Ireland, AD 920. Aidan has an unusual gift: "Others heard birdsong, windsong, human speech . . . Nobody else caught numbers with their ears." Aidan hopes to gain understanding of his mysterious ability over years of quiet, solitary contemplation as a monk. But when a pretty girl named Lana arrives and hums of eleven, a number Aidan has never heard, he is enthralled. A devastating attack by Viking raiders forces the two together, and as they strive to save their village, they also must struggle to understand their strong connection.
Summary Aidan is placed in charge of Lana, who has been brought to work in the monastery as punishment by Lord Donagh. Each has a unique gift: Aidan senses a humming of numbers coming from all living things, while Lana can communicate with trees and plants. Aidan fears that the gifts are the Devil’s snares, but when the area is attacked by raiders, the gifts prove useful, allowing Aidan and Lana to survive and organize resistance among the remaining villagers.
Your older teen readers will appreciate the 12 selections in this category, a diverse mix of fiction and nonfiction covering complex issues and more mature content, from crushes and body changes to friendships and sibling rivalry.