Review of I Am Number Four

I Am Number Four by Pitticus Lore
Official Website
Description: In the beginning they were a group of nine. Nine aliens who left their home planet of Lorien when it fell under attack by the evil Mogadorian. Nine aliens who scattered on Earth. Nine aliens who look like ordinary teenagers living ordinary lives, but who have extraordinary, paranormal skills. Nine aliens who might be sitting next to you now.

The Nine had to separate and go into hiding. The Mogadorian caught Number One in Malaysia, Number Two in England, and Number Three in Kenya. All of them were killed. John Smith, of Paradise, Ohio, is Number Four. He knows that he is next.

I AM NUMBER FOUR is the thrilling launch of a series about an exceptional group of teens as they struggle to outrun their past, discover their future—and live a normal life on Earth.

                I AM NUMBER FOUR. I AM NEXT;

Review: I was reminded that I didn't put a review up for a long time when I was taking my English Regents and I used this book. The regents are a thing every high school student dreads in NY. It's this test, and there's one for every subject, including languages, that tests what you learned over the years. As a junior, this year I had to take the English regents early, being in honors English, and we had to write a critical lens essay. That's when they give you a quote, and you have to relate two works of literature to this quote. This year's quote was "... although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming." So I wrote about hope, and overcoming obstacles and stuff, and I used I Am Number Four and Mockingjay as my two pieces of literature. And I wrote about how Katniss needed hope and strength to make it through the Hunger Games, and how John Smith needed overcome his fear of the evil Mogadorians to help his planet. I think the people marking the tests will think I'm crazy because I mentioned aliens a lot, and about future worlds and stuff. Hopefully I'll get an A!

So I Am Number Four tells the tale of John Smith, or Number Four, and his Cepan, Henri, who is his guardian and helps him with his powers. They're from the planet Lorien, which was once a lush, green planet with lots of resources until the Mogadorians destroyed it. (Imagine me writing all this on an essay....) During the invasion, the Elders of Lorien sent 9 children with powers, also called Garde, to Earth, to live there and grow into their powers so that they can fight the Mogadorians and return to their home planet.

Until he gets stronger, John is confined to Earth, running away from any word or sight of the Mogadorians. Checking newspapers daily, Henri is in charge of the passports, documents, and overall acting as John's father. He was really one of my favorite characters. The bond between John and Henri was unbreakable, and John is really fortunate to have Henri as his guardian. There is also Bernie Kosar, who is a dog that runs faster than most, knows what John's feeling, and is closer to John than he thinks..

Aside from being a fantasy novel, it also has its romantic aspects. Sarah Hart was John's girlfriend for much of the novel. I liked her, but she was kinda blah. I really can't think of another word. Bland! She was bland! I thought John was the perfect boyfriend, the flirting was really cute and casual between the two, but their loved seemed too perfect. Nothing went wrong in this relationship.Nothing.

You're probably thinking, what about the other 8 Garde? Or maybe you're not. I just needed an opening for this topic.. But anyhow. When they left Lorien, the Elders, which were the most powerful Garde, put a charm on the 9 youngsters that when one of them died, all the others were immediatley notified of this death by a tattoo on his/her ankle. For example, when Number 1 died, all the others were notified, but Number 2 realized he is next, that sorta thing. Then I thought, Why can't they all fight together, like one giant megaforce? That is because the same charm made it so that the Mogadorians have to kill them in order, and if they are all together, the charm does not work. One of the other Garde, however, does find John, and I think this person has a much bigger part in the sequel, The Power of Six.

Overall, this book had a little bit of everything. Sadness, for when that character dies and you least expect it. Tears, when Bernie Kosar gets hurt and you think he's not gonna make it. Silly smiles when John is fighting for Sarah. Girly squealing when John starts having feelings for Sarah. Awe, when Henri is explaining how wonderful Lorien was. Some more sadness, when Henri goes over the invasion, and John 'sees' it. And hope, at the end, when you don't know where all the characters are going.

"I look at her. I had hoped never to have to tell her what I'm about to tell her. Even though I knew it probably wasn't realistic, I had hoped to stay hidden in Paradise. Henri has always said never to get too close to anyone. Because if you do, at some point they're going to notice you're different, and that will require an explanation. And that means we have to leave. My heart is pounding, my hands are shaking,but not because of the cold. If I have any hope of staying, or of getting away with what I did tonight, I have to tell her."

-I Am Number Four by Pitticus Lore