I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

I Am Number Four chronicles the story of Number Four a/k/a John Smith. He is one of the nine children that were smuggled out of planet Lorien amid a devastating war with the Mogadorians. As their planet and everything and everyone on it was killed, nine children along with their nine guardians were sent to planet Earth. Their mission is to blend in with the inhabitants of the planet until they grow up and stay alive long enough (since they are still being hunted by their enemies), until their legacies (special powers) come into effect - which normally takes place around age 16.

John has been on the run with his guardian, Henri, as long as he can remember. They change towns, names and lives as if they were a change of clothes. They are experts at remaining safe, unknown and undetected. They don't make any friends and try not to draw attention to themselves and, if for instance, someone notices something unnatural in John, they quickly pack up and move on. When Number Three is killed, John knows he is next, leaving once again to a new location with new identities. This time to the remote town of Paradise, Ohio.

But in Paradise, John finds more than he expected. For instance, he makes his first friend , meets a girl that he falls head over heels for and he even finds a dog that he brings home. His legacies have begun to manifest and he is training in order to strengthen them, but as their enemies get closer it becomes increasingly hard for him to conceal what he is.

This was a fast-paced, adventure-full, journey. I absolutely loved it. You can't help but feel sympathy for John. He might seem like any normal 16 year old teen, he goes through the same emotions, feelings and angst expected from any boy his age, yet he has all this power and energy inside. He finally feels that he can fit in - where his friend (Sam) and new girlfriend (Sara) can accept and love him. But their are cracks in the security he finds and he knows that he and Henri will have to flee yet again. John was a great character - very realistic and somewhat relateable (sans the alien powers, of course). Henri, his guardian is a hero - he gives up so much of himself in order to ensure John's safety. Sara was a very lovable girl, you want her and John together from the moment she comes into the picture, and Sam, his friend, has so much character growth throughout the story that you feel very close to him by the end. Another favorite character of mine, and one who is more of the silent type, Bernie Kozar, John's dog. But I won't tell you more about him and will let you guys read more about his awesomeness for yourself.

This book is the first in what is rumored to be a 6-part series. I absolutely loved it - I keep saying that don't I? This first book had a lot of background information as to planet Lorien, its inhabitants and John's family life before the war. I loved the flashbacks where John travels back to his time on Lorien. Through these flashbacks you get a detailed description of what life on Lorien was like and you can't help but hope that one day it will once again prosper - as bleak as that hope might be.

This was a very imaginative and exciting read. The action sequences towards the end of the book had me at the edge of my seat and biting my nails with worry. And yes, there is a serious cliffhanger - but one that I can't really complain about because it just leaves you that much more excited for the next book. The movie is scheduled to release early next year and the second book in the series, titled The Power of Six, releases Spring 2011. I can't recommend this enough - for fans of fantasy and sci-fi. I'll say it again, I loved it, and I found it gripping and engaging and just downright fun. READ IT!

For those of you wondering about the author: Pittacus Lore is the leading elder of Lorien whose whereabouts are unknown. Pittacus Lore is also the pseudonym for the writing team of James Frey and Jobie Hughes.