Among the Barons

Format:

Book

Title:

Among the Barons

Author:

Haddix, Margaret Peterson.

ISBN:

9780689839061

9780689839108

9781415554821

Edition:

1st ed.

Publication Information:

New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2003.

Physical Description:

182 pages ; 22 cm

Series title(s):

Shadow children.

Number in series:

BK. 4

General Note:

Sequel to: Among the betrayed.

Summary:

In a future world of false identities, government lies, and death threats, Luke feels drawn to the younger brother of the boy whose name Luke has taken.

As a third child in a society that allows only two children per family, Luke Garner was in hiding for the first twelve years of his life. Then he was given the freedom of an identity card that had belonged to Lee Grant, a Baron (a member of the highest class of society), and was sent to boarding school as Lee. But now, just when things are finally starting to go right, Lee's little brother, Smits, arrives at school, and Luke finds himself caught in a web of lies that gets more complex with every passing day -- and possibly even lethal. Can Luke trust the grief-stricken Smits to keep Luke's secret? And can he trust Smits's menacing bodyguard, Oscar? Luke finds that living among the Barons puts him in the deadliest danger he has ever faced. As she did in Among the Hidden and the other Shadow Children books, Margaret Peterson Haddix depicts one individual trying to make sense of a world in which nothing is what it seems. -- Provided by publisher.

Program Information:

Accelerated Reader Grades 5-8 4.8 6 Quiz 69053 English fiction, vocabulary quiz available.

Accelerated Reader/Renaissance Learning MG 4.8 6.0 69053.

Subject(s):

Brothers -- Juvenile fiction.

Genre:

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... Lyons Public Library	JR HAD	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Library	YA FIC HAD	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Dallas Public Library	YA FICTION - HADDIX	Searching... Unknown
Searching... McMinnville Public Library	Haddix, M.	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Monmouth Public Library	J Fic Haddix, M. 2003 v.4 Among	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Newberg Public Library	TEEN HADDIX	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Salem Main Library	J Haddix, M.	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Salem Main Library	J Haddix, M.	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Sheridan Public Library	J Shadow Children v.4	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Sheridan Public Library	J Shadow Children v.4	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Silver Falls Library	YA HADDIX	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Stayton Public Library	TEEN HADDIX, M 4	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Smits had nothing left of his brother.
He was gone.
And Luke had taken his name.
How could anyone hear Smits sobbing and think he was merely a foolish, homesick kid? Luke knew what grief was like....What if Oscar suddenly understood, too?
Smits's grief was dangerous. Smits's grief could kill Luke.

As a third child in a society that allows only two children per family, Luke Garner was in hiding for the first twelve years of his life. Then he was given the freedom of an identity card that had belonged to Lee Grant, a Baron (a member of the highest class of society), and was sent to boarding school as Lee. But now, just when things are finally starting to go right, Lee's little brother, Smits, arrives at school, and Luke finds himself caught in a web of lies that gets more complex with every passing day -- and possibly even lethal. Can Luke trust the grief-stricken Smits to keep Luke's secret? And can he trust Smits's menacing bodyguard, Oscar?
Luke finds that living among the Barons puts him in the deadliest danger he has ever faced.
As she did in Among the Hidden and the other Shadow Children books, Margaret Peterson Haddix depicts one individual trying to make sense of a world in which nothing is what it seems.

Author Notes

Margaret Peterson Haddix was born in Washington Court House, Ohio on April 9, 1964. She received bachelor's degrees in English/journalism, English/creative writing, and history from Miami University in 1986. Before becoming an author, she was a copy editor for The Journal-Gazette, a newspaper reporter for The Indianapolis News, an instructor at Danville Area Community College, and a freelance writer. Her first book, Running Out of Time, was published in 1995. She has written more than 30 books including Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey, Just Ella, Turnabout, The Girl with 500 Middle Names, Because of Anya, and Into the Gauntlet. She also writes the Shadow Children series and the Missing series. She has won the International Reading Association Children's Book Award and several state Readers' Choice Awards.

(Bowker Author Biography)

Reviews (4)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 5-8-In this fourth installment of a series about a society that allows only two children per family, Luke Garner is finally adjusting to his new life at Hendricks School as Lee Grant. While the Grants belong to the highest class of society called the Barons, Luke avoids snobbish affectations and befriends his classmates, who are also illegal thirds. When the real Lee Grant's younger brother arrives at the school, along with his fierce body guard, Luke worries that Smits will expose him to the government. However, Smits has come to enlist Luke's help in discovering how his older brother really died, suspecting that he was murdered. The intrigue and danger grow more acute when both boys are called "home" and Luke discovers that the Grants have plans for him that could turn out to be fatal. As in the previous books, characters who seem honest turn out to be dangerous while others who seem suspicious end up as allies. The climax hints at a further installment. Fans of the series are the most likely audience for this story of Luke's continuing struggle to survive.-Farida S. Dowler, formerly at Bellevue Regional Library, WA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publisher's Weekly Review

Fans of Haddix's Shadow Children series will welcome this fourth title about third-born children living under a government that restricts families to no more than two children. Still using the identity of Lee Grant, a legal (and wealthy) child who died, Luke is shocked when Lee's younger brother, Smits, suddenly arrives at Hendricks School for Boys; his world is upset further when Smits sets fire to the school and both boys are summoned to the Grant mansion. There, Luke fumbles through Baron, or upper-class, life, and gains insight into Lee's death: the government killed him after catching him running guns for revolutionaries. Luke isn't sure whom he can trust: The Grants say they want to stage Luke's death so they can openly grieve for their son, which would send Luke back into hiding, while brute bodyguard Oscar claims to be part of the "underground resistance" and tries to enlist Luke in a plan that would make Smits suffer. As with the other Shadow Children books, not all the plotting is consistent, and readers might be frustrated that the author raises more questions than she answers. Even so, the bond that forms between Luke and the alternately snotty and needy Smits is compelling, and there are enough cliffhangers and plot twists to keep readers hooked. Ages 8-12. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Horn Book Review

Luke, an illegal third child in a society that limits family size, is living as Lee Grant--the name of a real boy, now deceased. When the original Lee's brother begins attending his school, Luke becomes involved in a conspiracy of secrets and lies in which he can trust no one. The suspenseful plot, full of serpentine twists and open-ended, will leave readers eager for the next installment of this intriguing series. From HORN BOOK Fall 2003, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

Gr. 5-8. This exciting fourth installment in the series that began with Among the Hidden (1998) focuses on "shadow child" Luke Garner, a third child in a futuristic society that allows families only two children. Luke, who has gone underground to escape the Population Police, reemerges after 12 years in hiding to assume the identity of Lee Grant, a member of the society's most privileged class, and is sent off to boarding school. The impersonation goes smoothly until Smits, Grant's younger brother, enters the picture. Luckily, Luke, who lives in constant fear that grieving Smits will turn him over to the Population Police, eventually manages to elude the authorities, which leaves open the possibility for more adventures. There is enough background information in the opening chapter to fill in readers new to the series, and series fans of the books won't be disappointed; there's plenty of suspense, and there are lots of thrilling twists and turns. EdSullivan.