Aliens by Number • I Am Number Four

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Series: The Lorien Legacies #1
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publication Date: August 3, 2010
Source/Format: Bought || Hardcover

In the beginning, they were a group of nine - nine aliens who left the planet Lorien when it was attached by the evil Mogadorian. The nine scattered all over the Earth, looking like normal teenagers, but being far from ordinary. One by one, they were killed - Number One is Malaysia, Number Two in England, Number Three in Kenya. John Smith lives in Paradise, Ohio. He is Number Four. He is next.

Ever since I heard about the movie, I wanted to pick up I Am Number Four and read it before I watched it. The whole concept seemed intriguing to me. I haven't watched the movie yet, but I do think it doesn't matter whether I do or don't - I thought the book was fantastic.

It's not easy for me to get interesting books about aliens, really. I think the one and only time I have ever been truly, truly interested in a book/series about them was way back when I was reading the Animorphs. But there's just something about the storytelling that makes this book a worthwhile read for me -- even if it is about aliens.

I Am Number Four started slow, but as the story of Lorien unfolded, my fascination started growing and I got hooked. I like the fact that there was a whole history behind the race that formed the backbone of the story, a history that was rife with magic and war and interesting rituals and customs. In fact, it was mostly the idea of the legacies that really caught my attention. It made the whole alien thing seem less separate from me, and I found myself able to relate instead of feeling particularly lost or set apart from the aliens.

The book was jam-packed with incredible action sequences, unexpected twists (well, there were two that came out of nowhere for me) and a little love story that had me rooting for the couple in question all the same. I was able, also, to find a connection with many of the characters (well, in particular Four, Sam and Henri) to the point that, towards the end of the book, I found that I was actually crying while I read it (and when you read it, if you feel the same, you'll understand why).

Although I Am Number Four ends on a high point, there are also so many questions left to be answered - and I look forward to getting those answers in the next installment, The Power of Six, which is going to be released in August 2011.