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.
Released: August 3, 2010
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 440
First look: THE DOOR STARTS SHAKING. IT'S A FLIMSY THING made of bamboo shoots
held together with tattered lengths of twine. The shake is subtle and stops almost immediately. They lift their heads to listen, a fourteen-year-old boy and a fifty-year-old man,who everyone thinks is his father but who was born near a different jungle on a different planet hundreds of lightyears away.
Review
Plot: Handsome alien comes to town all hell breaks loose. That pretty much covers it.
Characters: Henri is the Yoda to Four. He is organized, efficient, intelligent. Playing many roles of father, advisor,friend, and teacher preparing Four for his destiny. Sara who is the object of Four's affections was former mean girl, retired head cheerleader transformed into the girl next day door. She's sweet (I didn't like her) funny, brave, pretty. Sam the nerd with a backbone. Mark the jealous ex stereotypical jock, all brawn no brain but in the end proves to be a good guy, Rounding off the cast is Six she kicks ass takes charge. Other characters, plot devices that reveal information or move along the story.
Setting: Descriptions are detailed and you get a real sense of where you are. Paradise comes alive it feel tangible and real, with each turn of the page.
Romance: There is an element of romance between Sara and Four, written from a male P.O.V (the writer's) some of their interactions seem a bit romance novel-ly-ish. Still the mushy gushy scenes don't take away from the story because they aren't enough of them to turn you off.
Writing: The world he builds is in depth with its own separate history and customs it's construction blending seamlessly with our history.The mark of a good writer is to engage you in the his make believe world and hold you there.
Summary: The father and son relationship between Four and Henri is genuine. Henri like most single fathers he's had to play many roles to protect Four but the one he values the most is friend. Four has become Henri's reason to keep going and he's poured so much effort into him. Four is typical teenager he wants friends to hangout with go to parties and have a girlfriend, but he's not the typical teenager and he struggles with burden of being one Earth's last defense against The Mogadoriens and being just like everyone else.
Recommendations: Aside from the gimmicky feel of the book to movie, in production before the ink in the book is even dry. I was thoroughly entertained. The were some corny moments in the book between Sara and Four. The pace did slow down half way as if the writer was deciding how to have Four's world crash down around him and hesitating at the same time. If you read the book you'll understand what I mean. But the action picks up again and hussles toward the finish line. I give I am Number Four a four, lol completely unintentional.
Rating: 13+ , Violence, No cursing.
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