There's an Alien in Home Ec.

I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies, #1) by Pittacus Lore


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Genre: YA Science Fiction
Published: 2010

I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore is the first book in a science fiction series featuring teens with super powers. Following the destruction of the planet Lorien, nine teens with extraordinary abilities and their guardians are sent to earth to hide from the enemy alien race, the Mogadorians. Under the protection of a charm that makes them imperious to harm when separate from the others, the nine hide to develop their capabilities. The only catch is that if they are killed in order of their number, they can be strategically taken down. As the title suggests, the story follows the life of number four, John Smith. John and his guardian, Henri, settle in the town of Paradise, Ohio to live a normal life without attracting the attention of the Mogadorians and the human media. When John finds out that the first three of the nine have been killed, it is more important than ever to develop his powers and stay off the radar. The story follows his struggle to balance a normal life at school and his alien past. A mix of science fiction, action adventure and a touch of romance, this story is good for anyone who likes a quick, light science fiction read.

Overall, I did enjoy the book. I kept on wanting to know what was going to happen next or what happened in John’s past. I appreciated the flashbacks because it gave a greater depth to the story and helped explain past events. Unlike some books that utilize flashbacks to explain the history of the story line and generally cause confusion for the reader, these actually worked. I also liked a majority of the characters. Some were quite stereotypical, but they served their purpose. The only thing I didn’t care for was the romance aspect, which came off as stereotypical. Good looking boy meets good looking girl, they fall in love, phone calls and family dinners ensue. I felt that had the dialogue been better, the relationship between John and Sarah would have been more convincing. Upon occasion John did exhibit the usual annoying character tendencies, such as blatantly ignoring sound advice, but apart from that, John was a likeable main character.

I am not a science fiction connoisseur, but for those who like I am Number Four, I would highly recommend Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card.
Posted by Lauren G.