Characters
John Smith (Number Four)
John Smith is the main character in the story. He is an alien Garde from the planet Lorien who has come to earth seeking refuge. He is known as Number Four but his name changes every time he moves to keep his identity a secret. John is a sophomore at his new high school in Paradise, Ohio. He is fairly tall; he has a lean build, blonde hair, and blue eyes. Henri is his Cepan, or guard, but John calls him his father to cover it up. Henri is John's closet friends and he has known him since he was 6. He has never been the type of guy to make friends since he always ends up moving but that all changes when he comes to paradise. He meets a girl by the name of Sarah Hart, a junior at PHS. He quickly takes a liking to her and they become good friends. They have a solid relationship and eventually they begin to date each other. John can be a little impulsive at times and doesn't always think before acting. "I'll never be able to hit the beast by throwing the dagger, and my only legacies have all but vanished. An easy decision. No choice but to charge" (Pittacus Lore, pg. 410). John undergoes changes throughout the story. He becomes tired of running from the Morgadorians and he decides he wants to stand up and face them, something he has avoided his whole life. "Let them come, there will be no more running" (Pittacus Lore, pg. 88). This decision completely changes Johns life and turns it upside down. John is also could be considered naive. He has very little experience dealing with Morgadorians and lacks knowledge on his powers and his own race, the Loriens. Lastly John can be somewhat of an idealist, he fantasizes about having a normal life even though it will never be possible. "I like the idea of making some friends, of going to the same school for more than a few months, of maybe actually having a life" (Pittacus Lore pg. 17). Overall John Smith is a dynamic character that is easy to relate to and he makes this book a great read.
Sarah Hart
Sarah Hart is a junior at Paradise high school. She has long blonde hair and light blue eyes. Sarah is an extrovert and is very friendly to people she doesn't know. She used to be a cheerleader but she gave cheer leading up for photography instead. She is very kind and is considered the nicest and most beautiful girl in school. She is the first person John meets at school. Sarah is very encouraging and she likes to take pictures of everyone. Sarah becomes Johns best friend and they eventually begin to date. She also takes a liking to his "dad", Henri. Sarah is completely ignorant of the fact the John is an alien, but when she does find out she says "I don't care what you are or where you're from. To me you're John, the boy I love" (Pittacus Lore pg. 318). She is very loyal to her friends and never betrays their trust. Sarah is the kind of character that everyone loves, especially if you can relate to her.
Henri
Henri is John's Cepan, or protector. He came to earth with John hoping to keep him safe from the Morgadorians. He is around 38 years old, has brown hair, dark brown eyes, and is fairly tall. When he left Lorien he left his whole life behind him. He was forced to leave his family, his friends, and his prized possessions at the hands of the Morgadorians. Now that he is on earth he cares about one thing only, and that thing is keeping John safe. "You are my life, kiddo. You and my memories are the only ties to the past. Without you I have nothing. That's the truth" (Pittacus Lore pg. 172). Henri is very suspicious of people and he always believes someone has an ulterior motive. He is a quiet guy and doesn't make to many friends. Henri is also a very cautious person. As soon as the slightest indication of dangers arises he will flee with John to another town if he has to, even if there is no immediate danger. John views Henri as a downer, a guy that never looks at the positive side of things. In reality Henri is a realist, he sees their situation as it is and doesn't try to cover it up with some lies from his imagination. He also is full of wisdom and is a great mentor to John. John learned his most valuable lesson from Henri which was to never lose hope. “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” (Pittacus Lore pg. 124). Henri is the quiet yet protective character that keeps John in line. He allows the readers to better understand and visualize the dire situation him and John are in.