I Am Number Four, by Pittacus Lore

Title: I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies, #1)
Author: Pittacus Lore
Release: August 3, 2010
Publisher: Harper
Source: Star Book Tours

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.

Choosing to read it based only on it’s title, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I Am Number Four was a young adult book about aliens! Didn’t see that one coming! But it isn’t just about any aliens, no, it is a whole new story that had me engrossed the whole time. And trust me, that is an accomplishment as the book is huge!

Though the book had many great things about it, one of the things that fell flat were the characters. Because they were just that… flat. There wasn’t anything particularly unique or outstanding about them. Just the average characters that you would find in most books. John is an okay protagonist, yet is plain as can be. My favorite character would have to be Sarah because she is so kind and sweet. But there isn’t anything too special about her either.

I think the idea the story was based on was very unique and interesting. I have never read anything quite like this, yet I haven’t really read any alien books prior so I am really not the expert. Yet even though the idea was great, the story itself wasn’t. It dragged and dragged and was very boring for the first three quarters of the book. It could’ve been trimmed down to such a better, more fast-paced book.

The writing was another aspect that I wasn’t too fond off. Not that it is bad, but… well it isn’t spectacular. There wasn’t anything that stood out about it. And the writing style did rub me the wrong way a few times. I am not sure why, however.

The lore and alien story was what really kept me reading the whole time. Though it takes forever, John’s legacies start to form slowly and I just had to find out more about them. The whole war between the Loriens and the Mogadorians was so interesting and didn’t feel like science fiction at all.

I am very interested to see where Lore takes the rest of the series. I wonder if he will write a book on each of the remaining Lorien Nine or if he will continue to write from John’s perspective for the entire series. I am not entirely sure which I would be happier with.

A unique new story, yet one that doesn’t have much that stand out, I Am Number Four is one that you will have to read for yourself. Some I know will love it. Some I know will… not. It’s characters and writing aren’t amazing, yet the Lorien lore and storyline will keep you reading until the end, just waiting to see what will happen next.