I Am Number Four

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore is the first book in a series about a group of nine children from the planet Lorien. They were sent to Earth along with adult keepers as a hope for the future. Unfortunately, the Mogadorians who destroyed Lorien followed them to Earth to kill them.

The nine can only be killed in number order due to a set of protections they carry. Number three was just killed. Number Four, current name Daniel Jones, and his keeper Henri are about to move once again. In Four's fifteen years, they have moved and changed identities 21 times.

This book has some elements that give it great potential as a science fiction series. However, the story falls short of its potential by lacking a well defined picture of life on Lorien. It is a bit too similar to life on Earth to be believable. The result is a light read that would entertain during vacation but will not necessarily hold readers' interest through the series.

Though the book will not be published until September of this year, a movie deal has already been signed. It will likely be a huge teen success.

Lore, Pittacus. (2010). I Am Number Four. New York: Harper.