Growing up is hard to do at the best of times - but when you move house and change names every 3-6 months, never getting a chance to make friends, and your father keeps warning you to take care and don't do anything that will get you noticed - it makes it extra tough. But in I am Number Four, by Pittacus Lore, that's just the situation John Smith finds himself in as he moves to a new place yet again - Paradise, Ohio. You see, John is an alien, from a distant planet who escaped to earth with nine other children, each accompanied by a guardian. And they are being hunted down, one by one ... and John is number four! When number three is murdered, John knows he is next, but for once in his life, he's found both love and a best friend and he can't bear to leave again - and now that his "legacies" or super powers to you and me and starting to manifest themselves - maybe it's time to make a stand and fight! This story has all the general angst of being a 15 year old trying to find your way in the world, but with the uber-intense backdrop of constant peril! I really enjoyed this book, which I read in audio format, although the voicing of the female character was a bit on the wet side. This has been made into a film and I can see it working well in that format. The book worked best for me in the moments between John and his guardian, Henri - whose relationship is loving and combative. And look out for Bernie Cozar (no idea on spelling as I read this in audio) - the beagle who attaches himself to John very early on and becomes a bit of a hero!
My star rating: FOUR.
The stats bit:
Length: 390 print pages.
Price I paid: £6.82 (Audible download)
Other formats available: Print; Ebook (Kindle)
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