I AM NUMBER FOUR by Pittacus Lore

I could boil this review down to five words:  THIS BOOK RULES THE WORLD. or how about THIS BOOK ROCKED MY SOCKS. or GIVE ME THE SEQUEL NOW. or OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG. Any of those, really. I tore through this book today and am now completely obsessed. COMPLETELY. When a publisher puts the kind of push behind a book like HarperCollins has done with this book, it often ends up feeling like smoke and mirrors. This book, however, deserves the massive amount of hype that it has gotten. Have I mentioned that it's awesome? Lorien is a planet three hundred million miles away from Earth. Its entire population was killed by another race (the Mogadorians) - except for nine gifted children and their guardians. The 18 survivors fled to Earth where they have been hiding among us, waiting to grow into their Legacies (special powers that many of the Lorien people possess), fight the Mogadorians, and return to revive their home planet. A two-part charm was put on the children before they left: they can only be killed in a certain order, and because of their link, each instantly knows if one of their kind has been killed. Our protagonist is Number Four, fifteen years old, and at the beginning of the book, he has just learned that Number Three has died.  John (his new alias) and his guardian, Henri, flee their current home for a small town in Ohio. They move constantly, changing identities, locations, schools in their ongoing attempt to elude the Mogadorians who followed them to Earth. Their life is one of constant vigilance, and it is a life that "John" has tired of as he has gotten older. At his new school, he clashes immediately with the football star and crushes on the star's ex-girlfriend, which leads to a series of events that threaten to expose him for who he truly is. As his Legacies finally begin to develop, as does his new relationship, he becomes less and less certain that the way he is leading his life is sustainable. And every day, Henri becomes more convinced that the evil they are fleeing is growing closer. This is one of those novels that you can't describe in too much depth because one tiny spoiler could ruin everything. So I can tell you this: it's a long book (440 pages) yet there's not one wasted word. The characters are flawed and believable and familiar in the best of ways. The twists surprised me and the bad guys are both original and scary. And the writing is SO GOOD. Imagine my surprise when I Googled Pittacus Lore and learned that he is two people: a writer named Jobie Hughes..and JAMES FREY. Yes, that James Frey. People are surprising me every day in the world of young adult fiction; today is no different. Like the best of collaborative works, I have no idea where one author begins and the other ends. I am, it must be said, a little desperate for the sequel to I AM NUMBER FOUR. I recommend joining me in my obsession as soon as possible. After all, there are still eleven days left until the release of MOCKINGJAY.

Comments

[Willow]

It sounds great! Not appropriate for the lower end (10-12) of middle grade?

[Melissa]

It's got a little profanity and some kissing and a whole lot of violence; no more than The Hunger Games, though (the violence part). Depends on the kid. If you're talking about for a school, it's really just the profanity.

[Catherine]

And it's already been optioned for a movie, to boot!

[Melissa]

I know! And it would make a great one. Have you read it?

[michele]

Loved it! Need the sequel.. like.. YESTERDAY! Cannot wait until Oliver can read it. ... and by the time he does (in 12-ish years), he won't have to wait for the sequels! (I have an entire book shelf dedicated to his someday-books... in order by age group. I'm rather obsessed.)

[Diego]

Anyone know when a sequel will come out?

[Rileyy]

I'm so excited for the next book. Any idea what it's called?

[Luca]

when is the sequal sooooodesperate for one i will pay a million just to get one

[Maggie]

WHEN DOES THE SEQUEL COME OUT!?!! I read it all in one day, and now I am COMPLETELY obsessed!! It's the best book ever! (Right up there with "The Giver!") Does anyone know the sequel?!?!!!

[Dylan]

Cant wait for the sequil tell me when it is coming out nowwwwwww