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I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies, Bk 1)
I Am Number Four - Lorien Legacies, Bk 1
Author: Pittacus Lore
Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books—but we are real. — Our plan was to grow, and train...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780062026248
ISBN-10: 0062026240
Publication Date: 1/1/2011
Pages: 480
Edition: Mti
Reading Level: Young Adult
Rating:
  • Currently 4.2/5 Stars.
 23

4.2 stars, based on 23 ratings
Publisher: HarperCollins
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

nantuckerin avatar reviewed I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies, Bk 1) on + 158 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
It's official: I am a fan of Pittacus Lore. Hands-down my favorite alien since ET.

In I Am Number Four -- the first book of the Lorian Legacies, penned by the aforementioned Lore -- we're introduced to, well, Number Four, known in this book as John Smith. He's one of the nine Lorian Legacies sent to Earth to save their planet and their species from the vicious Mogadorians, a brutal race that destroyed Lorian years ago -- and now has its eye on Earth.

Although they live in secret, isolated from each other and hidden away all over the world, the Mogadorians have been hunting the Lorian Legacies and killing them one by one. They caught Number One in Malaysia, Number Two in England, and Number Three in Kenya. All of them were killed. John, hidden away with his guardian Henri in Paradise, Ohio, is Number Four. He knows that he is next to die, and that Mogadorian soldiers are getting closer to finding him by the day.

But despite his developing powers and strange history, John is very much like an average teenager. He has run-ins with the school bully, and falls for blond overachiever, Sarah. He struggles to find his place in a world he can't form attachments to. He fights his mentor and father figure for independence. Oh, and at the same time, has to learn how to become fireproof, interpret his strange visions of his decimated home planet, and figure out a way to save his new planet from the same fate.

Overall, I loved I Am Number Four. I think its one of the most exciting new series out now, and with the movie tie-in slated for this year, should cement its place as the Next Big Thing in YA literature. That designation will be well-earned. Pittacus Lore (*cough* James Frey *cough*) has created a new, modern take on the classic "aliens living among us" story. It's a welcome reinvention and should be a hot series in 2011. I can't wait to learn more about the Lorians and follow Four and his companions on their adventures in the next book in the series, The Power of Six.

And as an aside, how brilliant was Frey for choosing to write under a pseudonym? Smart move -- create buzz, write a book that's a total departure from his previous controversial work, and ditch all the bad associations your name could bring to the series. Seems to have worked out well for him. ;-)
GeniusJen avatar reviewed I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies, Bk 1) on + 5322 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Reviewed by Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen for TeensReadToo.com

Nine Lorien teenagers were sent to earth to await their legacies, special powers that each possess, in order to return to their planet to save it. Number Four, Daniel Jones, is moving from Florida to Paradise, Ohio, with his new name, John Smith, and his Cepan, or guardian, Henri.

In Paradise, John tries to start a life as he acquaints himself with Sarah Hart, a friendly, smart ex-cheerleader. Of course, with an ex-cheerleader there's an ex-boyfriend, Mark James, who isn't so happy about the chemistry between John and Sarah. As John begins to fall for Sara, she becomes another person who would be in danger from the Mogadorians, another alien race that are hunting the Lorien teens.

Each Lorien teen is at a different place on Earth. Three have already been caught and killed, which is made clear through the scars on each of the remaining teens' ankles. As another one dies, another scar will appear in order to determine who will be hunted next. Because of a charm, the nine teens must be killed in their chronological order. As number four, John knows he's next.

Despite its controversial co-author, one can't argue that I AM NUMBER FOUR reads just like a script, so it's no surprise that it has been turned into a movie. The novel itself has scenes that are so action-packed, with a little romance thrown in, that it will captivate readers of all ages.

With the sequel, THE POWER OF SIX, releasing in August 2011, only read I AM NUMBER FOUR if you are willing to become addicted to another series.
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reviewed I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies, Bk 1) on + 3 more book reviews
I really liked this book. There were slow parts, and the beginning was very slow in my opinion, the ending made up for that, and the characters are great, and grow as the book goes on. It is a great book, and an interesting plot.
roswell-iceprincess avatar reviewed I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies, Bk 1) on + 9 more book reviews
Way better than the movie.
diamondsae82 avatar reviewed I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies, Bk 1) on + 30 more book reviews
This is not a genre I normally read and now I am wondering why. I very much enjoyed this book and have already started the second one. I am conflicted in writing this review because I want to write about how good it is, but I don't want to spoil the story for anyone.

I have tried to figure out which character is my favorite, but I like them all so much that they are all my favorites. This book has all the typical people you expect to find, from the jock and pretty girl to the nerd. The thing I found different was that I liked all of them. Every character is unique and they are all lovable. There is also a love story which was pretty predictable, but still good. I can say my least favorite characters were the Mogadorians, who are the bad guys. They are really just plain evil.

The story line was interesting. The concept of aliens hiding amongst us on Earth is not new, but the way it is presented in this story is different. I fell in love with the planet Lorien through the passion John and Henri feel for their home. I found myself in a constant state of anxiety while reading the last half of the book knowing something was going to happen at any moment. It was pretty intense and exciting.

I liked this book a lot more than I thought I would. I am excited to finish the second one and know what happens. I definitely recommend it to anyone thinking about reading it.


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