Thursday, July 7, 2011
Review: I Am Number Four
Age Group: Young Adult
Published: August 3, 2010 by HarperCollins
Format: Hardcover, 440 pgs.
Source: Purchased
Description:
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.
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.
I saw this book in the store when it had just been released and was captivated by the cover. I was intrigued, and so I picked it up to read the back. I was hooked. There aren't a whole lot of science fiction books in YA right now, and the few that are around aren't necessarily about aliens. I like aliens. This book reminded me of watching Roswell on TV, and I needed to read it. I was hyped for this book. Then they announced they were going to be making a movie out of it, a very pretty movie with very pretty people, and I knew it had to be good. Plus, the book is "written" by one of Lorien's greatest elders. How cool is that?
I was sorely disappointed. It had such great potential. The idea was so cool and I liked the plot, but the writing and the characters weren't there at all. John is not the brightest kid on the block, and I felt myself wondering if he really didn't catch on to the things that were going on around him. He didn't. He really was that dumb. And the ex-cheerleader, girlfriend's character wasn't believable to me at all. At least not her backstory. I could accept that she was a nice person, but how she got there seemed ridiculous.
If I hadn't been intrigued by the story, I would have put the book away. As it was, I put it down multiple times without a problem. The plot was slow until the very end, and then it felt unreal again. The deaths that occur seem unnecessary, some of the things that happen are unbelievable and out of character, and all the things I actually liked about this book weren't enough to keep me from feeling like I got ripped off and disappointed.
I haven't seen the movie adaptation yet, but I can bet I'll like it better than I did the book.
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3 comments:
Well that's disappointing. Stories like this one always interest me, but there's nothing worse than unbelievable characters.
There really isn't. :( I actually snorted when it gave her backstory, and then I set the book down and walked away for a bit. I hate it when I want so much to love a book and it just won't let me.
Awww, I was excited reading the description and then saw the review after the cut. I crave believable characters.
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