Book Review of I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Title: I Am Number Four

Author: Pittacus Lore

Release Date: August 3rd, 2010

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, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. we have lived among you without you knowing.

But they know.

They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.

I am Number Four.

I am next.

Summary from Goodreads.com

My Review: This book was awesome!  It is completely different from everything I have read lately and I loved it!  I will admit it took me about 50 pages to really get into it, but after that I could not put it down.  The author has done an amazing job of making every detail count and weaving together a mysterious story about a race that walk among us without our knowledge.  This is one of those books that literally everything mentioned is important in some way.  There is zero fluff going going on and your mind will be constantly racing trying to fit all of the pieces together.  I know mine was.

Something I found interesting about this book was that at many points there could have been quite a bit of dialogue put in but it wasn’t.  I am usually the kind of reader that likes a lot of dialogue to tell the story, but I did not miss it is this book at all.  I actually liked not getting the dialogue.  I know that sounds strange, but once you read the book I think it will make more sense to you.  The dialogue would have brought the momentum of the story down and it was not necessary so the author just did not add it.

The story is told from the perspective of “Number Four” also known as John in this book.  I always find it fascinating and refreshing to read a story from a guys point of view.  They naturally look at the world differently and emphasize different things than I would and getting the perspective you do puts another unique spin on this book.  Plus “John” is really easy to fall in love with, he is only 15 in the story and he is so sweet and caring.  He is a great main character and you are rooting for him throughout the book.

The book is also a little over 400 pages, I saw the size and was worried because sometimes longer books can have a lot of unnecessary fluff in there that just drags down the story.  I Am Number Four though, did not have that problem, it was fast paced and keeps you so occupied you look down and realize 100 pages have gone by and you did not even realize it.  I loved that about this book, I was so caught up in everything, I did not realize how quickly I was reaching the end of the book.  Especially the last 150 pages, holy crap they moved fast.  It is non-stop action right up until the end and there is no way you will be able to put it down until you finish it.

The biggest surprise for me though was the author of this book.  If you have not figured it out yet, it is a pseudonym.  If you click on the link above for the author it will take you to the Goodreads page that will reveal the real name, but I suggest you don’t.  I would urge you to wait until you are finished and then figure out the true identity.  I am saying that because I think some people might already have some strong opinions about the author (as I did I will admit)  that might impact the way you view this book and I don’t think that is fair to the content.  The book should be judged on the story and I personally loved it!  No matter what I think of the author I will continue to read the series because I think it is awesome!  I also know that I may have just peeked you interest by saying all this but I am hoping you are not going to look now that I have warned you.  If you are anything like me, when I see a book I am interested in I look up the summary, the author info, the whole nine yards and when I found the author for this I was taken off guard.  I read the book anyway, keeping my opinions in check and I was wonderfully surprised.  There is a cute interview though on EW you can find by clicking here, that does not reveal the author but gives fun information on the pseudonym and more information behind the scenes on this book.

The more I sit here and chew over the book, the more I like it.  It has my brain spinning and I always love having that feeling when I walk away from a book.  I highly suggest you give this book a try because it was amazing   I cannot wait for the next book in the series!!

I also found the movie trailer, and it freaking sweet!!  Check it out!!  I am not sure how else to convince you to read the book…so go read it!

FTC:  I received this book as and ARC from Book It Forward Tours.