Friday, April 8, 2011

Books I Love – I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore


John Smith has just arrived in Paradise, Ohio, just another stop in a string of small towns where the 15-year-old has been hiding out from the Mogadorians. Those terrifying aliens are hellbent on destroying him and the other nine Loric children who have sought refuge on Earth. The Mogadorians are picking off the surviving kids in numerical order. The first three are dead and John's number is up. Will his Legacies, his defining super powers, develop in time for him to fight against the enemy?

I was so happy to read a book about an alien. Not just any alien, an awesome alien with weird superpowers who is just learning how to use them. Think superman with limitations other than kryptonite. In the world of YA, where vampires and angels rule, this book was very refreshing.

Number Four, aka John Smith is a great MC. He just wants to have a place where he belongs, but of course, knows he never will. He’s been running his entire life and there’s no end in sight. The secondary characters are all well developed and even the jerky jock’s actions are understandable. There’s a bit of “cheesy” romance, but a lot of YA fans like the mush and it’s not overdone. The love interest is smart, cool, and very likable.

The story progresses really well, answering questions in a well-paced way, just enough to keep you turning the pages. The two worlds (a small town on Earth and Four’s home planet of Lorien) are both believable without a ton of information being dumped on the reader. You really feel for Four, who has lost everything and is now faced with not only continuing his nearly extinct species, but also possibly saving another planet.

Pittacus Lore is a pseudonym, if you’re interested you can google who’s behind the book, but I’m actually sorry I did. It’s better to hold on to the illusion that the writer is a Lorien elder, although the book is in first person from Four’s perspective.

Anyone read this? I haven’t seen the movie, but I want to. It looks like they made the MC older and more badass.

Alex Pettyfer Picture

Back on Monday!

12 comments:

  1. Ah, I am really interested to read this. It's been on my list for a while. Thanks for the review:)

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  2. I'd never heard of it until I saw the previews. But, I'm interested in both reading and seeing I Am Number Four!

    And...let's be honest. The guy in the movie is super appealing.

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  3. I just updated the post to include a picture of the actor who plays Four, he's definitely not 15...so it's okay to drool a little. I think he's actually 21.

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  4. The movie actor is Alex Pettyfer and he's smokin' hot (yes I'm gay so I feel I can say that). And the director knew he was smokin' hot too cause he's almost naked in several scenes. They needed to throw a shower scene in there and have it with him instead of that dog getting all wet.

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  5. Okay, I really need to check out that movie :)

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  6. Yeah, after your's and Michael's descriptions, I gotta read/see I Am Number Four.

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  7. Anachronist - I am totally sending you a copy of my book to review (when I get them). You'll bring me down a couple of notches :) And if you like it, I'll know I did a great job.

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  8. I held off on seeing this movie or reading the book for the longest time because I so disapprove of the author's actions, but I do think he can set up a good premise. I finally saw the film for $3 at a second-run theatre a few nights ago and surprisingly enjoyed it, though I'm not a Pettyfer fan. And I can't read the book now since I can only go in one direction (book-->film) :P.

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  9. I didn't read it, but saw the movie. It sort of felt like a Twilight adaptation. Using aliens instead of vampires. Which is fine, but not my favorite genre. I love sci-fi and thought it was a bit too much teenage girl romance instead of focusing on their powers.

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  10. I actually enjoyed the book quite a bit. I thought it was a creative idea, an interesting take on the old Superman concept, but with multiple kids instead of just one. I liked how he had to discover what his powers were, how they were waiting for them to manifest - it was one of those cases where "discovering the rules" of the world building was half the fun. The romancy stuff was pretty hokey, but I felt pretty forgiving in light of a creative idea.

    I haven't seen the movie - I'll probably wait for NetFlix :). Demitria, I think we like the same things.

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  11. I agree Bethany...I loved the idea and the twist on Superman. Anachronist did make a good point in her review, what good did that charm do for the first three? I mean, it would really suck to be Number 1, you've got zero chance of survival while Number 9 is sitting pretty. :) Still loved it anyway.

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