John Smith has just arrived in
Paradise, Ohio, just another stop in a string of small towns where the
15-year-old has been hiding out from the Mogadorians. Those terrifying aliens
are hellbent on destroying him and the other nine Loric children who have
sought refuge on Earth. The Mogadorians are picking off the surviving kids in
numerical order. The first three are dead and John's number is up. Will his
Legacies, his defining super powers, develop in time for him to fight against
the enemy? I Am Number Four is a breathless
page-turner of a sci-fi novel that will have readers rooting for the teen alien
who must unleash his fire power to save himself, his human friends, and the
planet. This is the first of a slated multi-book series that, judging by this
first book, will help reinvigorate a traditional YA genre that's grown a bit
light on strong character development. So, gear-up sci-fi fans, the battle for
Earth is on and there's a new kid in town!
I enjoyed this one - it was a really quick read! It's got a little something for everyone - action, sci-fi alien battles, teen romance, superpowers, good parent-child relationship. It's a little on the long side (440 pages) but moves quickly - I read it in two afternoons, and it never lags. I do think it's lacking some of the substance of our other selections, and I found some of the plot twists a little eye-rolly (not that this means our students will), but it's a solid choice that I think students at all four grade levels would enjoy and that I would feel comfortable assigning. I don't know how similar it is to the movie, so that would be something to look into. It is the first in a series, so that's another plus (though it does mean this one ends on a cliffhanger).
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