| Title | : | Among the Barons (Shadow Children, #4) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0689839103 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780689839108 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 208 |
| Publication | : | First published June 1, 2003 |
Can Luke trust Smits to keep his secret? And can he trust Smits's menacing, fat bodyguard, Oscar who carrys a sledge hammer?
Among the Barons (Shadow Children, #4) Reviews
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I think I'm done with this series.
A lot of the characters actions didn't make any sense. I know this is supposed to be a kids book, but come on.
I found the Grants particularly stupid. They tell Luke their plan to have him fake his death so they can mourn publicly, then tell him he'll have to go back into hiding after. Why not just lie and say that they'd get him a new ID afterwards so there's a higher chance that he will go along with the plan???
There's been an assassination attempt on the president? Let's let a small child kick us out of the house where it happened so we can't investigate the cause.
Your parents got crushed by a giant chandelier? Okay, let's just let the servants clean up the bodies of their employers with no police involvement.
How did Oscar even know Lee was dead? Wouldn't that be an important detail to know that he wasn't just working for the Grants? Also wtf at Oscar calling Luke names and trying to bully him into helping him at one point. He seems really dumb and childish yet is supposedly orchestrating this secret blackmailing and tricking every other character simultaneously.
Also, the kids trusted a random faceless chauffeur of the Grants to take them to the home of a double agent.
Those among many other things really made the book cartoonish and bizarre in my eyes. Particularly in contrast to the first book in the series which was interesting and plausible. I think among the hidden would have been better without the rest of this awkward series. -
I liked this installment (plot) better than the last one. Luke Garner is pretending to be Lee Grant at a school filled with hidden third children when Lee's younger brother Smits shows up at the school. The Grants are a powerful (Baron) family, but Luke feels pity for Smits and his grief. Luke is quickly caught up in a plot to determine why Lee was killed, with a number of competing interests with vastly different agendas.
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“Mother, remember how you always wanted to have four boys?”
AMONG THE BARONS posits a famine-stricken, dystopian, totalitarian world governed by strict population control laws which condemn a third child to death merely by virtue of its existence. To exist and hide with a false name and false identification renders the offense an aggravated crime punishable by death by torture at the government's choice. Book four in the SHADOW CHILDREN multi-novel sequence, AMONG THE BARONS brings readers up to date on Luke Garner’s story.
For the time being at least, Luke is granted the chance to draw a breath in relative calm and safety using the ID information and alias of a deceased Lee Grant at Hendricks School for Boys, a small private school whose headmaster seems able to keep the school and the boys off the Population Police radar. But the proverbial brown stuff hits the fan when Lee’s real little brother, Smits, arrives at the school, throwing around lies, wealth and privilege like snowflakes in a veritable blizzard. The lies, which grow more complicated and entangled with every passing day, make Luke abundantly aware that Smits knows he is not Lee. But Luke has no idea who to trust about what and whose side Smits and his bodyguard Oscar are on.
AMONG THE BARONS is the story of the search for courage to stand up to a totalitarian government; the coming of age realization that there are false people in the world who would claim friendship but offer betrayal for their own venal purposes; the realization that, from time to time, life offers only choices which represent variations on ugly outcomes; that maturity and growing sometimes means choosing and accepting the least of all possible evils. It is worth pointing out to potential young readers that AMONG THE BARONS also explores the pitfalls of society’s allowing greed, wealth, power and privilege to deteriorate into a force driving the development and implementation of right wing authoritarian autocracies whose sole motivation is the retention of that privilege for an elite patriarchy. Nothing else, NOTHING else, including even blood ties and family, seem to be able to “trump” the demands of that wealth and power (word play most definitely intended).
Four down, three to go. Eagerly onward to AMONG THE BRAVE. Thanks to Margaret Peterson Haddix for an enjoyable, diverting and compelling young adult series.
Paul Weiss -
Man. What a book! Smits was definitely an interesting twist to the book. I am still not entirely sure what to think about this book series. I know it is going somewhere, but it feels like it is taking a while. The books themselves are really good though. Can't wait to find out what happens next.
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This is one of the best series for upper elementary aged kids. Each book in the series is full of suspense that causes the kids not to be able to put the book down. You would really want to start with book 1 and read them in order as so much builds upon each other. Margaret Peterson Haddix is excellent at presenting topics and situations that really get kids thinking. Her books are well written and provide an excellent springboard for classroom or small group discussions not just about the book but the subject matter. With this book as with the whole series, the topic was population control. This book also deals once again with trust. Luke has been living under the identity of Lee and attends school. His fake 'brother', Smits now joins him. Smits is totally opposite of Luke and Luke is unsure of Smits ability to keep quiet. The danger of being found out is still very much there for Luke. To me this (along with her other books) is a must have book for all classroom libraries.
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well when you are a third child in this time you either have to be in hidding or the population police will get you and either kill or torture you!! well luckly for luke he gets an fake id imposing as Lee Grant so he can stay safe in the hendricks school for boys, but is he really safe or is things going to get worse, like Lee's brother coming to the school all of sudden. after lee suppose to be dead and smits seeing lee, would it make him tell the population police and make lukes life rough, or is there something that the Lee Grant family is hidding? find out by reading the book Among the barons to find out and just don't do read this book but read the first 3 they are better. you will be on you toes trying find whats happens in each book!!!
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The plot thickens in this 4th of the Shadow Children series.
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Heh meh
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these kids are still hidden
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As Luke continues living at Hendricks School for Boys using his fake identity, Lee Grant, he has become a leader of sorts, helping the other 3rd children acclimate to life without hiding. But when his younger ‘brother’, Smits arrives to live at Hendricks, his secretive identity may be in jeopardy. Why have the Grants sent him to be with Luke after his real older brother died a tragic death?
Smits shows up in a huge limo, with a surly attitude, and a sledge-hammer wielding bodyguard. As tensions grow between Smits and Luke, more secrets come out about the barons and Lee’s death. Yet, when the Grants ask that both sons come home for a visit, Luke’s hackles are raised and his intuition tells him there is much more to the story and more more at stake. He’s right.
Among the Barons pits Luke against those that oppose his life up close and personal. He navigates their home life, parties, and political affiliates with careful scrutiny. Danger is lurking. Will Luke have the wherewithal to survive this glitzy facade? Another thrilling entry into the Shadow Children series. -
A few things didn't make sense to me. What was really going on with Oscar? He almost killed Luke with the chandelier but said they held off so they wouldn't hit him. They didn't hold off and Luke was almost killed. Why was Smits no longer a Grant after his parents were killed? Why would Smits have to stay with Luke's family when he was an heir of the Grants? Why was Luke not able to stay with his own family? I feel as though Smits and Lee would have inherited the Grant fortune and just lived on it as the Grants. Because they're underage they'd have to stay with relatives or whatever the case with this new world but picking and choosing random families and ID's didn't make sense.
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Among the Barons by Margaret Peterson Haddix was the fourth installment of the Shadow Children Series, and follows Luke (Lee) as he has to keep up his complicated lie of a life. He has been living with his fake I.D. for about four months now, and things seem to be perfect... until Lee's (and therefore, his) brother comes to Hendricks School. Lee now has to figure out if his "brother" has ulterior motives for being there, and Luke really begins to question what his life his worth, and what the lives of other's are worth as well. Another good addition to the saga, and I look forward to the rest!
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I much prefer this story told from Luke’s point of view over Nina’s. When they were at Hendricks school I was engaged and interested but they leave partway through the story and then things got a little muddy and far-fetched. It’s not enough to stop me from reading the rest. I absolutely want to know what happens to Luke.
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This series continues to impress me, as each book introduces a whole new aspect while the initial story of Luke Garner is ongoing. This time we get to see inside the world of the Barons and try to untangle lots of puzzling duplicity. Like the others in the series, a pretty quick read for accomplished young readers, but engaging for all, including those still learning to love reading. :)
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Until now, this has seemed to me the best book of the series so far.
A lot os twists in the intricate plot, excellent characters, and a great adventure for Luke and Smits, his new found "brother" - not to mention Oscar, Smits body guard/spy/protector/doomer...
A quick, breathtaking action until the very last page, but with some tender moments in between...
Worth reading!
Maria Carmo,
Lisbon, 6th May 2018. -
Definitely my favorite so far in the series! Smits just wants to grieve properly and feel loved and noticed. The ending made me cryyyyy! Ugh, loved this one so much! “Watch out for chandeliers...”
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This is my favorite of the series so far, I love the complicated plots and the fact you can never trust anyone. Seeing the characters grow is so cool
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Among the Barons follows what seems to be a tradition in the Shadow Children series: a great story with twists and turns. Among the Barons offers something completely new, seeing what the lifestyle for a Baron is like, and having a Baron sibling. The inclusion of Smits brings a whole new aspect of the story, seeing how Luke pretending to be Lee becomes a lot harder. Among the Barons is another solid entry in the series and should definitely be read by series' fans.
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Plot summary Among the Barons
At Hendricks School for Boys, Luke Garner has managed to adjust to his new life as Lee grant having adopted this fake name when he came out of hiding. Things change when the Grants, a prominent Baron family who donated the name of their son when he died in a ski accident, decide to send the real Lee's brother, Smithfield (a.k.a. Smits), to the school and visit "Lee". Smits is troubled by the death of his brother, and tells Luke, the new Lee, his stories of times he and the real Lee spent together. But when Smits wants to get rid of his bodyguard, he sets the school on fire. After the fire, Luke is sent to search Smit's room and discovers two fake IDs in Smits' room: one with Smits' picture labeled Peter Goodard, the other had no picture and was labeled Stanley Goodard.
Luke is soon caught up in a complicated web of lies in a world where he is completely unprotected from anything that will prove he is an illegal third child. He has no idea who he can trust, especially Smits and his bodyguard, Oscar Wydell, and as a member of the Grant family in name, Luke is in an incredible amount of danger. Furthermore, the Grant family selfishly desires to express their grief over the real Lee's death by faking "Lee's" death and send Luke back into hiding once again.
The return of "Lee" (with a few changes made by the Grants' services) and Smits is celebrated by a party at the Grant's house. At the party, Oscar attempts to assassinate the President, who started the war, and Luke who is saved by Trey. The President was in a different location at the time. Smits's parents are both killed by a falling chandelier. Smits, Luke, and some of Luke's friends escape, dropping Smits and Luke off at Luke's house. Trey grabs some documents which he thinks are important and which he will use in Among the Brave. Smits and Luke are then welcomed back by Luke's family.
Smits stays with Luke's family as a sort of fourth son that they had never been able to have. Luke then leaves with more unanswered questions. He feels that he did something right for Smits even though he didn't do anything much for his cause. The book ends with Trey, Nina, Joel, and John at Mr. Talbot's home, seeking answers and safety, and Luke and Smits leaving off at Luke's house. -
Among the barons
By:Margaret Peterson Haddix
Do you like books that keep you in supens and you want to keep reading to see what will happen next? If you like to be at the edge of ur seat trying to figure out what will happen next this book (wich is part of a sereis) is the right book for you.
The setting in this story is a school called "Hendricks school for boys". The setting in this story is very important because it is where evrithing thakes place.The most important people in my story are Luck,Smits,Mr.Hendrick,and Oscar.The conflict of this story is person vs person.The theme of the story is trying to make somthing happen.The story Among the barons is about a boy named Luck who is a third child so he has to go to a school for boys and leav his family and change his name to Lee because third children are not accsepted by the goverment .Luck thinks everything will be fine untill Lees younger brother smits showes up at the school wich made Luck very worried because he thinks Smits is going to tell evryone that luck is not his real brother because lee had died from a skeing and geting shot.Later on in the book Luck finds ou Smits is not as bad as of a person as he thought.
A major event in the story is whene smits showes up at the school this is a major event because if he wouldent of gone to school luck would have nothing to worrie about and most of the moments of susspens would have not happend so the story would not be as good.
What i thought was so great about the book is that some of the chapters or sentences were very relateble wich i thought was a great thing.
I would rate this book a 5-5 stars because it was one of the best books i have ever read and it is at some points very relateble.I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to be at the eddge of theyir seat trying to figure out what will happen next.These were afew reasons why you should read Among the baron (or the Shadow children series). =)
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This is the fourth book in a series that I have been reading. The series is about a government that has total control over the people. In this society, third children are illegal. This story is an adventure of a third child trying to escape the population police. I like to read right when I get home from school. This gets it out of the way before I am too tired to enjoy reading.
In Among the Barons, the success of civilization is based on population control. Only two children are allowed per family and the third child is illegal. “’Oh, this is ridiculous,” she said. “I’ve never had to hide. I’m a legal individual. I have rights. I am a baron. That’s not the same.” “Don’t you think I should have rights, too?” Luke asked.” This quote shows how Mrs. Grant thinks of third children. She thinks that they do not have rights even though they are human just like she is. Luke thinks that he should have rights even though his is a third child and technically illegal.
Civilizations have rules that make up the society and prevent chaos. In some cases, these rules are extreme and do not make sense to some people. In this book, Mrs. Grant believes that the third children do not have any rights and does not question this rule. This third child rule was made when a famine struck and for the civilization to survive, they had to control population. On the other side, Luke feels that third children should have rights because he is a third child. He does not see himself as different from everybody else. Luke believes that you should be able to have as many children as you want without the government having to step in.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has finished the first three books. Since this is a series, you would not understand everything in this book without reading the first three. This is a series more for teenagers since the main character is a teenager.
