I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Seeing the movie prompted me to want to read the book. There were a lot of complaints that the story was fairly generic, which is true, but that didn’t stop it from being enjoyable nonetheless. The story, in case you’ve missed the movie previews, is about a teenage boy who has been on the run for his entire life with his guardian, Henri, because he is an alien sent to earth to hide from the other aliens who destroyed his people until he is old enough to fight back. The teenager, named John for most of the book, (though we never learn his real name), is one of nine children who managed to escape the slaughter. When they escaped, a spell was placed on the kids so that they could only be killed in a specific order, as long as they are separated. John is Number Four and the evil aliens–the Magadorians–are coming for him now. John and the other children are nearing the age when they begin gaining special abilities that will aid in the fight to retake their home planet. This is the main story. But the subplot is John’s attempt to fit into yet another school where the girl he likes has a jealous ex determined to make John’s life miserable.

Though it is true that there is nothing groundbreaking about this book, it was still relatable and fun. You could sympathize with him on the love story, which may be doomed to failure since (forgetting even the entire alien and danger aspect) John will eventually need to help repopulate his planet, rather than the super-smart children that result from a Lorian-Human pairing. Sarah was sweet and lovable and their relationship was well developed.

The Lorian culture, which is a bit better explained in the book than in the movie, is a little strange. Sometimes it feels like sci-fi, with an evolved alien species, while other times it feels more like fantasy with magic spells to protect the kids and a living planet. In fact, the best comparison I can make is to the movie Avatar (though the Navi seemed more primitive from an outside perspective). I do wish it was grounded in sci-fi and didn’t have the fantasy element, but I suppose that would make the number aspect (which is sort of the premise) unusable.

I don’t love the first person narrative, which I think takes a particular skill to do well. We didn’t get enough of John’s perspective and memories (at least it didn’t feel uniquely John) to warrant the first person point of view. But that style is pretty popular these days (thank you Hunger Games), so I’m not surprised about it either.

Overall, I’m excited for book two, especially as we are about to meet some of the other Lorian kids. (Plus, Number Six was pretty awesome and I’d like to see more of her.)

Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card

Card has returned with a vengeance in this newest series. Which is to say we had two stories going on at one.

The main, real story of the book was about Rigg who has always been able to see people’s paths. He can spot where people have gone and how old they are. This has only seemed like a small thing, until he learns that with the help of his friend Umbo, he can actually go back to those times. He also learns that his father has actually been training him for something he has not realized before. He is, in fact, the long lost son of the no longer in power royal family. And the sister he never knew he had has the ability to slow down time for herself to the point where she can become invisible. Rigg, taking his place with his family, must maneuver the political entrapments and learn what his real father was studying to discover there is a safe way through the wall that encloses their kingdom.

The second story, which we only get a little bit of in each chapter, is actually the origin story, explaining how people came to the planet, how the barriers came about, and how the world and its rules were established. Mostly, we learn about the dilemmas that take place as Ram Odin helps lead the ship meant to increase mankind’s hope of survival by spreading the human race beyond one planet.

The book has a number of themes going on, from the difficulties and intricacies or time travel to what it means to be human (does having the ability to manipulate time and space preclude you from being human?). On the one hand, these are interesting ideas, the kind of debates you would have in a college philosophy class. On the other hand, this book is meant for young adults. I found myself having a hard time following everything that was being said (meaning I had to pay really close attention to what I was reading) and I am generally very good at understanding these types of things. Which leads me to wonder, how many kids are going to be able to really follow what was being discussed? And was all of that discussion necessary?

In fact, this book was all about talking and debating. Who should Rigg trust? His mother or sister who may find him to be a threat because the once-royal family usually kills its males so only a female can rule? His guard who may be loyal to the government that overthrew the royal family all together? The man whose house he stays in who may be intent on overthrowing the government and using Rigg for his own goals? There were so many interesting ideas being thrown around but the truth is that very little actually happened. There is very little real and present danger. It also seems like a bit of a cheat that only the good guys have any magic.

Add to this the fact that none of the characters are particularly likable. Rigg puts his friends in danger without much care for what might happen. Loaf easily leaves his wife who he claims to love, rather than asking her to come along or even tell her what his plans are. Umbo, perhaps the most likable of all, begins the story by leading a crowd to lynch Rigg and though his confusion was understandable (he had thought that Rigg had intentionally killed his brother) does not really go beyond the sad boy who has a sad childhood with an abusive father. Rigg’s sister might be likable if she were visible for long enough for us to get to know. She’s certainly sympathetic, but we don’t know her well enough to really like her.

Now that I’ve complained a lot about the book, I want to say it’s not that I didn’t enjoy this book. But after the brilliance that was Ender’s Game, Pathfinder is a bit of a let down. Good enough that I will read the second book when it comes out, but not so good that I’m dying for it already.

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner (Book 2)

Thomas and the rest of the group have been rescued from the people of WICKED, or so they think. But then Teresa goes missing and in her place is a boy who says he went through the same experience as them, only he was the only boy among a group of girls. They also discover that there are tattoos on each of their necks, giving them an official title. Minho’s says “the leader,” Teresa’s (according to the sign on the door that they find) is “the traitor,” and Thomas’s says “to be killed by Group B.” And they have two weeks to get one hundred miles north to the safe haven, through sick and crazy people suffering from the Flare, an illness that turns them into animals (sort of like the Walking Dead really). Can they make it in time? Can Thomas survive? Will Teresa really betray him?

Book two of the trials, instead of answering any questions, only serves to bring up more questions. (Sort of like Lost right?) Thomas slowly gets some of his memories back, but they only serve to make things even more confusing. Is WICKED good, as Teresa first claimed while still in the Glade? Was Thomas really a party to all of it? (My only concern with this book is that once we have all the information, it isn’t really going to make sense, but that may only be because I haven’t thought of an answer that makes satisfying sense.)

This is the first time I’ve read a book where I can’t really think of where things are going. I can’t figure out how or why the different pieces we’ve been given fit together. I love it. Dashner packs the pages with never-ending excitement and terror. Hunger Games finally has an equal in terms of exciting YA novel. I know it won’t be for a while, but I can’t wait until book 3, The Death Cure, arrives.

The Maze Runner (Book 1) by James Dashner

Every month one boy is brought up to the Glade in the elevator with no memory of anything but their first name. Thomas’s arrival is much the same, as unremarkable as any other arrival. He is quickly introduced to life in the Glades. The area they live in is surrounded by stone doors that close at night, separating them from the surrounding maze and the Grievers, dangerous creatures that prowl the maze. During the day, they explore the maze in hopes of finding a way to escape. But the day after Thomas comes, a girl arrives with a message: everything is going to change. And there’s something about the girl that’s familiar to Thomas. Thomas might know more about the maze and how to escape, if only he could remember it.

The first few pages of this book are a little slow. I think this is mostly because it’s all inside the character’s head with very little actually happening. (Basically Thomas is in the lift, wakes up, has no memory, and the lift rises.) But as soon as it reaches the surface and he’s brought into the Glades, the book really picks up. Dashner has thought of just about everything–how the boys survive, a vocabulary unique to their experiences (though I wonder if some of the new kids pick up that vocabulary a little too quickly for it to be natural), a hierarchy of sorts, different personalities, etc. It is such an intricate world that it is easy to get lost in it.

He has built solid characters, I believe their reactions and care about their survival. There are some characters it would have been nice to know more about (though I suppose that is difficult since they don’t really know anything about themselves), but it makes sense that if a boy’s memory goes back only a month, there is less to reveal about him than someone whose memory goes back a year or two, etc.

Not every detail involved is a surprise (if anyone was paying attention, they should be able to figure out where the escape route is fairly early on), but there are more than enough surprises to keep you interested. And of course, there is the biggest question of all: who put them in the maze and why?

This is definitely one of the better series that I have read in a while (a few of the ones that I’ve picked up lately have been particularly solid). Book two is already out and reading it is a high priority. This is a series that I would love to see made into a movie.

Spy High: Chaos Rising, The Serpent Scenario, and the Paranoia Plot (Books 2-4) by AJ Butcher

Book 2: The Bond team is gearing up for the prestigious Sherlock Shield competition. Ben, leader of Bond, is determined to beat his rival on the Solo team. But there might be a spy on Bond team. But there may be bigger things to worry about, as CHAOS, the evil organization bent on crippling the world, has declared war. Can Bond team stop them in time?

Book 3: Jennifer (with Jake for company) has returned home to deal with her personal demons–specifically, to get revenge on the person who killed her family. Meanwhile the rest of the team is sent to investigate a new drug that is being sold on the street that turns people into vampire-like addicts. Can they figure out who is behind the drug and stop him before it is too late?

Book 4: With the arrival of a new team member, Rebecca Dee, comes questions and suspicions as Bond team is suddenly hit with mysterious accidents. Not only that, but she seems to be keeping secrets from them about her past. Bond team must deal with these and other issues–especially the unexpected return of a friend.

Once again with the large number of main characters, some of the characters get more attention than others. We get a lot more of Callie and Jennifer here and although we technically get to hear from Eddie more, he didn’t really get any deeper. He remained the goofy guy who did care about being a spy and was particularly, overly interested in getting a girlfriend.

I think the weakest point of this series (aside from the entire idea that they would send early trainees into the field without telling them) is how basic the characters are. They don’t really get more complex (besides Jennifer, of course). Callie has the potential to be interesting but we never really go in depth into her past the way we should.

Overall, they were easy, quick reads, but had I not found the books on sale for pretty cheap, I wouldn’t have bothered reading beyond a book or two. Unless I find the other ones for cheap too, I probably won’t be reading any more of the books.

Spy High: Mission One by AJ Butcher

When Jake, Ben, Lori, Eddie, Cally, and Jennifer are invited to the illustrious and exclusive Devereaux Academy, they don’t know what they’re signing up for. The Academy is a cover for a covert training facility, affectionately known as Spy High where young “students” are trained to be spies. The six are assigned to the Bond Team, but where the other teams seems to be coming together, Bond Team has some difficulty working as a team. Ben is too concerned with being a hero, Lori can’t seem to say no to Ben (yeah, she’s the lamest of the characters), Jennifer is too ready to jump into a fight, Jake is resentful of Ben’s snobbery, Cally has no faith in herself, and Eddie can’t take things seriously. In an attempt to get them to click, they are sent on a camping trip. The camping trip turns out to be anything but singing songs around a fire and they must use all their wits and training to survive.

Surprisingly, despite there being so many characters to follow, we get a pretty good idea of who everyone is. Not everyone gets quite the same amount of attention (Lori, Eddie, and Jennifer get the least while Ben, Jake, and Cally get the most), but even so we get to know each of them. It is most unfortunate that we don’t get to know more about Jennifer, since she apparently has some sort of secret and seems interesting. Anyone hopping for a fight must have some interesting backstory, right?

Book one did a good job of setting up a larger story (specifically an organization called CHAOS) while establishing the different kids. I would have liked Lori to be more complex (right now she seems to just be the pretty face she doesn’t want to be with no specific skills to contribute to the team) and I am surprised that before they voted for team leader they weren’t given a speech about how scores aren’t everything when it comes to leadership.

I would also like to know how things work when they graduate. For example, do you work with the teams you train with? Does the bigger spy organization have a name? How does Devereaux get his intel? Some or all of these things may be revealed later in the series, so it is hard to complain about it just yet.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Finally book 3 has come out! The Hunger Games proved to me that young adult books can’t be smart, emotional (without being over the top), and incredibly dark while still being appealing. Catching Fire confirmed it and showed how a talented writer could revisit a plot and have it be very similar but still keep it fresh and exciting. And now book 3 shows how to carry it through to the big, dramatic conclusion.

In case you missed it: The Hunger Games is about a divided society. The Capital rules with an iron thumb and with all the luxuries while it lives off of the districts, which provide supplies and provisions. Each district is responsible for a specific commodity and have far less than they need to live comfortably (much less decently). There used to be thirteen districts, but when thirteenth rebelled, they were supposedly eradicated. There are rumors that they survived, but no one knows for sure. As a result of the rebellion, the hunger games were created. A boy and a girl from each district are selected in a fight to the death that is televised for entertainment.

That’s the background, but the heart of the story revolves around Katniss who has been helping support her family since her father was killed in a mining accident. When she ends up in the hunger games, her behavior sparks a rebellion that she never anticipated but now must become the inspiration for.

The final book deals largely with Katniss’s struggle to fit into her new role as the Mockingjay, the symbol of the rebellion and overcome her guilt over her hunger games partner, Peeta’s capture.

This is one of the few books that has ever made me cry (I can count the number on one hand so it is saying something). Everything about the book is compelling, from the characters to the plot. You can relate to the teenage sorrow and indecisiveness as Katniss tries to decide between Peeta and Gail. And though I wish we’d seen more of Prim, you relate to the sisters’ relationship too.

One of the most brilliant aspects of this book is the way it targets television and materialism. It’s as much a commentary on society as anything else. The use of tv spots for propaganda only adds to the drama.

I’m a sucker for society gone wrong novels and this is one of the best I’ve read. My biggest concern: what’s next for Suzanne?

Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson

The (sort of) final book in the series (at least the fugitives series) in some ways lives up to expectations and in other ways disappoints. I’m glad it isn’t the actual end of the series because there are still questions unanswered.

The things I didn’t like:

The dynamic of the flock splitting up because of Ari is interesting, but this book ends up a lot slower because of it. Mostly, Fang’s website-get the kids of the world involved plan is sort of lame. And it just felt a little too easy. Getting so many of them involved and then them basically saving the day was nowhere near as satisfying as the end could have been. And the actual siblings splitting up with the possibility of never seeing each other again. Not sure I buy that either.

The Martinez storyline was a little too convenient. Okay, a lot too convenient.

The one thing I don’t get is how Max didn’t question the Voice or ask for any means of “proof” of goodwill. I also didn’t get the whole Max as an Eraser thing, but from what I understand, the story isn’t over.

There was a missed opportunity with all those recombinants that they saved in book two.

That being said, there were good points too. I like the battle between Max and the perfect soldier and Angel’s betrayal. Basically, you come out of this thinking, you never can know who you trust.

Maximum Ride: School’s Out–Forever by James Patterson

While I can’t pretend to like the title of this book, I am definitely still liking the series. As it goes on it only seems to get stranger, more mysterious, and more complicated. As Max struggles to protect her flock from the Erasers (led by resentful child Ari who may or may not be her brother), she also tries to find out about their past and about her supposed destiny (which, if you missed book 1, is to save the world). Though the kids get a peak at what a normal life is like, it seems that this is not their destiny. Instead, they discover that the mystery of their lives extends even further.

Like Fablehaven, this is a book that sort of makes you paranoid about life. You can never really know who to trust and whenever you let your guard down you find yourself betrayed.

I like that the story is so fast paced and teeming with questions. You never know where things are going to take you. (I can’t pretend to be shocked by many of the things that happen, but even so I still enjoy.)

While I like the format of the story no better than when I read book 1, I’m used to it now and it at least didn’t bother me as much. I’m looking forward to seeing where the series goes, and luckily, there are a number of other books sort of in this series (about Max and co but technically a different series) to read.

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

What turned me on to this book, was actually Patterson’s other book Witch and Wizard. There was a free iPod app where you could get a free excerpt, that I began reading and liked (but didn’t want to buy the book while it was only sold in hardcover since I didn’t like it that much), so I decided to try out one of his other books instead (while I waited).

Maximum Ride is sort of like James Cameron’s Dark Angel (even has the same name for the main character!), if you remember that TV show. (Interestingly, Patterson says he actually took it from a different book he wrote with a main character named Max, though the two books are not related.) It follows a bunch of kids who were raised as test subjects in a lab. They were genetically engineered so that their DNA was combined with a bird’s (unlike Max in DA, whose DNA was combined with a cat). One of the things this genetic combination does is provide main character Max, and her small “family” with wings that allows them to fly. They are also much stronger than the average adult, despite being kids. And, they have other, stranger abilities, such as mind reading and voice mimicry, among other things (there seems to be no rhyme or reason to who has what ability, but I suppose we learn more about that in later books. Book 1 of this series follows Max (the de facto leader) and her five mutant siblings as they try to hide from the people who created them, when the youngest, Angel, is captured by the Erasers (half-wolf, half-human mutants) and brought back to the lab, called the School. The rest of the flock is determined to rescue Angel and discover more about themselves, like if they had parents and where they are from and how long they can expect to survive. But some things they may not be ready to learn–like who betrayed them and Max’s “destiny” to save the world.

Patterson does an excellent job of mixing the child-like confusion and emotions of our heroes with strength and determination, making them kids we can’t help but root for. Each of the kids has unique abilities and somewhat distinct personalities (though some more than others, which is not surprising when you have so many main characters) that are likable. You can’t help but root for them. But he also does a good job of adding a spark of humanity into some of the villains, so that while you hope they lose, you also feel a little bit bad. (I would have appreciated a little more of an insight into Ari’s character, but I’m glad we got a glimpse.)

Perhaps my biggest complaint with the book would be its structure. Before the book begins, there is a letter addressed to the reader, written by Max, warning us about what we will read and how important she feels it is that we read it anyway. 85% of the book follows in first person fashion, from Max’s perspective, but on occasion, the book jumps to third person to allow it to follow the characters who are not with Max at the moment. While I agree that those parts of the book are best included, I do not like the jump of perspective. I would prefer to simply follow the entire thing in third person or have him figure out a way to keep it first person throughout. As far as things go, it’s a pretty small complaint because even though it bothered me intellectually, it didn’t really ruin the flow of the book.

From the segments I’ve read of Witch and Wizard, I find this to be the more compelling read and cannot wait to see where the adventure goes.