The Power of Six

When their planet is overtaken by the merciless Mogadorians, nine specially gifted children and their guardians are sent to Earth and go into hiding.  In the first of this series, I Am Number Four, we discovered that only six of the children are still alive, as the enemy has followed them to this world.  The new book brings together more of the children but focuses on number seven who is living in a Spanish Convent with her guardian.  Marina is a strong young character who is growing into her powers and has become aware that events are moving rapidly and that her days of obscurity are about to end.

I Am Number Four has already been turned into a film by Dreamworks, so there will be a great deal of interest in keeping the series strong.  The idea of a group of young people from another planet/parallel world is not a new one and there are echoes of Horowitz’s ‘Power of Five’ series as well as Superman and Heroes.  It is an extremely readable story, although I did find the switching between the characters in the USA and Spain quite confusing, as we are given no hints as to when it happens.  The characters are developing well and the reader does feel involved with their future. Overall this is a well written book, full of action and even humour at times.  This latest offering will be published in both adult and young adult formats so that the target audience is very wide indeed.  We will have to wait and see if it follows in the footsteps of Harry Potter.