I Am Number Four Review

Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books—but we are real.

Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. we have lived among you without you knowing.

But they know.

They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.

I am Number Four.

I am next.
Taken from GoodReads.

I Am Number Four follows the story of John Smith aka Daniel Jones aka Four, a young Garde from the planet Lorien, and his Cepan(Keeper), Henri. Ten years ago, in the wake of his planet's imminent destruction by the Mogadorian race, a race of vicious, greedy, and bloodthirsty aliens, nine young Garde and their Keepers were sent to Earth to blend in, learn their Legacies (powers) and train. One day, the Garde will go back to Lorien, destroy the Mogadorians, and take Lorien back. There's a problem though. The Mogadorians are on Earth, too, and they're killing the Garde in order. Three are dead, and John is next. It's too bad he's finally found a town he likes in Paradise, Ohio, a best friend, Sam, and the girl of his dreams, Sarah. Will he have the strength to move on when he has to?

I Am Number Four is written under the pseudonym, Pittacus Lore which, frankly, I think sounds better than the collaboration between James Frey and Jobie Hughes. I think it's quite clever of them to have written under the name of Lorien's Elder, Pittacus Lore. Anyhoo, the story begins with a bit of a prologue, showing us the death of Three and leading us to the revelation that Four now has to leave his town in Florida and make do in a new town. Though the nine Lorien Garde were scattered and don't know where the others are, look like, or feel, they are charmed so when one Garde dies, a brand appears on their ankles. That's the only clue they have to knowing which will be targeted next by the Mogadorians.

I was a bit turned off by the prologue, to be honest. I thought it was emotionless, frantic, and rushed. And, if I might be petty for a wee moment, there's a typo on the first page of the first chapter. That's neither here, nor there. I Am Number Four is a refreshing take on the tale of aliens living among us. I really enjoyed the fact that John (Four) found a place on Earth that he wanted to belong, and I enjoyed that even though he was supposed to keep a low profile, he didn't let people walk all over him. I also really loved Henri. It's his job to care for John, and you can tell he cares for him a great deal. I do, however, think that John's love interest, Sarah, fell a wee bit flat. I also thought Mark (the bully) was too much of a stereotype at first.

All in all, I really enjoyed I Am Number Four once I got into it. It's action-packed, riveting, and kept me guessing. I give it a definite 4 out of 5, and I really look forward to the second book of this six-book series, The Power of Six, due out in 2011. I recommend YA fans, especially those who enjoy Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and paranormal...oh, and I think it's worth buying. I also recommend reading it fairly soon...they're making a movie. For all you Gleeks out there, Sarah is going to be played by Dianna Agron, better known as Quinn Fabray...just a fun fact.

Favourite Quote: "I am an alien, I have extraordinary powers, with more to come, and I can do things that no human would dream of, but I still look like a fool."