Nick PeotterMrs. WhiteOctober 30, 2014Advanced English, Hour 8Among the BaronsHave you ever heard of the one child policy in China? Well thats kind of what happened in the book i'm reading called Among the Barons by the well known author Margaret Peterson Haddix. Among the Barons is the fourth book in a seven book series that revolves around shadow children. I consider this series/book a must read because it was suspenseful, mysterious, and it had some humor it to lighten the mood. This book takes place in the future but it gives no specific time and what the government did is pass a law that said you can only have two children, what this book revolves around is the struggles of shadow children. The main characters name is Luke and he is a third child, he is at this school for boys with a fake identity, everyone else at the school is also a third child. Now, I don't want to give too much away from the book but another really important factor is that Lukes identity is of a really rich kid. I also must warn you that the ending of this book is a cliffhanger so read this book only if you are going to read the series. It is a happy ending though and the overall plot of the book is very exciting because right when you things will start settling down something happens that is either really bad or really good. I was probably reading this book for hours at a time and it seemed like the action just kept coming. The characters are developed quite well starting with Luke, a child who's been outlawed from his own family and is fighting the government. he gets pushed around a lot and really has no control over his life. the next character i'm going to talk about is Smithfield (Smits) Grant, his brother is dead in a “skiing accident” and has to accept Luke as his new brother. He is known to lie a lot and is generally very rude and snobbish. The next character I will talk about is Oscar, supposedly Smits very buff bodyguard but in reality someone who is really good at lying. Mr. and Mrs. Grant are next, the very adamant barons who have lots of parties and have a lack of care for their sons. This book is overall very good and I am very glad I read it. The characters are very likeable, its very suspenseful. and has some comedy. Although if you do read this book i would recommend reading the first few books and the rest of the series along with it. I hope you enjoyed.
Among the BaronsMargaret Peterson Haddix2003 fictiontThis book is about a boy whose name is Luke. He has taken Smits brothers identity after he was shot by the government. His name was lee, a spoiled baron kid. Barons took all the money of the normal people. In the world of government lies fake identities, and death threats Luke/lee doesn’t know who to trust. I think the protagonist is Luke/ lee because he is the one that can’t trust anyone. It takes place in Hendricks School for Boys, the Grants Mansion, and Luke’s country house. The conflict is that Luke and Smits don’t know f they should trust Smits bodyguard because he is known for telling lots of lies. Luke’s life might be in danger because he told Oscar, Smits bodyguard that he is a third child. I think the theme of the book is that you should trust yourself ad life isn’t always fair. In the book it said “’ don’t worry’ Oscar said’ I’m on your side. Were fighting for the same cause’ ‘how do I know that? Luke asked ‘why should I trust you?’” also in the book it said “mother Smits looked so wrong together- like pictures cut from two different magazines and hazardly glued together. Smits in his fine woolen suit and leather shoes did not belong with graying hair scooped back into a bun. And what had Luke been thinking bringing Smits from his peeling paint and weathered wood? What must Smits be thinking?tI would definitely recommend this book to a friend. I would recommend it to people that like suspense and action. It had lots of twists and turns. This book is just like other books that I have read by Margaret Peterson Haddix. It’s about the same boy Luke who tries so hard to get normal life but something always gets in the way.t A quote from the book that I liked was on page 82 and 83. I says “you’re the one id trust the most to come out of this safety. Just use your common sense. You’ll be all right,… you’ll be all right, you’ll be all right, you’ll be all right. I like this because it matches with the theme. To always believe in yourself.tThis book has taught me to religh on myself and not just others. It taught me that I’m not always going to have someone by my side. I needed to learn how to be independent and this book taught me the right thing
What do You think about Among The Barons (2004)?
In the 4th book of the series Shadow Children, Haddix resumes Luke's story at Hendrick's School For Boys. The boys, most of whom are illegal third children, are learning to come out of their shells as they learn that the school is a haven for them and their secret identities. Luke is becoming one of the more popular ones and is helping others to adjust while trying to plot against the government and their position on third children. Everything is going well, until Smits--Luke's younger brother of his new identity shows up on campus. Luke must figure out why he is here and what that means for his fake identity. Problems only continue when Luke, who is now Lee Grant, is asked to go to his fake family's home. How will he ever pass for Lee to so many different people?I think this series is good but a bit too drawn out. I think even though Haddix was writing this for children, she still could have combined some of her books. It just feels a little choppy to me. I appreciated the detailed look into the life of a Baron--or wealthy citizen. The inequality that the country is facing is quickly coming to light. The government is not all that it seems and Luke is learning a lot about what he can do in this whole mess. Overall an okay book, but it would be nice if there weren't seven of them!
—Jenben8426
Vote: 3,90Class: L-A3 (FP)(Fourth book of the Shadow Children Series)Confusing (for the protagonists just as for me) the first two third of this book, and then the story caught me and I couldn't let it go: amazing series.A wonderful young adult dystopian series really refreshing, especially after some recent dystopian Series (Hunger Games, Divergent, Legend, etc): here the characters are more forthcoming and less complicated and more likeable. It a more younger YA book certainly, and in my opinion is more enjoyable too.The setting (3,50) is a near future Earth (U.S.) were there is a totalitarian Government who is enforcing a very strict Population Law: no third child is allowed in a family and to these children only remains a shadow life in hiding, or trying to do something about it. Not absolutely foolproof but a convincing world.The characters (4,00) are great, true to themselves and as the story goes on you really come to care for them as you see them struggling to make the choose the right thing. And there are more and more of them, all good!The story (3,75) grows more interesting and acquires more depth, you can't let it go.The writing (3,75) is good and very easy: for children and adult alike.I going to start the sequel soon and I I'm going to recommend this Series
—Francesco
Luke is still under the name of Lee Grant, the son of the richest family in the county. The book starts when the grants send their son Smits to the same school as Luck. Smits is a stuck up brat and is crule to everyone but Luke. His behavior suprizes every one. Then the grant ask Luke (Lee) and smits to come back home after the scholl they were in had a fire. When there the Grants ask Luke to fake his death and to go back into hiding as a third child. Then Luck meet Oscar who is woking against the government. Oscar comes up witha plan to keep Luke out of hiding, but the plan involves putting Smits into hiding. Luck has to deside weather it will be he or Smits that will be forced into hiding. In the end both plans fail and Oscar ends up killing Mr. and Ms. Grant. Luck takes the orfined Smits to his old home and then leaves to meat with his other friends.
—Bradley
