Written by: Pittacus Lore.
Published by: Razorbill/Penguin.
Format: Hardback.
Released: 26th August 2010.
Rating: 5/5.
Official synopsis: "In the beginning we were nine. We left when we were very young, almost too young to remember. Almost. And now . . . Three are gone. We are here to keep our race alive, which was almost entirely obliterated. We’re just trying to survive. Six are left. But we are hunted, and the hunters won’t stop until they’ve killed us all. They caught Number One in Malaysia. Number Two in England. And Number Three in Kenya. I am Number Four. I know that I am next."
What we have here ladies and gentlemen, is what is sure to become the next global phenomenon of the literary world. Do not miss out!
One of the most hyped titles of 2010, I Am Number Four, begins with a bang. The middle part of the book is quite slow, but once things step up a notch, it's a roller coaster.
John Smith has lived under many names in his life. The last being Daniel Jones. He is living a life on the run with his Keeper, Henri, as they hide from the Mogadorian's. An evil alien race who wiped their home planet, Lorien, of all life and are now intent on killing them. The last remaining Loric. Nine children in all. All destined to become Garde, the fighters for their planet. Three are dead, and thanks to a Loric charm placed on them, they can only be killed in numerical order. So the stakes have risen, as John is Number 4. The next in line to die. But soon, trying to stay in one place for a reasonable amount of time is going to get a lot harder, as John begins to go through a kind of puberty unique to his race, with some pretty weird, but interesting, changes coming to him. Legacies. I will say no more!
They move to Ohio and John finally finds a sense of normality. He makes a friend in the form of alien obsessed Sam, and even gets a girlfriend, Sarah. Things seem good. Peaceful for once. And Number 4 hopes that finally they can stop running, at least for a long time. But things don't always go as planned. The Mogadorians are near. And with every passing day, they get closer. Soon, John is going to have to make a decision. To run, and leave his first true love and only friend, or to stay and risk not only his life, but everyone he cares about. Soon, the time to fight will come as the Mogadorians seem prepared to kill off a second planet after killing off their own, Mogadore and Lorien.
Despite loving the book, I have two minor criticism. The first: The book is supposed to of been written by a Loric elder, named Pittacus Lore. And yet it is in first person, told from Number 4's point of view. For me, this didn't seem to make sense and kind of confused me a little, if I am honest. I get the people behind the book wanting to create a behind the scenes story, but if it's being written by Mr. Lore, then I would of thought it'd be third person. Probably that's just me. It certainly doesn't take away from the book. And my second criticism falls to the climax of the book. It's brilliant, don't get me wrong, but at points it feels drawn out, some of it even downright confused me and I had to read it again.
Nonetheless, this is a fantastic book. Full of vivid imagery, both here on Earth and on Lorien. It's gripping, even in the slow parts. I've never really read anything about aliens before, and I have to admit I was slightly worried going into this, but these aren't your average, green little men with odd shaped heads and huge bulging eyes. I am hugely excited for the second book in the series, The Power of Six due next year, and indeed the rest of the series. And of course, the film adaptation being released next year also.
A guaranteed Number 1 bestseller that teens and adults alike will love.
Thank you so much to Ashley Wilks at Penguin for my copy!
One of the most hyped titles of 2010, I Am Number Four, begins with a bang. The middle part of the book is quite slow, but once things step up a notch, it's a roller coaster.
John Smith has lived under many names in his life. The last being Daniel Jones. He is living a life on the run with his Keeper, Henri, as they hide from the Mogadorian's. An evil alien race who wiped their home planet, Lorien, of all life and are now intent on killing them. The last remaining Loric. Nine children in all. All destined to become Garde, the fighters for their planet. Three are dead, and thanks to a Loric charm placed on them, they can only be killed in numerical order. So the stakes have risen, as John is Number 4. The next in line to die. But soon, trying to stay in one place for a reasonable amount of time is going to get a lot harder, as John begins to go through a kind of puberty unique to his race, with some pretty weird, but interesting, changes coming to him. Legacies. I will say no more!
They move to Ohio and John finally finds a sense of normality. He makes a friend in the form of alien obsessed Sam, and even gets a girlfriend, Sarah. Things seem good. Peaceful for once. And Number 4 hopes that finally they can stop running, at least for a long time. But things don't always go as planned. The Mogadorians are near. And with every passing day, they get closer. Soon, John is going to have to make a decision. To run, and leave his first true love and only friend, or to stay and risk not only his life, but everyone he cares about. Soon, the time to fight will come as the Mogadorians seem prepared to kill off a second planet after killing off their own, Mogadore and Lorien.
Despite loving the book, I have two minor criticism. The first: The book is supposed to of been written by a Loric elder, named Pittacus Lore. And yet it is in first person, told from Number 4's point of view. For me, this didn't seem to make sense and kind of confused me a little, if I am honest. I get the people behind the book wanting to create a behind the scenes story, but if it's being written by Mr. Lore, then I would of thought it'd be third person. Probably that's just me. It certainly doesn't take away from the book. And my second criticism falls to the climax of the book. It's brilliant, don't get me wrong, but at points it feels drawn out, some of it even downright confused me and I had to read it again.
Nonetheless, this is a fantastic book. Full of vivid imagery, both here on Earth and on Lorien. It's gripping, even in the slow parts. I've never really read anything about aliens before, and I have to admit I was slightly worried going into this, but these aren't your average, green little men with odd shaped heads and huge bulging eyes. I am hugely excited for the second book in the series, The Power of Six due next year, and indeed the rest of the series. And of course, the film adaptation being released next year also.
A guaranteed Number 1 bestseller that teens and adults alike will love.
Thank you so much to Ashley Wilks at Penguin for my copy!
Why not check out the official website?! IAmNumberFour.co.uk
Ah ha! So this sounds like it will be a show-stopping success! I want one LOL. Definitely on my wish list. Great review. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous cover. Thankfully I have a copy on its way to me, I'm DYING to read it. Thanks for the great review, and the heads up for that 1st person narrative/third person perspective thing.
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