The Rise of Nine

September 15, 2012
Grades 8-11 Four, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, and Tenthese aren't the winning lottery numbers but rather the known surviving members of an alien race who continue to battle the dastardly Mogadorians in the series that began with I Am Number Four (2010). The sequel, The Power of Six (2011), divided itself into two first-person POVs, and this one continues the trend by chopping the perspective into thirds, resulting in ever more opportunities to cinematically cross-cut between the snowballing action, whether the characters are together or continents apart. This is also the book's weakness, as Lore haphazardly inserts surprise attacks by the Mogs whenever the story needs a kick or a cliff-hanger. Thankfully, two characters emerge as especially interesting: Nine, the arrogant but capable rich kid traveling alongside stalwart Four; and Eight, who is tracked down in India, where locals believe him to be a reincarnated Vishnu. Increasingly, the teens' exhausting amount of superpowers and weapons drains tension from their battles with the comparatively lackluster Mogs, but the pages do turn. And lest you think this is a trilogy, buck upthere's more on the way.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2013
In this third in a series about alien teenagers on Earth, Number Four has found Nine, while halfway across the world Number Six has found Seven, Eight, and Ten. The teens' individual powers are developing, but the six Lorien Garde must reunite to have any chance of defeating the evil Mogadorians. Alternating among three points of view, this installment concentrates on character growth, sacrificing plot.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)