Nine

By Zach Hines | Publisher: HarperCollins

About the book

In this twisted Lauren Oliver-meets-A.S. King debut, Julian has just eight more lives to burn in order to uncover a brutal secret.

In an alternate world startlingly close to our own, humans have nine lives—and they can’t wait to use them up.

The government has death incentives aimed at controlling overpopulation. As you shed lives, you shed your awkward phases: one death is equal to one physical and mental upgrade.

Julian’s friends are obsessed with the idea of burning, but Julian is determined to stay on his first life for as long as he can. His mother burned too fast and inflicted a debilitating rebirth sickness on herself.

Julian realizes that he’s going to have to burn at some point—especially when he becomes a target for Nicholas, the manipulative leader of the Burners, the school’s suicide club. And when Julian eventually succumbs, he uncovers suspicious gaps in the rebirth system that may explain exactly why his mother went so far down the rabbit hole years ago.

Along with a group of student dissenters, Julian sets out to find answers and is soon on the verge of exposing the greatest conspiracy ever unleashed on the world.


  • Rebellion Against the System: In a world where dying is cool, Julian is determined to do the one thing that makes him a pariah: stay alive.
  • Morally Complex Characters: When Julian becomes a target for the charismatic and manipulative Nicholas, leader of the death-obsessed Burners, he discovers that a magnetic personality can hide the darkest of intentions.
  • A Twisty Sci-Fi Thriller: What starts as an act of survival becomes a desperate search for the truth behind his mother’s tragic past and the suspicious gaps in the world’s rebirth system.
  • High-Stakes Coming of Age: To uncover the truth, Julian must burn the one thing he swore to protect—his life—and become the person he never wanted to be.

Editions of Nine

Paperback
ISBN 9780062567239
EBook
ISBN 9780062567246

Read an Excerpt

In this twisted Lauren Oliver-meets-A.S. King debut, Julian has just eight more lives to burn in order to uncover a brutal secret.

In an alternate world startlingly close to our own, humans have nine lives—and they can’t wait to use them up.

The government has death incentives aimed at controlling overpopulation. As you shed lives, you shed your awkward phases: one death is equal to one physical and mental upgrade.

Julian’s friends are obsessed with the idea of burning, but Julian is determined to stay on his first life for as long as he can. His mother burned too fast and inflicted a debilitating rebirth sickness on herself.

Julian realizes that he’s going to have to burn at some point—especially when he becomes a target for Nicholas, the manipulative leader of the Burners, the school’s suicide club. And when Julian eventually succumbs, he uncovers suspicious gaps in the rebirth system that may explain exactly why his mother went so far down the rabbit hole years ago.

Along with a group of student dissenters, Julian sets out to find answers and is soon on the verge of exposing the greatest conspiracy ever unleashed on the world.


  • Rebellion Against the System: In a world where dying is cool, Julian is determined to do the one thing that makes him a pariah: stay alive.
  • Morally Complex Characters: When Julian becomes a target for the charismatic and manipulative Nicholas, leader of the death-obsessed Burners, he discovers that a magnetic personality can hide the darkest of intentions.
  • A Twisty Sci-Fi Thriller: What starts as an act of survival becomes a desperate search for the truth behind his mother’s tragic past and the suspicious gaps in the world’s rebirth system.
  • High-Stakes Coming of Age: To uncover the truth, Julian must burn the one thing he swore to protect—his life—and become the person he never wanted to be.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Nine about?

In this twisted Lauren Oliver-meets-A.S. King debut, Julian has just eight more lives to burn in order to uncover a brutal secret.

In an alternate world startlingly close to our own, humans have nine lives—and they can’t wait to use them up.

The government has death incentives aimed at controlling overpopulation. As you shed lives, you shed your awkward phases: one death is equal to one physical and mental upgrade.

Julian’s friends are obsessed with the idea of burning, but Julian is determined to stay on his first life for as long as he can. His mother burned too fast and inflicted a debilitating rebirth sickness on herself.

Julian realizes that he’s going to have to burn at some point—especially when he becomes a target for Nicholas, the manipulative leader of the Burners, the school’s suicide club. And when Julian eventually succumbs, he uncovers suspicious gaps in the rebirth system that may explain exactly why his mother went so far down the rabbit hole years ago.

Along with a group of student dissenters, Julian sets out to find answers and is soon on the verge of exposing the greatest conspiracy ever unleashed on the world.


  • Rebellion Against the System: In a world where dying is cool, Julian is determined to do the one thing that makes him a pariah: stay alive.
  • Morally Complex Characters: When Julian becomes a target for the charismatic and manipulative Nicholas, leader of the death-obsessed Burners, he discovers that a magnetic personality can hide the darkest of intentions.
  • A Twisty Sci-Fi Thriller: What starts as an act of survival becomes a desperate search for the truth behind his mother’s tragic past and the suspicious gaps in the world’s rebirth system.
  • High-Stakes Coming of Age: To uncover the truth, Julian must burn the one thing he swore to protect—his life—and become the person he never wanted to be.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Nine?

Children’s, Teenage and Educational > Children’s / Teenage fiction and true stories > Children’s / Teenage fiction: Action and adventure stories > Children’s / Teenage fiction: Thrillers / suspense

Where can I read a sample of Nine?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780062567239

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Nine?

Zach Hines

Who is the Publisher of the book Nine?

HarperCollins

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Nine is available as paperback(ISBN 9780062567239) and ebook(ISBN 9780062567246)

Where can I buy Nine online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Nine from below

Where can I buy Nine?