Blog Post #8: The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore- The Setting

***SPOILER ALERT*** in the middle of the post

This book is very unique. Setting wise, and in general because there are many different settings and two indivisual stories in it! I know this sounds weird but it's true! The story follows a teenage ailen who came onto earth trying to be a part of saving his species in the last book and in this one. But in this book, the author transfers back and forth from the story of another ailen that is the same species as the other main character, John. The other ailen's name is Marina, and she is trying to find John, thinking he is an ailen like her. So far the two characters haven't met or got involved yet, but I think they will later on in the book.

First I am going to talk about Marina's "setting." She lives in a church in Spain. Her protecter, called a Cepan, name's is Adelina and the two of them have been trying to find homes since they arrived on earth and the only people that would help them was the sisters at the church, so that is where they stay now. This setting is significant because without it, Marina won't be the same person, she wouldn't have her cave to hide in when she feels isolated from the world, and she wouldn't have the personality she is, she wouldn't be that independent girl who knows how to fight for herself. Also, the church is a really important setting in this book, because since there are so many rules there, it makes Marina seem even more of a rebel with her sneaking out all the time, getting up after hours to see if there are any news about John, etc. The setting shows how much Marina changed since she arrived on this planet, and more importantly, Adelina.

Adelina is another important character in this book because of the role she plays as a Cepan. She has been "brainwashed" by everyone in the chruch, she is actually convinced that they need to be on god's side and not on Lorien's side. She thinks she doesn't need to protect Marina anymore, she thinks it's not worth it. Adelina has that sort of aftermath where you end up hating the situation. The situation Adelina is in is like when a child found out he or she is adopted. Sometimes they feel left alone and that their parents didn't want them, so they don't want to find them. Adelina somewhat feels like that. She thinks the people of Lorien just dumped them on earth to defend for themselves without any information at all about when they can go back home, or where they are specifically, so she thinks she doesn't need to help them, since they didn't help her. In a way, she is the shapeshifter in Marina's "setting." Adelina will think she doesn't need to protect Marina anymore now that she's almost an adult, but when Marina really gets harmed, she doesn't want to help, she needs to.

Now onto John's setting(s). Right now, John, Number Six, and his best friend Sam are in an abandoned house in North Carolina. I guess since they move around from place to place, they don't really have one specific setting, but for now I am going to focus on the house. The house I think really symbolizes freedom. The three teens are off on their own, in hiding, in a abandoned house in the middle of nowhere. I think this shows how independent they are. They can deal with being hunted down by the FBI, but also The Mogadorians as well! In the house they do regular teen stuff, but they also have to train just in case The Mogadorians attack! The house represents freedom because in a way, I think it is freedom. When you think of it like a house that is left alone in the woods, but is still there standing tall and "alive", the house kinda shows how strong it is, and how it can never be broken down, it seems like it's independent and free from the world.

In conclusion, all these settings are very important. These settings make up the story and the characters. Without it, there won't even be a story!