Review: I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Summary:

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 y...more 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.

Review:
I really enjoyed this book. I was worried that it wouldn't be able to live up to all the hype. They are already making a movie out of it, the author Pittacus Lore is giving crazy interviews to EW and the press is already unbelievable and the book isn't even out yet. Again, I was worried. I shouldn't have been.

The book is about a a boy named John who isn't all he seems. He is actually an alien who fled his home planet with 8 other children and their guardians and came to earth to reach maturity (and to recieve their legacies- powers that they will grow into) before they can return to their home planet of Lorien and hopefully rebuild it. The Mogadorians (aka: the bad guys) have followed them to earth and are picking them off, one by one. Numbers 1-3 are dead, John is number 4. The author (who by the way, is not really named Pittacus Lore) asks you to buy into a lot (including who he really is) but if you are the sort of person who likes to read book that create worlds within worlds and crazy creatures that might be walking amoung us, then this is really a great book.

I really enjoyed it. I loved seeing John come into his own and am looking forward to the next books in the series and to see what happens with the movie.

Rating:

A Scheduled Break

I have news! I'm going back to school- for my Masters. For the next two weeks I'll be hanging out here:

The Hall of Languages at Syracuse University, where I'll be doing my summer intensive, my first step on the path to getting my Library and Information Science degree. That's right, working on this blog and doing the book of the month club at EFG and TwilightMoms has made me realize that I want to work with books and people all the time, so it's back to the classroom. It will be a grueling few weeks- 3 classes (7 credits) in 12 days- for some of those days I'll be on campus for 11 hours! Thankfully I live close by, so it will be my own bed each night and not at the dorms.

While this is exciting, it means that there will be no blogging for a few weeks. There just won't be any time! I've got a few reviews in the pipe though- Brenda Pandos' The Emerald Talisman and Aprilynne Pike's Spells. Both are great books and if you are not reading Pike's books- go get them starting with Wings. They are so wonderful!

And because I'm a big dork- check out this cool picture of the Hall of Languages from 1873. How cool is that?

Coal Miner

Coal Miners Daughter aka "The Coal Monster"

So this post is going to be a complete departure. It's not about books or reading, but is instead about my horse A Coal Miner's Daughter. I just wanted to share a bit about her and also some pictures. The farm I boarded at bought her at auction several years ago and she was a mess- I took her under my wing and we spent many, many hours together, working thorugh her numerous issues. She had been battered and abused and needed some love and I needed help getting over some serious anxiety issues in terms of horses. We worked together for about 3 years and in the end she turned out to be one of the best, most loving little horses ever. She was a beast who hated to be ridden (or more accurately was afraid to be ridden) and gave me a broken tailbone and many bumps and bruises. She handed out concussions and cuts like candy to anyone who thought they could "tame her", but everyone loved her anyways. She was my Coal Monster and I loved her very much. She was my snuggly horse who liked to get and give kisses, loved to play and was always the first to the gate to see you- unless you wanted to ride, at which point she'd be as far away as possible. But she was always ready to work and was the most kind horse I've ever had or worked with. She definitly helped me to rebuild my confidence, and I hope I helped her build hers as well. She went to live with my cousins family where she became a great family horse. Yesterday at the age of 8 Coal Miner died. She was found in her pasture and was buried today on the farm.

Coal and her big brother Paint, who was teaching her very bad habits

Coal with her forever family -

Who would have thought that the monster would have turned into such a great horse?

As much as I hate that she is gone, I'm extremely happy and thankful that she finally had the family she deserved with my cousins. I'm glad that we were able to take her from her situation and help her see that there are people who will love you even when you are bad, and who won't raise a hand to you when you do something wrong. She was my original little girl and she will be missed.

Coal at the farm

Me and Coal taking our Christmas Pictures

Coal Monster loved to Run- and she looked beautiful when she took off!