more serious historical piece. I say read it and decide for yourself!
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Merit Press via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is December 5th 2014.
This book provided me the best of both worlds in my favorite genres of historical fiction and YA. I found myself really enjoying it.
The main concept of the story was Louisa trying to adjust to a new life in a new town while still dealing with the death of her mother after several years. Then add to the mix the story of her grandfather and his ordeal during the war.
I will start with Louisa's story. This was a typical YA story where she has two boys interested in her and she needs to choose between them. This was cute. I admit I found it kind of awkward how she would forget one when in the presence of the other. She seemed head over heels for both without thinking of consequences until the latter part of the story. Her secondary story was the relationship with her sister and her father. This is where the main issues were and where you saw her true character.
The story of her grandfather was a tragic one. I liked how the whole story came together in pieces through the telephone calls to Louisa. As a huge fan of war stories I really enjoyed this part. As a twin it was even better. I looked forward to the passages on his story.
As a whole this was a really entertaining read for me. I can see how it may suffer an identity crisis with the two storylines as I don't know how well the YA audience will respond to the historical part. I personally really like the fact that you got both a light YA read and then the more serious historical piece. I say read it and decide for yourself!
January 14, 2015
Bravo, Jessica! I know this author ~ she played on a travel volleyball team with my daughter when they were both in high school. This is Jessica's debut novel.
It is a fictional story about a high school student, Louisa, who recently moved to Pennsylvania to live in her former paternal grandparents home with her father & sister following the death of her mother from breast cancer. Louisa's father was estranged from his parents and knew very little about their lives or his family history. Louisa begins to receive messages from her grandmother through a phone in the attic.
What I liked: I loved the sections of the book describing the grandfather's life in Sweden before his immigration to America. This was the strongest part of the novel for me as I knew very little about Sweden's position or involvement during World War II.
I also liked that the author was very descriptive in her contemporary references throughout the book. This added a feeling of realism to the novel.
Although I am not the target audience (YA, teen romance) for this book, I did enjoy reading the portion of the book that was historical fiction. I see a bright future ahead for this young novelist.
It is a fictional story about a high school student, Louisa, who recently moved to Pennsylvania to live in her former paternal grandparents home with her father & sister following the death of her mother from breast cancer. Louisa's father was estranged from his parents and knew very little about their lives or his family history. Louisa begins to receive messages from her grandmother through a phone in the attic.
What I liked: I loved the sections of the book describing the grandfather's life in Sweden before his immigration to America. This was the strongest part of the novel for me as I knew very little about Sweden's position or involvement during World War II.
I also liked that the author was very descriptive in her contemporary references throughout the book. This added a feeling of realism to the novel.
Although I am not the target audience (YA, teen romance) for this book, I did enjoy reading the portion of the book that was historical fiction. I see a bright future ahead for this young novelist.
October 7, 2024
I did not realize this was a young adult book when I ordered it. It would probably be a good read for a teenager that is interested in young adult romance and historical fiction.
January 19, 2015
3.5 stars
Going into The Number 7, I had absolutely no idea what it was about. I love going into books blind, and from the cover I could only assume that this was some sort of...adult 1920s murder mystery? But that was definitely not the case! Inside is a crazily unique blend of romance, historical fiction, and paranormality that I couldn't help but fall in love with.
Louisa was immediately so easy for me to relate to, and I had a lot of fun reading her story. I have to comment on the fact that, yes, this is another "magic phone" book that is vaguely reminiscent of Rainbow Rowell's Landline. It's hard not to draw the comparison. But besides that one element, the two books are completely different from each other. I really enjoyed how the phone allowed the story to become a little bit paranormal, but it didn't go too far and overshadow the other elements. It was also a super creative way to facilitate the reader in seamlessly switching between Louisa's story in the present and her grandparents' story in the past.
But I do think I should mention that, while the historical fiction aspect of The Number 7 plays an important role, it's really mostly a contemporary that focuses strongly on romance. And there is a love triangle. I think that the love triangle is probably what stopped me from rating this book higher. It's common knowledge at this point that readers are kind of done with love triangles unless they're insanely well written. And unfortunately it wasn't. I just couldn't feel strongly about either of Louisa's love interests — they were very flat, uninteresting characters, and because of how short the book is, there ultimately weren't a ton of scenes with her and each one individually. So I never ended up rooting for one or the other, and then had a hard time understanding how Louisa eventually made her choice, because I honestly couldn't have cared less about who she ended up with in the end.
My favorite part of The Number 7 was definitely the historical fiction part of the story and how it integrated with Louisa's current life. I loved that there was such a strong sense of family in this novel. A lot of times, those relationships are either left out or negatively portrayed in YA fiction, so it made me happy to see Lidh do something nice with it instead. There were a lot of problems in Louisa's family life, don't get me wrong, but you can tell how important family is to her from the very beginning, and repairing those broken pieces is definitely her highest priority regardless of how many times she swoons over Gabe and Chris.
Overall, this book was a quick, entertaining read that even managed to tug at my heartstrings a few times. Louisa's story is an interesting one, and I'm so glad that I didn't decide to pass this one up based on the cover (don't let it fool you, this is not secretly an Agatha Christie novel, I promise). If this is Lidh's debut, I can't wait to see what she'll come up with next!
Going into The Number 7, I had absolutely no idea what it was about. I love going into books blind, and from the cover I could only assume that this was some sort of...adult 1920s murder mystery? But that was definitely not the case! Inside is a crazily unique blend of romance, historical fiction, and paranormality that I couldn't help but fall in love with.
Louisa was immediately so easy for me to relate to, and I had a lot of fun reading her story. I have to comment on the fact that, yes, this is another "magic phone" book that is vaguely reminiscent of Rainbow Rowell's Landline. It's hard not to draw the comparison. But besides that one element, the two books are completely different from each other. I really enjoyed how the phone allowed the story to become a little bit paranormal, but it didn't go too far and overshadow the other elements. It was also a super creative way to facilitate the reader in seamlessly switching between Louisa's story in the present and her grandparents' story in the past.
But I do think I should mention that, while the historical fiction aspect of The Number 7 plays an important role, it's really mostly a contemporary that focuses strongly on romance. And there is a love triangle. I think that the love triangle is probably what stopped me from rating this book higher. It's common knowledge at this point that readers are kind of done with love triangles unless they're insanely well written. And unfortunately it wasn't. I just couldn't feel strongly about either of Louisa's love interests — they were very flat, uninteresting characters, and because of how short the book is, there ultimately weren't a ton of scenes with her and each one individually. So I never ended up rooting for one or the other, and then had a hard time understanding how Louisa eventually made her choice, because I honestly couldn't have cared less about who she ended up with in the end.
My favorite part of The Number 7 was definitely the historical fiction part of the story and how it integrated with Louisa's current life. I loved that there was such a strong sense of family in this novel. A lot of times, those relationships are either left out or negatively portrayed in YA fiction, so it made me happy to see Lidh do something nice with it instead. There were a lot of problems in Louisa's family life, don't get me wrong, but you can tell how important family is to her from the very beginning, and repairing those broken pieces is definitely her highest priority regardless of how many times she swoons over Gabe and Chris.
Overall, this book was a quick, entertaining read that even managed to tug at my heartstrings a few times. Louisa's story is an interesting one, and I'm so glad that I didn't decide to pass this one up based on the cover (don't let it fool you, this is not secretly an Agatha Christie novel, I promise). If this is Lidh's debut, I can't wait to see what she'll come up with next!
March 31, 2015
A well written mystery geared to a young adult audience about a young girl living with her older sister and father who move from the South to reclaim the family homestead in Pennsylvania her grandparents pass away. While there she begins to receive messages on an antique rotary phone from her dead grandmother telling her a story about her families' heritage. Grandma seems driven to tell the story which deals with the background of how the family ended up in America. I do think this book will captivate the imaginations of her intended audience.
January 7, 2020
I enjoyed the idea of the story. But I didn’t particularly enjoy the story itself. Or the ending for that matter. The book felt very slow and laid back. So if you enjoy nice, laid back stories that involve a little history then this is the book for you. I don’t like any of those things.
I thought it was going to be more of a paranormal or thriller type of book. In the beginning the author made it seem like it was going to be more spooky and exciting than it really was.
The very beginning was interesting. But then the author just started to change point of views when the “ghost” of the grandma would start talking. It was a little confusing because it was apparently the grandma talking but the author wrote it in a way that made it seem like it was the grandpa talking.
Instead of just staying with one character, making that character continue to hear the phantom ringing of the phone, and hear her grandmother we just got teleported suddenly back in time to the grandfather’s story. Sometimes the author would mention the main character anticipating another phone call or mentioning that she had gotten a call. But I never got that same haunting feeling I got the first time the main character heard the phone and answered it.
I think there was one other “spooky” thing that happened. So I got excited thinking it would really make it feel like the character was being haunted by a family member but that just seemed to go away after that.
It then became a boring story about how the main character, Louisa, can’t choose between two boys and also has to figure out how to deal with her family’s grief. But Louisa was so caught up in her own drama and her obsession with a family secret that it never really seemed like she cared about her family. Her sister was suffering and everyone was too awkward to care or confront her about it. So it just made it worse. But then all of the sudden the sister seemed to be ok. Even though nothing really changed to make it seem like she’d get better.
Once the secret was finally revealed I wasn’t that impressed. I thought it was going to be something way more interesting. But it also could have been that I felt so disconnected from the characters because of the way the author switch point of views. Nothing ever really felt connected.
I thought it was going to be more of a paranormal or thriller type of book. In the beginning the author made it seem like it was going to be more spooky and exciting than it really was.
The very beginning was interesting. But then the author just started to change point of views when the “ghost” of the grandma would start talking. It was a little confusing because it was apparently the grandma talking but the author wrote it in a way that made it seem like it was the grandpa talking.
Instead of just staying with one character, making that character continue to hear the phantom ringing of the phone, and hear her grandmother we just got teleported suddenly back in time to the grandfather’s story. Sometimes the author would mention the main character anticipating another phone call or mentioning that she had gotten a call. But I never got that same haunting feeling I got the first time the main character heard the phone and answered it.
I think there was one other “spooky” thing that happened. So I got excited thinking it would really make it feel like the character was being haunted by a family member but that just seemed to go away after that.
It then became a boring story about how the main character, Louisa, can’t choose between two boys and also has to figure out how to deal with her family’s grief. But Louisa was so caught up in her own drama and her obsession with a family secret that it never really seemed like she cared about her family. Her sister was suffering and everyone was too awkward to care or confront her about it. So it just made it worse. But then all of the sudden the sister seemed to be ok. Even though nothing really changed to make it seem like she’d get better.
Once the secret was finally revealed I wasn’t that impressed. I thought it was going to be something way more interesting. But it also could have been that I felt so disconnected from the characters because of the way the author switch point of views. Nothing ever really felt connected.
August 24, 2017
I won this book on Goodreads. Louisa and her sister live with their father after their mother dies. Their father decides to take them back to his parents home. His past is a mystery and no one knows about it. A phone rings in the attic and it is Louisa's dead grandmother telling a story about her husband(also dead) life. As the phone calls continue Louisa learns a lot about her grandfather's past and puts the family back together.
February 7, 2021
I loved the story line with her Grandfather and learning his past. I felt the story line with the boys was out of place with the other one and then the part about the photography stuff. I feel like it pulled in too many places and I couldn’t find the connection.
September 21, 2017
I really enjoyed this book a lot. Cute book
March 16, 2024
It’s labeled as a thriller but I’d put it into the historical fiction category with a little haunting in it.. really good book though!! I was def satisfied with the end
August 23, 2015
Louisa’s family isn’t very close. She never met her Dad’s parents, and now they are both gone. Her family is the tight-lipped sort, so she, her father and her sister, Greta, don’t even talk much about their mother or the hole her death left in their lives.
When Louisa’s father asks her to accompany him on a trip from their home in North Carolina to his family home in Pennsylvania, she reluctantly joins him. She’s assigned the task of looking around the attic to see what’s up there. What she finds, in an old desk, is an ancient black telephone. When she picks up the receiver, there’s no dial tone; it’s unplugged, after all. But she is spooked when she hears someone breathing on the other end. Though her father has not visited his childhood home as long as they have been alive, Louisa doesn’t know why. So she’s completely taken off guard when her father decides that they should move there.
Only Louisa seems to hear the old phone when it rings. On the other end is an older woman with old-fashioned diction, who she soon figures out it the grandmother who just passed away. She tells Louisa that Louisa’s grandfather killed someone long ago. And Louisa slowly gets the story about World Ware II, Nazis and the horrors they inflicted, she learns that secrets are what kill people.
This family needs to break down some walls. It’s like it’s in their very DNA, this inability to open up and blow off steam, take some of the pressure off, realize that their strength isn’t being stoic and strong, but open and vulnerable. The side stories about a new woman in Dad’s life and Greta’s angst give the story extra depth (though the story that Grandmother tells is amazing enough on its own).
My only complaint: there’s a love triangle, which really doesn’t feel like it belongs here. Both boys are great and bring out Louisa in different ways (and it seems that the two boys and their personalities are mirror images of Louisa’s grandfather and his twin brother); but, inevitably, someone wins (and someone loses), and that part of the story is clunky and doesn’t add much to the story. I wish one had had always been more of a friend.
The Number 7 by Jessica Lidh was published July 4, 2014 by Merit Press. A free copy of this book was given to Ink and Page in return for an honest review. Big thanks to the Publisher and the Author.
Rating: 4
Genre: Young Adult Fiction Contemporary Mystery Historical Romance Fantasy
Ages: 15 and up
When Louisa’s father asks her to accompany him on a trip from their home in North Carolina to his family home in Pennsylvania, she reluctantly joins him. She’s assigned the task of looking around the attic to see what’s up there. What she finds, in an old desk, is an ancient black telephone. When she picks up the receiver, there’s no dial tone; it’s unplugged, after all. But she is spooked when she hears someone breathing on the other end. Though her father has not visited his childhood home as long as they have been alive, Louisa doesn’t know why. So she’s completely taken off guard when her father decides that they should move there.
Only Louisa seems to hear the old phone when it rings. On the other end is an older woman with old-fashioned diction, who she soon figures out it the grandmother who just passed away. She tells Louisa that Louisa’s grandfather killed someone long ago. And Louisa slowly gets the story about World Ware II, Nazis and the horrors they inflicted, she learns that secrets are what kill people.
This family needs to break down some walls. It’s like it’s in their very DNA, this inability to open up and blow off steam, take some of the pressure off, realize that their strength isn’t being stoic and strong, but open and vulnerable. The side stories about a new woman in Dad’s life and Greta’s angst give the story extra depth (though the story that Grandmother tells is amazing enough on its own).
My only complaint: there’s a love triangle, which really doesn’t feel like it belongs here. Both boys are great and bring out Louisa in different ways (and it seems that the two boys and their personalities are mirror images of Louisa’s grandfather and his twin brother); but, inevitably, someone wins (and someone loses), and that part of the story is clunky and doesn’t add much to the story. I wish one had had always been more of a friend.
The Number 7 by Jessica Lidh was published July 4, 2014 by Merit Press. A free copy of this book was given to Ink and Page in return for an honest review. Big thanks to the Publisher and the Author.
Rating: 4
Genre: Young Adult Fiction Contemporary Mystery Historical Romance Fantasy
Ages: 15 and up
January 8, 2015
4.5 stars There was so much happening in this book; I wished the author would have left a few of them out. It seemed so crowded, all of them competing for space, too many issues trying to grab the limelight, it just seemed to be too much. Lou, Greta and their father move to Pennsylvania, their father’s childhood home after their grandmother passes away. The children don’t know anything about their grandparents and we later find out that their father doesn’t really know much about his own parents either. The girl’s mother died a few years earlier from cancer and Lou carries around a stapled list of memories. These worn, yellowed sheets are everything she remembers about her mother, all 522 memories. This wonderful tribute to her mother, Lou has memorized. Greta is not keen about moving mid-senior year and her actions later show that. The family as a whole must also deal with some emotional issues as they adjust to where they are in life, as so much is happening and so quickly. As Lou cleans out grandma’s attic, she happens upon an old rotary phone. With no electrical plug and no dial tone, this nonworking phone makes more than the tick, tick, tick as it falls back into alignment when she winds her finger around the dial, Lou hears breathing. The stories that are transmitted over this ancient piece of equipment mesmerize and quickly draw Lou into the lives of her namesake. It was these stories that I wanted to hear more about, these pieces of the past that where hidden and were finally being revealed that captivated me. As Lou was listening to the stories, trying to figuring out their meaning and importance, I was right beside her spellbound. These were a great mystery to add to the drama being played out. This was my favorite part of the novel. Lou also has a long triangle going on with Chris and Gabe. Both of these boys are unique in their own way and if I was Lou, I’d have to flip a coin as they each brought out something in her. She has a lot in common with Chris and he shows a unique side of himself, a tender side. Gabe on the other hand makes her feel exceptional and there is this liveliness about him. Her father is also experiencing love for the first time since his wife died. Things are changing for this household, a new chapter is being written, and hopefully it is a time for growth.
September 30, 2015
{My Thoughts} – Louisa is your average sixteen year-old girl that has been going trough a lot of bad in her life. She and her older sister have had to deal with the death of their mother at a young age, with the retreat of their father into his own shell and the death of grandparents that they never had the chance to know.
When her grandmother passes away her dad takes her out to the house he grew up in and makes a declaration that they are moving there. Louisa and her sister didn’t know their grandparents because their dad had left home at an early age and just never looked back. I can’t imagine being in their dad’s situation. I don’t think I could ever have officially left home and then chose to never look back. I am not that kind of person. I have to look back.
Louisa begins getting phone calls from her dead grandmother telling her about her dead grandfather and his life. The life he had lived through World War II, the life that had stolen his life and turned his world up side down. Louisa is given the opportunity to get to know family that she otherwise would never have had the chance to know through these phone calls. But also, these phone calls are leaving her with more questions then answers at first and she is battling with herself trying to figure out when she should tell her father/ her family everything she knows and has learned over the past few months.
I want to say that I really enjoyed this book and for the most part I did. But I also had a hard time keeping myself interested in the story because of all the changing in point of v iews. It didn’t blend together as nicely as I would have liked when reading a book written in this particular style. It is nicely written and filled with some factual and well fictional information, the events that are written help to tie it into a nice story, but I still have problems with the way it all flowed.
I do believe that anyone that is a fan of history and is interested in Sweden or WWII will enjoy this book for the most part. It just wasn’t the right kind of book for me personally as a reader.
When her grandmother passes away her dad takes her out to the house he grew up in and makes a declaration that they are moving there. Louisa and her sister didn’t know their grandparents because their dad had left home at an early age and just never looked back. I can’t imagine being in their dad’s situation. I don’t think I could ever have officially left home and then chose to never look back. I am not that kind of person. I have to look back.
Louisa begins getting phone calls from her dead grandmother telling her about her dead grandfather and his life. The life he had lived through World War II, the life that had stolen his life and turned his world up side down. Louisa is given the opportunity to get to know family that she otherwise would never have had the chance to know through these phone calls. But also, these phone calls are leaving her with more questions then answers at first and she is battling with herself trying to figure out when she should tell her father/ her family everything she knows and has learned over the past few months.
I want to say that I really enjoyed this book and for the most part I did. But I also had a hard time keeping myself interested in the story because of all the changing in point of v iews. It didn’t blend together as nicely as I would have liked when reading a book written in this particular style. It is nicely written and filled with some factual and well fictional information, the events that are written help to tie it into a nice story, but I still have problems with the way it all flowed.
I do believe that anyone that is a fan of history and is interested in Sweden or WWII will enjoy this book for the most part. It just wasn’t the right kind of book for me personally as a reader.
February 23, 2015
***I won this book free from goodreads.com***
**some spoilers included**
This book was so much better than I expected. I enjoyed taking the journey as Louisa learned to adjust to the changes in her life and her attempt to learn more about her family's history. Of course, Louisa was being pursued by two adorable guys. This wasn't unrealistic, however, her reaction of being able to "forget" whichever boy she happened to not be around at the moment was not cool. I did enjoy that she didn't just jump into a realationship but instead "dated" both boys and weighed her options as to why she liked each one.
I had a hard time watching her struggle with her sister's obvious depression and found myself wishing the family would just deal with their issues. However, I am certain that in their position it would be very difficult to deal with all that life was throwing at them (even if the move was their choice).
The other part of the story is the phone calls from the grandmother that help spark Louisa's curiosity about her family. She gets these odd calls from a disconnected phone in the attic that tell her about her grandfather's life and a specific event that she wants Louisa's father to know about.
This book was well-written and well-put together. It was a quick read and kept my attention the whole time. I would definitely recommend it for others!
**some spoilers included**
This book was so much better than I expected. I enjoyed taking the journey as Louisa learned to adjust to the changes in her life and her attempt to learn more about her family's history. Of course, Louisa was being pursued by two adorable guys. This wasn't unrealistic, however, her reaction of being able to "forget" whichever boy she happened to not be around at the moment was not cool. I did enjoy that she didn't just jump into a realationship but instead "dated" both boys and weighed her options as to why she liked each one.
I had a hard time watching her struggle with her sister's obvious depression and found myself wishing the family would just deal with their issues. However, I am certain that in their position it would be very difficult to deal with all that life was throwing at them (even if the move was their choice).
The other part of the story is the phone calls from the grandmother that help spark Louisa's curiosity about her family. She gets these odd calls from a disconnected phone in the attic that tell her about her grandfather's life and a specific event that she wants Louisa's father to know about.
This book was well-written and well-put together. It was a quick read and kept my attention the whole time. I would definitely recommend it for others!
April 21, 2015
Louise discovers she has psychic abilities, when her dead grandmother communicates with her, via a disconnected telephone situated in the attic of the old family home.
The number 7 give us two stories that run along side each other, the present with Louise, her father and sister Greta, who are each trying to come to terms with their grief, following the loss of their mother/wife. The second story tells the secrets of the grandfather, Gerhard, told by her grandmother, which leaves Louise with a dilemma, should she share the information with her father and sister? How does she explain that her grandmother is talking to her from the grave?
Once I understood the author was taking us from one story to the other I really began to enjoy the book, and wanted to know more. Initially, because I wasn't expecting the change I found the transition from chapter 6 to chapter 7 a bit off putting, but soon got into the flow. When I came to the end of the book, I wanted to know more about her fathers relationship with his parents. Why hadn't he spoken to them for twenty years. Maybe I just missed the clues on that.
The number 7 give us two stories that run along side each other, the present with Louise, her father and sister Greta, who are each trying to come to terms with their grief, following the loss of their mother/wife. The second story tells the secrets of the grandfather, Gerhard, told by her grandmother, which leaves Louise with a dilemma, should she share the information with her father and sister? How does she explain that her grandmother is talking to her from the grave?
Once I understood the author was taking us from one story to the other I really began to enjoy the book, and wanted to know more. Initially, because I wasn't expecting the change I found the transition from chapter 6 to chapter 7 a bit off putting, but soon got into the flow. When I came to the end of the book, I wanted to know more about her fathers relationship with his parents. Why hadn't he spoken to them for twenty years. Maybe I just missed the clues on that.
January 13, 2015
Phone calls from a disconnected phone and Louisa keeps waiting and waiting for the next and the next call .The calls are from her deseased grandmother who tells her the story of her grandfather's heroism .But at first she believes someone has been murdered .
When Louisa's grandfather dies, her father (a widower ) decides to move the family to his boyhood home to give himself and his 2 daughters a new start .
Louisa it seems has been chosen to be the one to research family history to unravel the mystery all the secrets the phone calls are revealing .
Louisa's father finds romance in this new place ,Greta the eldest daughter after a suicide attempt works her way through the grief she has carried over the loss of her beloved mother .
But Louisa is the most interesting of all the characters ,she finds she is the center of interest from 2 very nice young guys .In time the information she receives from the phone calls leads her to share her grandfather's story with the rest of her family .
This book is a really caprivating read ! This book is a very enjoyable read!!!
When Louisa's grandfather dies, her father (a widower ) decides to move the family to his boyhood home to give himself and his 2 daughters a new start .
Louisa it seems has been chosen to be the one to research family history to unravel the mystery all the secrets the phone calls are revealing .
Louisa's father finds romance in this new place ,Greta the eldest daughter after a suicide attempt works her way through the grief she has carried over the loss of her beloved mother .
But Louisa is the most interesting of all the characters ,she finds she is the center of interest from 2 very nice young guys .In time the information she receives from the phone calls leads her to share her grandfather's story with the rest of her family .
This book is a really caprivating read ! This book is a very enjoyable read!!!
September 19, 2018
I was tricked, thinking this was a Christian book (found in the Christian genre section). I rarely (if ever) read a secular fiction book...much less a YA novel.
I loved the grand meaning behind the past story told throughout the novel; it was entertaining, riveting, and grand. Although, I'm not so enthused with Louisa's story, being a bit more YA (of course). There are a few curse words, mentions of psychics and astrology, various mentions of alcohol and smoking, and a (brace yourselves) love triangle. For a first novel, Lidh did amazing, but I'm sad she hasn't found the most blessed purpose of writing: Jesus and His glory. Maybe one day I'll find a Lidh novel and see that it's actually placed correctly in the Christian genre.
Psalms 70:5 - But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O Lord, make no tarrying.
The purpose of life is knowing Jesus, and His love for you. Jesus loves you!
~M.K.
www.forJesusfirstlovedme.wordpress.com
I loved the grand meaning behind the past story told throughout the novel; it was entertaining, riveting, and grand. Although, I'm not so enthused with Louisa's story, being a bit more YA (of course). There are a few curse words, mentions of psychics and astrology, various mentions of alcohol and smoking, and a (brace yourselves) love triangle. For a first novel, Lidh did amazing, but I'm sad she hasn't found the most blessed purpose of writing: Jesus and His glory. Maybe one day I'll find a Lidh novel and see that it's actually placed correctly in the Christian genre.
Psalms 70:5 - But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O Lord, make no tarrying.
The purpose of life is knowing Jesus, and His love for you. Jesus loves you!
~M.K.
www.forJesusfirstlovedme.wordpress.com
December 5, 2016
This book is perfect for anyone with a passion for history discovered through the eyes of a 16-year-old teenager called Louise. The young girl receives a phone call on an old telephone when she is in the attic one day. On the other line is her dead Swedish grandmother, reaching out to her to reveal a family secret regarding her grandfather’s and his twin brother’s involvement during the second world war. The story is very well written and the characters are engaging, especially Louise and her grandfather and uncle. The novel covers a variety of topics from history, light romance, family trauma, mystery and the difficulties of being a teenager and getting used to a new town and a new school. The central theme also centres around the question whether it is right to sacrifice hundreds of lives in order to save many more. It broaches the dilemma with sensitivity as well as compassion and that circumstances are crucial in understanding historical settings.
March 27, 2015
I received this book as a giveaway. I really enjoyed this story. It is a great mix of intrigue and YA, but not shallow. The story also has great themes about family and the past. When to look back in remembrance and to learn and when to focus forward to move on. It also has themes of friendships and learning to be yourself (whatever that may be). I also loved all of the historical context, which is important. :) Overall, a great read. I would highly recommend this book. The only thing I added to the text, is while is a simple read, some students may get lost in the flashback. I simply marked those chapters as the flashback for low level readers who may struggle with the back and forth.
BRAVO! for this debut novel.
BRAVO! for this debut novel.
September 29, 2025
Though it was written for young adults (i.e. teens), this book captured and held my interest completely.
Sixteen-year-old Louisa's family was still dealing with her mother's death and her father's family secrets when they moved to his childhood home. Starting life at a new school brought its own rewards and problems. However what particularly shook Louisa's composure was the ancient telephone--unplugged for years--ringing in the attic, with her dead grandmother's voice at the other end.
I leave it to you to figure out what the grandmother had to say, but it alternates modern day activities with events in WWII Sweden, and is also a sneaky way to get kids to read a historical novel.
Sixteen-year-old Louisa's family was still dealing with her mother's death and her father's family secrets when they moved to his childhood home. Starting life at a new school brought its own rewards and problems. However what particularly shook Louisa's composure was the ancient telephone--unplugged for years--ringing in the attic, with her dead grandmother's voice at the other end.
I leave it to you to figure out what the grandmother had to say, but it alternates modern day activities with events in WWII Sweden, and is also a sneaky way to get kids to read a historical novel.
August 12, 2016
I very much enjoyed this read. We've likely all read multiple WW2 novels, and honestly I was over the entire time period. However, when I read this book I was so pleasantly surprised! It was an entirely different perspective from the Provincial village French women or the war-torn streets of London. My eyes were opened to an entirely new region that is never mentioned in history class or documentaries. I especially loved the moment in the library. This is thoughtful written young adult novel that even adults can enjoy. Bravo.
January 3, 2015
Goodreads win. Will read and review once received.
This was a good book. It was easy to get through and was a page turner. I loved how it was a historical fiction sort of book. The author did a great job with this book. Halfway through the book it took a turn for something I wasn't expecting. As a whole this book was exactly what I have been looking for. I can definitely see myself re reading this book in the future.
This was a good book. It was easy to get through and was a page turner. I loved how it was a historical fiction sort of book. The author did a great job with this book. Halfway through the book it took a turn for something I wasn't expecting. As a whole this book was exactly what I have been looking for. I can definitely see myself re reading this book in the future.
February 4, 2015
Giveaway Winner*
The number 7 got me hooked just on the summary alone. I loved the main character, Louisa, and all her family secrets. The story takes you on a journey into the past of her late Grandfather's life, while also giving insight on a missing corner in there triangle family.
I would recommend going into this not knowing anything about it, and let it take you on a journey filled with stories. A++
The number 7 got me hooked just on the summary alone. I loved the main character, Louisa, and all her family secrets. The story takes you on a journey into the past of her late Grandfather's life, while also giving insight on a missing corner in there triangle family.
I would recommend going into this not knowing anything about it, and let it take you on a journey filled with stories. A++
February 11, 2016
This was real slow to begin with. It was a little scary because I didn't know where the story was going. it wasn't until about half-way through that I understood the cover. This jumps back and forth between past and present. I don't mind those kinds of books, but it seemed to take a long time to connect the two. At the end I read this is the authors first novel so I have to cut her a break. I will say, 'good job!'. The characters were believable and easy to get to know.
September 10, 2016
What a great read! Loved the intersection of history and a love story. Lidh moves us effortlessly through a compelling modern story of a family who moves to a remote town while their daughter is connecting to a dark side of their family history - immersed in the ethical choices in Sweden during the beginning of Nazi occupation. The book has some fun twists and turns and a fantastic ending. Good for teens and anyone who likes a good mystery.
September 14, 2016
I read this book a few years ago, but still remember it vividly. It's a beautiful and honest portrayal of the trials and triumphs of a teenage girl, and it's so much more than that. It's about history, it's about family, it's about high school, and it's about first love. As an English teacher, I appreciated that Lidh does not sell her intelligent and thoughtful young readers short. Great YA fiction!
January 8, 2015
I received this book in a goodreads giveaway. An easy read that is a page turner. You want to know how the story ends as much as the young girl that is the main character. Jessica Lidh is a very good story teller and she leaves you understanding that our family's history is an important part of who we are and our lives. Very enjoyable read.
January 12, 2015
The Number 7 by Jessica Lidh is about 16 yearold Louisa and her adveture to find the turth about her grandfathers horrible past with the help of her dead grandmother calling her from an old phone that isn't plugged in and with some boy drama.Louisa might just actually find out about her grandfather.
I recommened this book to teens who love mystery and romance.I rate this book 5 stars.
I recommened this book to teens who love mystery and romance.I rate this book 5 stars.
June 7, 2015
This isn't the usual genre that I read. It's still quite interesting, though the story itself is relatively flat. There isn't much excitement out threat to the character. What kept me reading though was my desire to finally understand how the pieces if the take come together, both in the past and the present.
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