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I Am Number Four

by Pittacus Lore

"I Am Number Four" is a young adult science-fiction novel, the first book in the Lorien Legacies series, published in 2010 under the pseudonym Pittacus Lore. It follows a teenage alien named Number Four, who takes the human… more

First published 2010 · 440 pages · English

28 quotes ★ 3.93 (354,116) Fantasy

Quotes from the Book

When you have lost hope, you have lost everything. And when you think all is lost, when all is dire and bleak, there is always hope.
It's the little mistakes that lead to big mistakes.
That’s the worst way to miss somebody. When they’re right beside you and you miss them anyway.
We don't have to be defined by the things we did or didn't do in our past. Some people allow themselves to be controlled by regret. Maybe it's a regret, maybe it's not. It's merely something that happened. Get over it.
And even if we were hunting vampires, what the hell is the Silly Putty for?
The price of a memory, is the memory of the sorrow it brings.
Those things that are the most obvious are the very things we've most likely to overlook.
No. Don't give up hope just yet. It's the last thing to go. When you have lost hope, you have lost everything. And when you think all is lost, when all is dire and bleak, there is always hope.
You know the saying: he who doesn't understand history is doomed to repeat it. And when it's repeated, the stakes are doubled.
In the beginning we were a group of nine. Three are gone, dead. There are six of us left. They are hunting us, and they won't stop until they've killed us all. I am Number Four. I know that I am next.
A place is only as good as the people in it.
Best way to deal with fear is to confront it.
I am an alien, I have extraordinary powers, with more to come, and I can do things that no human would dream of, but I still look like a fool.
One of the gifts our planet gave us is to love completely. Without jealousy or insecurity or fear. Without pettiness. Without anger.
I'll come back to you," I say. "I promise you, if it's the last thing I do, I'll come back to you." Her face is buried in my neck. She nods. "I'll count the minutes until you do." she says.
I'll come back to you," I say, "If it's the last thing I do, I'll come back to you.
All I can think about is what she must be doing, and how I wish she were still here.
My heart is breaking," she says. "I want to be strong for you right now but the thought of you leaving is killing me inside.
He who doesn't understand history is doomed to repeat it.
I can't take not knowing what the next day will bring- the uncertainty is sawing me in two. The room is dark. A flickering candle burns on the window ledge a few feet away. I take a deep breath, which is to say, as deep a breath as I can take. "Are you okay?" Sarah asks. I wrap my arms around her. "I miss you," I say. "You miss me? But I'm right here." "That's the worst way to miss somebody. When they' re right beside you and you miss them anyway.
There were hugs. There were words said by each of them. I don't remember what they were. Nothing haunts me more.
There is a crucifix, a few cloves of garlic, a wooden stake, a hammer, a blob of Silly Putty, and a pocketknife. “You do realize these people aren’t vampires, right?” I say when Sam walks back in. “Yeah, but you never know. They’re probably crazy, like you said.” “And even if we were hunting vampires, what the hell is the Silly Putty for?” He shrugs. “Just want to be prepared.
I don't know where you have to go or what you have to do, but I'll wait for you, John. Every bit of my heart belongs to you, whether you ask for it or not.
I smile at her. "You're an angel." "Nah," she says. "I'm just a girl crazy in love.
You lie long enough and you start to get used to it.
He says we need to live in the real world, where war and death are a reality, not pretend.
Hope?” he says. “There is always hope, John. New developments have yet to present themselves. Not all the information is in. No. Don’t give up hope just yet. It’s the last thing to go. When you have lost hope, you have lost everything. And when you think all is lost, when all is dire and bleak, there is always hope.
During the fire: 'Some of the drunker ones don't move. Some of them laugh. One person says, "Where's the marshmallows?" Mark slaps him across the face. "GET OUT!" he screams.

Did you know?

  • The name 'Pittacus Lore' is a pen name; the first book was co-authored by James Frey and Jobie Hughes.
  • The novel is the first entry in the Lorien Legacies series.
  • It spent seven successive weeks at number one on the New York Times children's bestseller list.
  • A film adaptation was released by DreamWorks Pictures in February 2011, distributed through Touchstone Pictures.
  • The story is set largely in the fictional town of Paradise, Ohio.
  • The protagonist is one of nine Garde children who fled the destroyed planet Lorien.

About Pittacus Lore

Pittacus Lore is a pseudonym used for the Lorien Legacies series; the first novel was co-written by American authors James Frey and Jobie Hughes. James Frey is also known for his controversial memoir 'A Million Little Pieces.'

More about the author →

About the book

"I Am Number Four" is a young adult science-fiction novel, the first book in the Lorien Legacies series, published in 2010 under the pseudonym Pittacus Lore. It follows a teenage alien named Number Four, who takes the human alias John Smith and hides in the small town of Paradise, Ohio. He is one of nine Garde children who escaped the planet Lorien after it was destroyed by the invading Mogadorians, and the survivors can only be killed in the numbered order of their protective charms, meaning John is next in line after Number Three is hunted down and killed.

As John settles into a new high school, he befriends a conspiracy-minded classmate named Sam Goode, adopts a dog he calls Bernie Kosar, and falls for a student photographer, Sarah Hart. Guided by his guardian Henri, John begins to develop his Legacies, the supernatural powers each Garde member inherits, all while the Mogadorians close in on his location. The novel builds toward a confrontation that also introduces another Loric survivor, Number Six.

Blending high-school romance with alien-invasion action, the book became a commercial success, spending several weeks at number one on the New York Times children's bestseller list and launching a multi-volume series. It was quickly adapted into a 2011 feature film, and its mix of hidden identity, coming-of-age themes, and pursuit gave it broad appeal among teen readers of the era.

Key characters

  • John Smith (Number Four)Loric teenage protagonist hiding on Earth as he develops his powers
  • HenriJohn's guardian and mentor from Lorien
  • Sarah HartStudent photographer and John's love interest
  • Sam GoodeJohn's best friend, fascinated by aliens and conspiracies
  • Number SixAnother Loric survivor who appears near the novel's end
  • Bernie KosarA shape-shifting Chimaera creature who protects John

Book details

First published
2010
Length
440 pages
Reading time
10 hours
Genre
Fantasy
Goodreads rating
3.93 (354k ratings)

Series & reading order

  1. 1 I Am Number Four
  2. 2 The Power of Six
  3. 3 The Rise of Nine
  4. 4 The Fall of Five
  5. 5 The Revenge of Seven
  6. 6 The Fate of Ten
  7. 7 United as One

Movie & TV adaptations

  • IMDb
    I Am Number Four 2011

    Feature film directed by D.J. Caruso, produced by Michael Bay, released by DreamWorks Pictures through Touchstone Pictures

If you liked this, read…

  1. 1
    The Power of SixThe direct sequel continuing the Lorien Legacies series
  2. 2
    The Maze RunnerAnother fast-paced YA sci-fi thriller with young protagonists on the run
  3. 3
    Cirque du FreakA YA series blending an ordinary teen's life with a hidden supernatural world and pursuit

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