FlumeAward – I am Number Four Discussion page for //I am Number Four// by Pittacus Lore
It’s on the TTT list this year.
Kelly B. Keene High School, 2/9/12
On the list for Isinglass 2012 and has had good reviews from us..may end up on our 2012 list. – Amy I.
This was on our 2012 list…the kids have probably already reas it..I’d say pick something new.
Despite the controversy surrounding how it was written (apparently James Frey is hiring anonymous writers for a pittance to write this series), the book will definitely have a wide appeal. It’s fast paced and has a mix of action, romance, and teens with special powers. I read it and I think teens who liked Maximum Ride and James Patterson’s other YA series, or the Percy Jackson books, will devour this, especially once the movie hits theaters.
– Katie Spofford, Wadleigh Memorial Library, Milford, NH
A great action story that I think will keep the teens reading. Wishing they had developed the characters a bit more. Maybe die-hard science fiction fans wouldn’t buy into it, but for the average teen, I think it’s a great read. Karen, Nesmith
The movie has already drummed up interest in the book. We got the book a few weeks ago, and it’s already being passed around. Lost of action, but it’s not written as well as most science fiction books are. Still, it’s a fast read.
Kelly Budd
Keene High School
Since James Frey is apparently trying to prey on unsuspecting MFA students, I’ve decided not to read this book or watch the movie. So I can’t judge the book on its own merits. I just question the idea of honoring a book brought about by such shady business practices. It’s not good for writers. — Julie Andrews, Nashua Public Library (FWIW, I stand by this comment that I wrote a year or two years before. -JA 1/2012)
– I really did not like the message this book sends. It installs the idea of superiority.
That the geniuses that we have on earth like Beethoven or Micheal Anglo, are only good because they are part aliens. So earthlings are not good enough? Yasmin- Portsmouth Library
I liked this book right up until the end, even if Frey was involved. It was sort of chaste and aw shucks, but then the end got CRAZY violent. That was jarring. I don’t think it was more violent than a lot of stuff out there, just completely different from the rest of the book. -Diane Lynch from Laconia Library
I was very disappointed in this book. As far as I am concerned the writing is mediocre. The plot held my interest at times but at other times I found myself reading just to get to the end.
Gail Zachariah
Keene Public Library
Very cinematic. It will appeal to both boys and girls, as the romance is balanced with violence and adventure. Much of it was unbelievable, but I had low expectations going into it. I actually did enjoy it for what it was, though I wished I didn’t have the actors stuck in my head for the characters, and I could have formed my views of them independently.
Kirsten Rundquist Corbett
Lane Memorial Library, Hampton
I have to agree with Gail, I read it to get through it (even the fight scenes). I thought that the characterization was pretty slim – especially of Mark and his transformation from a bully to a good guy. The first part of the story was just a basic high school story which really sat in contrast to the shoot-em-up climax and the over-the-top sweet ending. I haven’t seen the movie, but can imagine how this book would offer a good seed for the dramatization. I would hate to see this on the list – I think that it will sell itself without any help from us and the quality just isn’t up there.
Sharon Flesher-Duffy, Nashua High South
Here is a link to an article about how James Frey is promoting/creating this and other novels. Is this something we want to encourage? http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703805004575606393086301082.html
Sharon Flesher-Duffy, Nashua High South
When I promote books on the Flume Award list, I expect that they will have a wide appeal. I’m not trying to promote the message or business practices of its author. I’m simply looking for a list of books that will appeal to a lot of different high school students. I think that this has that appeal. Great action grabs them every time! Pam Harland ~ Sanborn Regional High School Library
While this is definitely more of a "boy book," which is sometimes important to have to balance out the sheer volume of "girl books," and there IS good action in it, I really don’t think it was Flume-worthy. Popularity doesn’t mean quality (Kardashians, anyone?), and I thought that’s what we were looking for here. Regardless of the controversy over its conception, or the hype of the movie, this just isn’t a great book. It’s fine. But why would we want to reward mediocrity?
Lucia Von Letkemann, Wiggin Memorial Library, Stratham, 3/5/13