Peter and the Shadow Thieves

Book Description

In this riveting and adventure-packed follow-up to Peter and the Starcatchers, Peter leaves the relative safety of Mollusk Island -- along with his trusted companion Tinker Bell -- for the cold, damp streets of London. On a difficult journey across the sea, he and Tink discover the dark and deadly, slithering part-man/part-creature Lord Ombra. It seems that the dreaded Ombra has a variety of mysterious powers, including the ability to make shadows disappear. When Peter reaches London, he sets out to find the indomitable Molly. Together they must combat Ombras terrible forces to both protect the Starcatchers and the treasured starstuff and, most important, to rescue Mollys mother from the clutches of evil.

Customer Reviews:

Sequel that doesn't disappoint!.......2007-08-14

"Peter and the Shadow Thieves" continues with the story of young Peter, an orphan boy whose life has completely changed when he came in contact with a powerful substance known as stardust. Now an expert flyer, Peter has become very fond of Mollusk Island and the lost boys whom have adopted him as their leader. However, things change drastically when new visitors arrive one day... some old enemies along with new, one in particular who appears to be made out of darkness and can steal shadows from any living thing, causing them to become mere shells of the persons they used to be. Of course this new enemy is looking for the stardust that was once on Mollusk Island. Once it is discovered that the stardust is in the hands of Lord Aster, they set sail for London. Peter, knowing his friend Molly and her family are in real danger, sets off to follow with his fairy Tink, not knowing whether or not he will even make it to the coast without being found out by the shadow creature.

"Peter and the Shadow Thieves" does not disappoint! It continues where the first book, "Peter and the Star Catchers" left off. It is a page turner filled with action and very comical scenes, most of which involve Tink and her very blunt opinions on other characters. Though the book has almost 600 pages the chapters are short and it's easy to whiz through this thing within a few days. I highly recommend it for any Peter Pan fan out there who is looking for another adventure to read!

Even better than the one before.......2007-07-18

I think Shadow Thieves is better than Peter and the Starcatchers, but they are both wonderful. I listened to them both because I love to listen to Jim Dale. And I found Shadow Thieves compelling like a Harry Potter...could it be better? There is a lot for young and old people to get from these books. Now we need the new one recorded!!

OK, NOT BARRY'S BEST.......2007-06-03

I LIKED this book, which is to say, it was a disappointment. Usually I LOVE Barry's stuff. So I had my hopes up, expecting Barry's best, and instead I got a nice little holiday book apparently aimed at kids.

For vintage Dave Barry check out Dave Barry's Money Tips. Now that's a great book. Dave Barry's Money Secrets: Like: Why Is There a Giant Eyeball on the Dollar?

Barry's a fine writer, but I wish this book had been better.

Love That Boy.......2007-05-30

Sharon Creech's Love That Dog is a book of poems by a boy named Jack. Jack doesn't want to write poetry because he thinks it is for girls. In the beginning of the book, Jack is talking to his teacher and his teacher is talking back. In the end of the book it's only Jack talking.
Jack's teacher reads him (and his class) poems all the time during school. She tells them to write their own poems. Jack gives in but says she has to promise not to put it up on the board (or if she does, put no name on it.) Jack writes a poem about a blue car splattered with mud. His teacher asks him why he wrote about that. He says that the poem that his teacher read to him the day before about a red wagon didn't make sense either.
Jack writes more poems until his teacher asks him to write about a pet. Jack says he doesn't have a pet, he used to have a pet, but he doesn't want to write about it. His teacher finally gets him to write about his yellow dog named Sky.
His teacher reads him a poem by a poet named Walter Dean Myers. Jack likes the poem it is called Love That Boy. Jack's teacher reads him more poems by Walter Dean Myers that Jack likes so he decided to send him a letter to ask him to visit his school.
I thought the book was a wonderful way to make something out of poetry. It tells a good story in a different way. Sharon Creech is the author of many other books including Replay and Walk Two Moons. I recommend the book from grades 3 to 6.

Peter and the Shadow Thieves.......2007-05-30

Peter and the Shadow Thieves is a thrilling sequel to Peter and the Starcatchers. Peter is on Mollusk Island with protection from the Mollusk tribe and his fairy friend Tinkerbelle. Pirates come to the island wanting the starstuff, an extremely powerful substance that they believe is on the island. The pirates soon find that Lord Aster and his daughter, Molly have the starstuff with them in England. So, the pirates set sail for England with a guest on their ship. The guest is a powerful man-like thing called Lord Ombra that can get information from you by taking your shadow. Peter is a stowaway on the pirates ship to save Molly; and the pirates are on the ship to find Molly, Lord Aster, and the starstuff. Mollusk Island is long way from England and Lord Ombra is very powerful. Maybe even more powerful than Molly or Peter can imagine.
This is an excellent adventure story about friendship and believing in yourself and others. Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson do a great job making their voice and the characters' personality shine. This book is for children 8 to12 years old.

Twelve Kingdoms, The - Hardcover Edition Volume 1: Sea of Shadow

Average customer rating:

Astonishingly good
A fun read...
Good ending, lukewarm beginning and middle
Outstanding !
Beautiful Read

Twelve Kingdoms, The - Hardcover Edition Volume 1: Sea of Shadow
Fuyumi Ono
Manufacturer: Tokyopop
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1598169467
Release Date: 2007-03-13

Book Description

For high-schooler Yoko Nakajima, life has been fairly ordinary--that is until Keiki, a young man with golden hair, tells Yoko they must return to their kingdom. Once confronted by this mysterious being and whisked away to an unearthly realm, Yoko is left with only a magical sword; a gem; and a million questions about her destiny, the world she's trapped in, and the world she desperately wants to return to.More than just a fantasy story filled with horrific monsters, half-beasts, and magicians, The Twelve Kingdoms centers around a world reminiscent of Chinese mythology and rife with civil and political upheaval. Sea of Shadow, the first volume of this ongoing seven-volume epic, takes you on a wild ride that leaves you questioning the bounds of reality and fantasy."An exciting, fast-paced adventure that will keep readers on the edge of their seats."--BookLoons.com "This is a fantasy novel displaying a grand imagination and soaring adventure."--ActiveAnime.com"Fuyumi Ono weaves a bewitching tale of strength in adversity, bravery despite fear, courage above all, and trust â€" in yourself and in others."--Yabookscentral.comFuyumi Ono was born in Oita Prefecture, Japan. She graduated from Otani University with a major in Buddhist studies. During college she was a member of Kyoto Universityâ€™s mystery story club for readers and writers of the mystery genre. In 1988, she made her publishing debut in Kodanshaâ€™s teen-targeted X-Bunko Teens Heart series. Besides The Twelve Kingdoms, Ono has written other novels in such genres as mystery and horror.

Customer Reviews:

Astonishingly good.......2007-06-25

I couldn't put this book down. I stayed up all night to finish it, and went to work the next morning like a zombie. The story is extremely well-written and the translation is handled perfectly. I did not expect the character development to be so in-depth--this book is a must-read for both children and adults. I can't wait for Book 2 to come out!

A fun read..........2007-06-19

I enjoyed the anime series and since it's based on novels instead of manga I figured I'd read them. The book takes you deep into the world of the twelve kingdoms, and also into the mind of the heroine, Yoko, who is dealing with her own faults while trying to survive in an unfamiliar and hostile world. The author's descriptions give a vivid account of what it's like to be Yoko by mentioning "other senses" type of details, by which I mean senses other than sight. We hear about sounds, smells, and most importantly how things feel. The story is rich and complicated, but not so much that one can't put things together. I enjoyed this book, and anyone who is a fan of anime or manga would probably like it as well.

Good ending, lukewarm beginning and middle.......2007-06-12

I wish there were half-stars on Amazon, because my actual rating for this book would be a three and a half. For most of the book (i.e. the beginning and middle), my reaction was merely that it was okay. I had liked the premise for the book, which was why I bought it, but it didn't quite live up to my expectations as I began to read. After the initial set-up, I felt like the same things kept happening over and over again: Yoko fights demons, almost dies, gets help from strangers, and then the cycle repeats. There are also long periods of reflection, both in Yoko's mind and in conversation with "herself" (the blue monkey), which always seemed too similar to one another as well; there wasn't much progression until the final conversation. The whole idea of the "good girl" and Yoko's eventual lack of trust didn't feel natural too me~it was as though I could see the author pulling the strings, purposely feeding me information to get me to believe these character traits that just didn't seem to develop properly.

Don't get me wrong, though~there were quite a few things about the book I did enjoy, especially the ending. While much of the book gave me a humdrum feeling, by the time I closed the book I was left with the impression that I actually liked it. I am now even looking forward to the next volume. In short, the ending saved this book for me, which is why I wish I could give it three and a half stars instead of three. There were also other enjoyable points/ideas as well: I especially liked the concepts of beastlings, egg fruit, and the various other demons in the story, among other things. I just wish I was able to like all of the book, not just parts.

Outstanding !.......2007-06-09

I have seen the Anime version and was very pleased that the book is so different. I cannot wait untill the next book is released.

Beautiful Read.......2007-06-02

This book was a joy for me to read, plain and simple. I am an avid anime and manga fan, and I was intrigued by this book, simply because I had heard a friend mention the 12 Kingdoms anime long ago. I was surprised and delighted to find this book was worth far more than I paid. The book is very well written and I had trouble putting it down. The story is captivation and keeps you guessing, weaving a very surprising and I enjoyed it, just when you think you finally start to understand, you are taken in a whole new direction. The world put forth in this book seems limitless, and the characters, most notably Yoko, grow in such a fantastic way it's hard to put into words. I am very pleased and recommend this to anyone who has a hint of imagination, a taste for adventure and a love for the unknown

Average customer rating:

Must Read
Great book
Great series!
This book is very great!
you will LOVE this book!

Among the Hidden (Shadow Children)
Margaret Peterson Haddix
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1416924981

Book Description

Luke has never been to school. He's never had a birthday party, or gone to a friend's house for an overnight. In fact, Luke has never had a friend.

Luke is one of the shadow children, a third child forbidden by the Population Police. He's lived his entire life in hiding, and now, with a new housing development replacing the woods next to his family's farm, he is no longer even allowed to go outside.

Then, one day Luke sees a girl's face in the window of a house where he knows two other children already live. Finally, he's met a shadow child like himself. Jen is willing to risk everything to come out of the shadows -- does Luke dare to become involved in her dangerous plan? Can he afford not to?

Download Description

Luke has never been to school. He's never had a birthday party, or gone to a friend's house for an overnight. In fact, Luke has never had a friend. Luke is one of the shadow children, a third child forbidden by the Population Police. He's lived his entire life in hiding, and now, with a new housing development replacing the woods next to his family's farm, he is no longer even allowed to go outside. Then, one day Luke sees a girl's face in the window of a house where he knows two other children already live. Finally, he's met a shadow child like himself. Jen is willing to risk everything to come out of the shadows -- does Luke dare to become involved in her dangerous plan? Can he afford not to?

Customer Reviews:

Must Read.......2007-05-31

Among the Hidden, by Margaret Haddix, was a non-stop exciting book. Luke, a third child, has to hide from the Population Police because he is illegal. Now he has neighbors that took out the woods so he stays in his room and eats on the stairs. Then one day he looks out the vents in his room and sees a girl at the window of the house next door that he knew that there was already two children living there, so he goes over and meets Jen who is risking her life to free the "shadows" and tries to earn the right to be equal! Luke admires her but doesn't think he's brave enough to help her.

Margaret Haddix wrote this book to teach people that everyone should be equal even if they are the odd one out. Readers that read mysterious and intelligent novels should pick p this book and start flipping the pages of excitement! This book is for all ages that like to read. Don't hesitate; go to the library or book store now!

Great book.......2007-05-14

I have recently started to read this series. I think that the first book is awesome. It is about an illegal third child, Luke Garner, and his struggles to be free. I would recommend it for grades 5-7.

Great series!.......2007-05-10

Luke lives in a futuristic society where the government has decided that each family may have only two children. Unfortunately, Luke is a thrid child and must remain hidden all the time. Then one day, he meets another third child, Jen. She is organizing a rally to have the two child law repealed. Will Luke participate? Will Jen be successful? My 7th graders who read this book in their lit circle loved it and went on to read the rest of the series. What more could a teacher ask for?

This book is very great!.......2007-04-26

This book is really a pleasure to read. It really changes your mood back and forth. Like one moment you are sad because Luke has to stay in his house and does not want to change his mind. But the other chapter you feel excited and tricked because he did change his mind and is out at the "sport families" house. Then you get alittle scared because they are thinking of doing a "shadow kid rally" and it really worried Luke and now my mood is a confused mood Luke and I dont know if he is going to be in the "shadow kid rally." But the book is awesome, read and enjoy!!

you will LOVE this book!.......2007-04-18

The name of the book I read is Among The Hidden and the author is Margaret Peterson Haddix. It is about a kid named Luke who is a third child, and back then third children weren't allowed. Luke was a kid who usually obeyed his parents so another family wouldn't catch him and turn him in. He had two older brothers named Mark and Mathew. His family loved him and they only wanted to protect him so they wouldn't loose him, but Luke wanted an adventure, or at least be able to go out and play. Finally, while everybody was gone Luke sees a child in the house window next door. To make sure he wasn't wrong he waited a couple days. He was right, there was someone else in the other house. So he decided to be daring and run to the house. Luke ends up meeting a third child that needs to be hidden like him. Her name is Jen. Her dad works for the population police, but he would never turn her in. Jen wants to have a rally for all the third children, which she has met most of them online. She tried to convince Luke, but Luke has a really bad feeling that something bad is going to happen. After a couple days from Jen leaving for the rally Luke runs over to her house to see her, but Jen and the other third children that had gone, had been shot. Luke was devastated. Luke needed to leave because now the population police are looking carefully. So Jen's father buys Luke a fake I.D. and he is now leaving to a private boarding school. It took place in about year 2000.
I LOVED the book Among The Hidden. It kept me entertained through the whole story. I think that you should read this book too. It has adventure, surprise, and will keep you wondering what might happen to Luke next.

Average customer rating:

Among The Free
Among the......... series by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Hidden Series?!
Please write another one!
Among the Free

Among the Free (Shadow Children)
Margaret Peterson Haddix
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0689857985

Book Description

"Enough games," the man said, raising the gun yet again. "And enough of the Population Police, I say."

This time he cocked the gun and aimed carefully.

This is real, Luke thought. This is really going to happen.

"No, don't!" he screamed.

Luke Garner is a third-born in a restrictive society that allows only two children per family. Risking his life, he came out of hiding to fight against the Population Police laws. Now, in the final volume of Margaret Peterson Haddix's suspenseful Shadow Children series, Luke inadvertently sets off a rebellion that results in the overthrow of the government. The people are finally free. But who is in charge now? And will this new freedom be everything they had hoped?

With all of the plot twists and excitement Haddix's fans have come to expect, Among the Free brings the Shadow Children sequence to a chilling conclusion.

Customer Reviews:

Among The Free.......2007-10-04

This was purchased for a student. He had read all other parts of the series and when he finished this book, he was extremely satisfied. Thank you Amazon for having what I was unable to find in local book stores.

Among the......... series by Margaret Peterson Haddix.......2007-10-02

I bought these books for our grandson who was in the sixth grade. He read the entire series in 4 weeks. It was wonderful seeing him reading every spare moment he had. He gave up TV and PSP3 to finish these books. That is testimony enough for me showing how fabulous this series is. He is now in 7th grade and re-reading the series.

Hidden Series?!.......2007-07-16

If you followed this series from the beginning this is a great ending for the story. It had adventure and sometimes it actually made me feel like i was in the book. Which i would say was a pretty good quality. Some parts kept me guessing which only made me want to read it even more.
But i do have to say i put this book on HOLD for a little. Cause personally the first chapter didnt get me as motivated as i wanted it to. and i am guilty for doing that. if i dont exactly like how it starts. but i am glad i finished it. and if you read all the other books. this is a GREAT finish and you should deffinatly get it.

Please write another one!.......2007-04-09

I wasn't as disappointed with the book as much as I thought I would be after reading some of the reviews on this website. The book definitely had a more satisfying conclusion than the Series of Unfortunate Events. I found the book suspenseful enough to make me want to keep reading it. I do agree with other reviewers that the ending did seem rushed. "Can there really only be a few pages left," I thought to myself. If you have read the other books in the series I would definitely recommend reading this one, but I hope the author will begin another series telling what happens next with these characters. I'd always hoped to see the reunion between Luke and his parents. For the best of MPH, check out Running out of Time. Running Out of Time (Aladdin Fiction)

Among the Free.......2007-03-25

In any society there are things that are illegal, but what if it was illegal to exist? Luke is a third born child in a society that only allows two children per family. In an attempt to weaken their countries corrupt government, Luke and his friends joined the Population Police (an armed force whose purpose is to find and kill third children) and try to sabotage it from within. But times of rebellion have arisen and the government is overthrown. As different people struggle to gain power, the country is in even more danger. Among the Free, by Margaret Peterson Haddix, wraps up the Shadow Children series perfectly. It is a fast moving book best suited for 6th to 8th graders and anyone that has started the series. Even though they are fictional, a lot of the events and ideas behind the Shadow Children series are based on the Holocaust during World War 2. The idea of genocide (the annihilation of an entire race) stems from the Holocaust, along with the armed forces of the Population Police. They were a take off from the Nazis. All seven books in the series are thrilling page-turners, and earn two thumbs-up from me!

Tome of Magic: Pact, Shadow, and TrueName Magic (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying Supplement)

Average customer rating:

Limited Use but does it well
New Ideas, New Problems
Inspiring
Three New Dynamic Magic Systems
Pretty good game supplement, if I do say so myself.

Tome of Magic: Pact, Shadow, and TrueName Magic (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying Supplement)
Matthew Sernett , Dave Noonan , Ari Marmell , and Robert J. Schwalb
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0786939095
Release Date: 2006-03-14

Book Description

Unlock the Magical Power of
Vestiges, Shadows, and Syllables

Tome of Magic presents three new kinds of magic that you can integrate easily into any Dungeons & Dragons® campaign. These magic “subsystems” function alongside the existing D&D® magic system and offer new game mechanics, character options, and adventure possibilities. Within this tome you’ll find three new standard classes–one for each new kind of magic–as well as new spells, feats, prestige classes, monsters, and magic items tied thematically to each.

Pact Magic

Powerful entities known as vestiges exist beyond the boundaries of life, death, and undeath. The binder uses pact magic–a combination of symbols and secret rituals–to summon these entities, strike bargains with them, and gain their formidable and sometimes bizarre supernatural powers.

Shadow Magic

The Plane of Shadow is a dark, twisted reflection of the real world. The shadowcaster, by understanding the fundamental properties of the plane and unlocking its magical mysteries, learns to harness and channel its umbral gloom, shaping the darkness to serve her whim.

Truename Magic

Every creature has a truename–the word of its creation. The truenamer knows the primal language of the universe–the language of Truespeech–and learns the truenames of creatures and objects to gain control over them, transform them, or destroy them.

For use with these Dungeons & Dragons® core books
Player’s Handbook™ Dungeon Master’s Guide™ Monster Manual™

Customer Reviews:

Limited Use but does it well.......2007-01-12

I really like wizards and magic users so I really wanted to love this book. If you want something off the beaten track of magic, this provides some ideas. As an aid to most games, though, it doesn't provide much. It's a niche product for those looking for variants in magic.

New Ideas, New Problems.......2006-11-07

This is one D&D supplement that isn't riddled with dead pages. The book is interesting cover to cover, which at the very least makes it a good value in terms of the ammount of the product you are likely to use.

All three of the book's concepts are interesting and somewhat unique.

However, all three have mechanical issues that are left completely up to you, the user, to resolve.

If you are the type of person who wants a product to "works" out of the book, this is a bad product. Shadow Magic has its perks, but due to its design has massive spikes an lulls in power throughout your leveling. It is depressing how bad Shadowcasters are at levels 6 and 12, yet amazing at levels 7 and 13. This uneven growth can be very unsatisfying, leaving one to wonder "Why aren't I a wizard?" The binder has a very similiar problem, though somewhat less extreme.

Truenaming carries similiar baggage as the number of skill raising abilities erraticly varies from campaign to campaign, the class's power fluxates wildly from campaign to campaign.

Personally, I like the stuff in here, but its not very "plug in and play."

Inspiring.......2006-09-28

The first time someone brought this book to the table, I'll admit that I wasn't immediately impressed by it. However, I thought I saw some potential, so I borrowed it from a friend at work to read over the weekend. I read the whole thing, cover to cover, twice, before Monday.

This book has finally reminded me what it was I loved about D&D when I started playing second edition over a decade ago. Unlike most every other third edition book (and even more so with 3.5), Tome of Magic isn't just a gotta-catch-em-all collection of new feats, spells, magic items, and prestige classes. It is stuffed with truly new, fresh ideas. I had thought that the rules in the Expanded Psionics Handbook were a novel approach to spellcasting in D&D, but the alternate magic systems in Tome of Magic are worlds beyond psionics in scope and style. This book could easily serve as the basis of at least one, if not three or four, whole new campaign settings. Truly different, truly spectacular.

And a special aside for Truename Magic. This system is the way spellcasting in a fantasy setting should be. Lets face it. Spells per day? Choosing spells in the morning when you wake up? Transparently artificial, rediculous, and illogical concepts. Truename magic fixes this and fixes it right, while still being a viable and fun system to use.

Three New Dynamic Magic Systems.......2006-08-11

Tome of Magic offers you three new styles of magic to incorperate into your game.

The first, Pact Magic, bears a slight resembelence to the "summons" system from Final Fantasy VIII. They don't attack, as such, but instead provide you with interesting abilities. The only major draw back to Pact Magic is the fact that the book seems to set up the Pact users as almost inherently evil. The beings you have to make deals with are not nice in the least, and the complicated system of "I've used this one, so I can't use this one," will be tedious to a beginning player.

The second, Shadow Magic, could easily take the place of the Shadow Weave in a Forgotten Realms setting or be incorperated into basic games as an alternate style to normal magic. Of the three new styles, this one is the most traditional, combining a blend of "domain-like" styles and specalized magics. In addition, their powers eventually become spell-like abilitites. The only real downside of the system is the sheer lack of volume of spells. Even bards get more. What they lack in versatility, though, they more than make up for in power.

Finally, True Name magic feels incredibly similar to the Earth Sea book series, in that you discover more powers and abilitites with more names. The fact that this one is actually based off of a skill, the True Speak ability, makes it even more interesting. The Difficulty Classes on the skill's use are also very well done, ranging from 10 at lower levels, up into the 50's at higher levels. Best of all, the progression into Epic Abilities, though not really spoken of much, could be easily done by simply raising the DCs of things.

A fairly good book, but not for everyone. Each of the new magics is interesting and dynamic, but this book is not for everyone. If you like playing wizards and sorcerers (or maybe even clerics), then this book is for you; however, if hacking and slashing or sneaking and stabbing is your style, let your D.M. pick this one up.

Pretty good game supplement, if I do say so myself........2006-07-16

Not to insult other popular pencil-and-paper role-playing games of our time, but there's a reason why Dungeons and Dragons is the world's most renowned RPG of them all: Because the men and women who are responsible for its design are practically without peer in terms of sheer creative genius. Sure, I love the traditional themes of arcane and divine magic that almost all fantasy RPGs provide, and psionic powers are nothing to sneeze at, either. However, by delving deep into the esoteric aspects of world history and ideology and coming up with the three new types of magic for gamers and Dungeon Masters alike to add to their most cherished gaming campaigns, Wizards of the Coast has made sure that D&D Version 3.5 is everything they'd planned it'd be: dark, mysterious, inventive, and downright appealing.

Divided into three chapters, the Tome of Magic supplement explains how DMs can incorporate the likes of Pact, Shadow, and Truename Magic into the mythical gaming worlds where their players' characters dwell in search of adventure. Players, too, can get an idea of what these more-or-less new forms of ancient power have in store for them and their allies as they sally forth into the depths of their alter egos' home realm. For instance, the chapter on Pact Magic introduces the Binder PC class and explains how participants in this occult and hence widely despised profession share their souls with a wide variety of Vestiges--beings whose existences in the world ended so tragically that their names have forever been carved into the stone tablet of history as their spirits transcended all reality into utter nothingness. Successful bondage to a Vestige grants a Binder that Vestige's powers and a physical trait that symbolizes the Binder's pact with his/her new patron. A failed pact grants the Binder the Vestige's powers as well as a successful one does, but the latter persona manifests himself/herself so heavily upon the former being that the Binder's behavior is warped by the spirit's own mentality, making the mortal perform eccentrically and--more times than not--downright irrationally.

Similarly, Shadow Casters, who participate in Shadow Magic, draw their powers form the Plane of Shadow--a literally dark and spooky reflection of the campaign's real world. It is by unlocking the mysteries of this twisted alternate reality and harnessing its nearly limitless gloom that these mages learn not only how to utilize this most umbral of all elements as the base of their spells, but also how to merge their own mortal existences with the Plane of Shadow to perform feats that no other being of their realm can, such as surviving for days without food or sleep and resisting the effects of poison and disease.

Finally, the Truenamer PC class is a student of the true universal language of all creation (called Truespeech) and as such learns the fundamentals of the third form of ages-lost mysticism, Truename Magic. By studying the fundamentals of this ancient tongue, a Truenamer can harness control over various objects and subjects, forcing them unto his/her will at the mere mentioning of their "true names"--namely, the names of their creation. To tell you the truth, the Truenamer PC class is a pretty fun one to play in a standard D&D gaming session--even more fun, in my opinion, than the standard Wizard or Sorcerer.

Oh, and before I forget to mention it, Tome of Magic has quite a few adventures in store for Dungeon Masters to put to use in their next gaming sessions--not to mention fifteen total Prestige Classes for PCs and DMs alike to try our (five for each of the three basic Character Classes presented in this book). The monsters are pretty impressive, too, and not just because they're illustrated so well by the most talented artists in the gaming industry, either. Then again, players who are satisfied with playing one of the more established Character Classes from previous releases of the D&D 3rd Edition and Version 3.5 gaming manuals and supplements will still want to check out the new spells and feats presented in ToM, if for nothing else other than to add even more variety to their PCs.

All in all, Tome of Magic is no disappointment in its quest to bring something new to the gaming table. I was definitely impressed, and I believe other Dungeons and Dragons fans will feel the same way I do. If you can find it in your local hobby shop or bookstore, then by all means, snag it! It's a definite keeper.

Shadow Children (Boxed Set): Among the Hidden; Among the Impostors; Among the Betrayed; Among the Barons

Average customer rating:

A most intriguing series for readers from preteen on:
Excellent, Excellent, Excellent!!!
for parents too!
Can't put it down
slow at shipping

Shadow Children (Boxed Set): Among the Hidden; Among the Impostors; Among the Betrayed; Among the Barons
Margaret Peterson Haddix
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0689033672

Book Description

Imagine a world where families are allowed only two children. Illegal third children -- shadow children -- must live in hiding. If they are discovered, there is only one punishment: Death.

Among the Hidden

An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
An ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
An American Booksellers Association Kids' Pick of the List

Among the Impostors

International Reading Association Young Adults' Choice
Among the Betrayed
An America Library Association Quick Pick
International Reading Association/Children's Book Council Children's Choice

Customer Reviews:

A most intriguing series for readers from preteen on:.......2007-05-13

The Shadow Chidren series may be the modern alternative to The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and Cherry Ames. The plot of each book-there are more than the four books of the boxed set-is captivating, as is the overall adventuresome goal of the series. My ten year old granddaughter introduced me to the Shadow Children after she had completed the first book. I both purchased and read all the books before giving them to her to make certain that all is wholesome. Parents and/or prospective readers be assured that the Shadow Children series will be enjoyed by everyone. Then, the variety of other books by Haddix will be enjoyed as well.

Excellent, Excellent, Excellent!!!.......2007-04-08

My son (who is 13) has a hard time reading a complete book, due to his short attention span. A friend suggested this series of books to us. I couldn't be happier. This series is so interesting that he read all of the books within two weeks!!!! As a parent, I enjoyed them also! This is the best deal on the web for this set.

for parents too!.......2007-03-14

My 9-year-old daughter introduced me to this series, saying I had to read them. Well, I did, I'm now near the end of book 5, and they're riveting. The plot is well-written, unpredictable, tense and believable. I especially appreciate how Haddix depicts the struggles these kids go through as they make their decisions on how to act, and how ultimately they make the right choices. Not always, and that is shown as well. It is certainly written for young readers, so goes very fast for an adult reading, but thoroughly enjoyable. I keep wondering why nobody has made movies out of Haddix's books? This would be a great one. Don't push it aside thinking "It's a kid book." Give it a chance.

Can't put it down.......2007-02-05

I could not put these books down. They are short enough to read in one sitting, but still left me satisfied and pensive. The story never dragged and I found myself unable to keep from outwardly expressing fear, anger, relief, and shock.

These are books for everyone. The stories are entertaining with many twists and the plot is thought provoking as many books about futuristic societies tend to be.

slow at shipping.......2007-01-10

The books are fine, they were for my son and he loves them. But it took over a month to receive them. Very slow shipping.

Average customer rating:

Among the Enemy
Among the Enemy
Cool Book
Among the Enemy
Among the Enemy

Among the Enemy (Shadow Children)
Margaret Peterson Haddix
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0689857977

Book Description

HIDE OR FIGHT?

Matthias, an illegal third child, is caught in the cross fire between rebels and the Population Police. When he unwittingly saves a Population Police officer, Matthias is brought to Population Police headquarters to train as an officer himself. There he meets Nina, another third-born who enlists his help in a plot to undermine the Population Police. But Matthias is under constant scrutiny, and he has no idea whom he can trust. What can one boy do against a wicked bureaucracy?

Customer Reviews:

Among the Enemy.......2007-07-18

This is for my 14 year old daughter she loves all of Margaret Haddix books. I love writers that can hold a child's intrest, and she does hold her in a dfferent world, also can tell she enjoys the books because she shares things that happen in the story line.

Among the Enemy.......2007-05-17

Among the Enemy Margret Peterson Haddix is a suspenseful fiction book that from the second you open the book and start reading you are fascinated and amazed by the struggles these children must go through just to survive.
Matthias a fairly young boy must help his two best friends after one was bashed in the head in the head by a tree branch when the bus they were riding in crashed and the other has been shot in the leg and has lost a lot of blood as has his other friend. Matthias has to be brought to the police headquarters where he becomes a member of the force to try to help his friends and keep them from dieing.
The rigorous and dangerous activities he has to do just to save his friends without being found out goes all the way to kissing one of his friends that works at the headquarters to convince the guards that they weren't making a plan on how to save his friends.
This book is an unforgettable book that grips you to where you will never want to put it down and I would definitely recommend this book to people at the age of 11+ only because of some of the language and ideas given in this book. I encourage you to read this novel and tell others about it.

Cool Book.......2007-04-12

Are you the third child in the family? If you are you should read this book. Matthew, Percy and Alia were sleeping when someone knocked on the door. It was the police Matthew, Percy and Alia were taken by the police. Will they escepe from the evil country? Find out in this book and what happens to Matthew, Percy and Alia. Recommended for the third child in the family. Read it now! by Anthony

Among the Enemy.......2007-02-27

The end is in sight for Luke and the gang in Haddix's second-to-last installment of her popular Shadow Children series, Among the Enemy.

Among the Enemy focuses on Matthias, a third child who befriended Nina Idi in the third book of the series, Among the Betrayed. Matthias and his friends Percy and Alia have since spent their time comfortably at Niedler School. That is until the Population Police raid the school and ship it's students away to work for them. In route to Population Police headquarters, there's an accident, and Percy and Alia are severely injured. Matthias hides his injured friends in a cabin that was previously occupied by Rebels. Matthias soon discovers that the cabin is not as secluded as he thought it was, and before he knows it, he is forced into saving a highly regarded Population Police official and is whisked away to headquarters. Once back at headquarters, Matthias is treated like a hero, but can't escape the fact that his friends were left behind. How will he get back to them? How will they survive without him? And who is that familiar looking girl serving food in the cafeteria?

Haddix's series has become immensely popular with middle school students because of their quick pace and interesting plot twists. While this book has all of that and is definitely a step up from the previous book in the series, Among the Brave, I can't help but feel as if something is wrong. The storyline seems forced, the plot twists are foreshadowed well in advance, and she's skimpy on character development. It's almost as if Haddix has fallen behind on a timeline to finish this series.

There are some great things in this book though. Series fans will certainly be able to feel the tides changing and not in favor of the Population Police. Most of the Population Police officers we meet are not so much fighting for the cause as they are fighting for food. Most of the officers are young boys sent by their families in promise of food. This has turned out to be a great recruitment tool for the Population Police, strengthening their numbers, but will without a doubt, eventually backfire. These boys are not trained soldiers. These boys are not killers. These boys are hungry, nothing more, and Haddix paints this picture very well.

I really did enjoy the first four books of the series, but I've been a little disappointed in the last two. My fifth grade students still love them so maybe it's just me. Maybe they're not living up to the potential I saw in them. If you are a series regular, you obviously have to check the book out for yourself. However, I can't help but feel relief that there's only one book left in the series and I wouldn't be surprised if Haddix shared that relief. She's a talented author with some truly original ideas, I'm just losing interest in this particular idea. Here's hoping she can end the series on a high note.

Among the Enemy.......2007-02-23

The population police stormed through the door and woke up everybody in the dorm. Percy awoke from his deep sleep when an officer shook him and grabbed out of bed while saying" The country is in need of our service now. Get up and get in the vans parked outside or else." This is just one of the extraordinary scenes from Margaret Peterson Haddix book Among the Enemy. This book is about three kids named Percy, Alia, Nina, and Matthis who are captured by the population police, but then escaped into the woods. The population police are hired by the government to kill every third-born to keep down the population. Then of course they get captured again and Matthis is sent to be trained while the others are on duty as a guard. Will Matthis escape from the population police headquarters, will his friends make it out alive, or will the government kill all the third-borns? I recommend this book for all readers you like adventure and mystery.
One reason I liked this book was because it had many unexpected twist. When the kids where captured by the population police, to stop the car they it with a nail and made the car hit the tree. Another example of this was when Matthis saved on officers life even though they are his enemies. One last example was when Alia almost died when a tree hit her. This is one reason why I liked the books.
Another reason I liked this book was because of the good use of descriptive writing. When the author was describing the way Alia looked and felt after She got hit by the tree. Another example was when she described the way the headquarters looked on the inside and outside. She made it feel like you were as if you were standing in front of the house and inside the house. One last example was when the kids were running away from the police, and the author described what was going in through each of their heads. This is another example why I liked the book.
One reason why I didn't like the book was it had too many cliff hangers. It did this between almost every chapter. It was too much of a good thing. Some examples were when the chapter would be very short and some what insignificant and it would take two or three chapter to finish one or two conversations. Another example was when the author left the last chapter wide open for another book. That is one reason why I didn't like the book.
The best reason why I liked the book was because of the descriptive writing. It made you feel like you were in the book. There was also good use of figurative. The author made the book come to life. If you like books with adventure and mystery, than this is the book for you to read.

A Witch's Grimoire: Create Your Own Book of Shadows

Average customer rating:

Well.
Witch's Grimoire: Create Your Own Book of Shadows
A Wecome Addition To Your Magical Library
Doesn't Miss A Trick
Perfect book for a beginner to the Craft

A Witch's Grimoire: Create Your Own Book of Shadows
Judy Ann Nock
Manufacturer: Adams Media Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1593374070

Book Description

Creating and keeping your own book of shadows is critical to your sacred journey. An instrumental tool, your grimoire is your personal record of your spiritual evolution-an evolution only you can document for posterity.

Author and practicing witch Judy Ann Nock guides you through the history of the grimoire, and provides options for creating and blessing your personal book of shadows. Featuring prayers and invocations for key holidays as well as daily practice, this provides the essential knowledge you need to devise your own magickal tools. You'll learn to keep track of your findings, write your own spells, and explore your magickal intentions-at your own pace.

Your steadfast companion, A Witch's Grimoire helps you attain your spiritual goals while creating a chronicle of your journey that will last for generations.

Customer Reviews:

Well........2007-08-02

When ordering this book I figured, due the topic of the book(writing your own Book of Shadows), that it would focus upon organization, consecration and exploring the depth in which one could experiment with making their own book unique. It mentions this at the very beginning. That is the only place. Soon afterwards, the book begins to retort the redundant information, including chakras, days of power(esbats, Shabbats, what the days of the week mean, ect.), circle casting, the Wiccan rede, which nothing is wrong with this but one point: it does not explain how to include, intertwine and cast your own views on such matter to put into your own Book.
While skimming through the book you see there are lines and you think to yourself that, "Oh, goodie, she is going to ask me topics and tell me how to organize my own responses into the ethics of my book." But, sadly, this doesn't occur. The lines are there that you may respond to activities such as, "How did this creative visualization effect you," or "What kind of spells do you think you will cast for the Wort Moon?" Then it just stops with that. It drops with simple questions, such as those, and leaves you hanging with what to do with them.
If you are looking for a book lending options on how to sculpt your own Book Of Shadows do not look towards this one. It is just another book filled with Magick 101.

Witch's Grimoire: Create Your Own Book of Shadows.......2007-03-08

I bought this for my son, he loves it. Says it has so much information and is very interesting.

A Wecome Addition To Your Magical Library.......2006-04-06

I only wish I had been the first person to post a review for "A Witch's Grimoire - Create Your Own Book of Shadows" by Judy Ann Nock, as the previous reviewers used many of the praises and phases that I certainly would have incorporated into my review. Now I have to find other ways of saying that this book is a joy from beginning to end; well-written, thought-out, and organized, sincere and authentic, clear and an amazing guide for Pagan living, and developing your own Book of Shadows. Whether you are new to the craft or an experienced practitioner, I believe this book will serve you well. Step by step Rev. Nock takes you through all the paces necessary for a solid practice and complete Book of Shadows. The look, feel, and size of the book is perfect for what it represents. I could go on..... but the previous reviewers beat me to it!

Doesn't Miss A Trick.......2006-01-28

I found this book as inspiring as it is informative. Judy Ann Nock packs a vast amount of information into a very small space and does so in an entertaining and comprehensive style. Aside from the ancient look and feel of the book, the text, itself, seems magickal indeed. There is a section in the book entitled 'Book of Foundation', but I would have to say that the entire book is an excellent foundation from which to begin one's journey on 'The Path'. I have found the book to be indispensable and keep it alongside my own Grimoire to refer to from time to time. It is so well written I would recommend it for beginner, intermediate and advanced alike. This author has a gift and I look forward to more of her insights and teachings.

Perfect book for a beginner to the Craft.......2005-11-18

Most Wicca 101 books are more theory than practical application. A Witch's Grimoire breaks out of that mold with room to spare. Judy Ann Nock takes a novice Wiccan through the steps necessary to create a truly marvelous Book of Shadows from the paper to the entries.

Not only is the book written from a unique perspective, it is beautifully designed. A plain forest green cover with golden type and no picture wraps a rough cut edged book. The book's almost square shape makes it easy to hold and carry along with you.

Ms. Nock starts us out in the first chapter with an explanation and the reasoning behind creating your own Book of Shadows. With the popularity of some TV shows, what a Book of Shadows really is has been glamorized to mythical proportions. Unfortunately, the success of these popular shows has given rise to confusion as to how one gets a Book of Shadows. Once the reader picks up this book, not only is the confusion alleviated but also the reader is given a practical step-by-step guide with lessons, meditations and thought provoking questions. Some of the meditations are so lovely and peaceful that even a more experienced witch will find something useful in the book's pages.

Chapters are divided into "books" that are themed to the lessons and exercises they contain. There are sections devoted to the days of the week, the Sabbats and Esbats, charkas, candle magic and more.

The visual interruption caused by the question and answer sections with a place to write your answer bothered me. I think the book could have been successful without the few lines after each exercise. The areas provided weren't long enough to do more than jot down a few notes. Perhaps if the book were in a larger, workbook type format, the rules would have made better sense. Another area that I disagreed with was the author's use of the words "must" and "should" in describing rituals. That is a personal pet peeve and really doesn't detract from what I feel is a very good book for a new seeker.

W. Lyon Martin Author/Illustrator of "An Ordinary Girl, A Magical Child"

Average customer rating:

Loving It!!!
Among the Brave Review
Among the Brave by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Among the Brave
Something to Think About

Among the Brave (Shadow Children)
Margaret Peterson Haddix
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0689857950

Book Description

A Reluctant Hero

Trey may have saved Luke's life, but he still thinks of himself as a coward who can barely stand to be outdoors. Now Trey finds out Luke has been taken prisoner at Population Police headquarters. Trey is terrified, but he knows that if he doesn't rescue his friend, no one will.

At police headquarters, Trey impersonates an officer to try getting to Luke. But just when it looks like he's close, Trey suddenly finds himself in danger of exposing not just himself but all shadow children.

Customer Reviews:

Loving It!!!.......2007-07-15

Oh my gosh I absolutely loved this book to death!!!! My teacher read the first book in the series to us and I was instantly hooked! I just kept reading and reading and reading the rest of the series. But Among the Brave has to be my favorite book in the series so far. I cant wait to begin the next book in the series!!!!! Trust me anybody who loves suspense and adventure or just a good story will absolutely fall in love just like me!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Among the Brave Review.......2007-05-11

Among the brave is about a boy named Trey. Trey has made appearances in two other shadow children books, helping out main characters such as Luke and Nina. This time he's a main character. Trey's friend Lee (who is Luke) has been kidnapped by the population police, along with Nina. Trey has pretty much been a coward his whole life, except for a few key moments. He is stuck at the Talbot's house, (where a character Jen, lived and died in a previous book.) expecting to talk with Mr. Talbot, (a population police officer who helps third children. Instead the house gets raided by the population police and Mr. Talbot arrested. Trey decides to stay there for a while, not knowing what to do, as his friends are kidnapped, and no one can help. The he meets up with Mark (one of Luke's two brothers) and Smits, who is taking the name Peter as his new identity. Mark and Trey go to the new population police headquarters, which used to be the Grants (Smits parents) house. Mark gets caught and taken away by the poulation police. Trey now has to save yet another person. He signs up for the population police, and sneaks through the vents of the house. He eventually finds Mark in the basement. He sees Mark being sentenced to death fo having food illegaly. Trey tells Mark to yell liber, which is Latin for free. One of the guards comes in and asks why Mark was yelling liber. Mark said because he wanted to be free. The guard, Trey, and Mark work out a deal, he is going to help Trey and Mark save there friends for information about them. The guard told Trey to get to Mark's truck and drive it close the HQ. Trey did that and walked into the building. The guard, Trey, and Mark get in the truck, with Mark still in the cage. They go to a prison camp called Nezeree. They have to go through a mob of people to get to the camp, and the truck even flipped over but survived. At the prison, the crew went to the warden, and had Mark sent to a cell block. He meets up with the rest of his friends in prison cells,Lee, Nina, Joel, and John, and the chauffeur from before. They all escape the prison.

Among the Brave by Margaret Peterson Haddix.......2007-03-15

This is the fifth book in a series about a time when the government has made having any more that two children illegal. There is a terribe organization called the Population Police that are in charge of finding the "illegal" children and killing them.

The main character in this book is not Luke (Lee), but his friend from school Trey. Trey has just saved Luke's life at a party at the Grant's house. Now, Mr. Talbot has been arrested by the Population Police, Luke, Nina, Joel and John have been captured and Trey has to get over his fear of everything, especially being outside, to try to save them all.

After hiding out at Mr. Talbot's house, Trey finds Luke's brother Mark. They decide to take Mark's truck and go back to the Grant's house to find Luke and the rest of the kids. Trey is very afraid and sees Mark as a leader, but soon he has to take over when Mark is hurt on an electric barb wire fence and captured. He decides he has to join the Population Police so he can get into the Grant's house (which is now the headquarters for the Population Police), to find Mark and his friends.

Trey has to ignore his fear many times in order to save his friends. First he has to climb through a heat vent to find Mark, find someone to help him inside the Population Police, get attacked by a mob of people and drive a truck for the very first time. Then he has take Mark, who is locked up in cage, to find a prison camp to pick up a mystery prisoner along with Luke, Nina, Joel and John. Trey has to use his bravery and his brains to outsmart the warden. But, the Population Police back at their headquarters have figured things out and send the warden a fax just as Trey is about to get his prisoners. Luckily, they have found another friend at the prison who helps them all escape!

The mystery prisoner turns out to be Mr. Talbot and they all end up back at Mr. Hendricks' house. That's where Trey and the rest of the kids decide to join the Population Police so they can keep fighting them from the inside.

I think this is the best book so far in the series. It was very exciting and kept me interested the whole time. At the end of each chapter there was so much suspense I didn't want to stop reading! It was also a nice change to have Trey be the main character in this book. He had never been outside, or even looked out a window, when he was little but he ignored all his fears and kept pushing himself forward to save his friends. I can't wait to start the next book to see how Trey, Luke and Nina fight the Population Police!

Among the Brave.......2007-01-18

Once before in her popular Shadow Children series, Margaret Peterson Haddix has decided to shine her spotlight on someone other than Luke. In this fifth book of the series that someone happens to be Luke's shy friend Trey.

After saving Luke's life at the conclusion of book four, Trey has a newfound reputation to uphold. To his friends Trey is a hero. However deep inside, Trey knows the truth. He's more scared than he's even been in his life, especially with the government being taken over by the Population Police. How will someone like him ever make a difference? How could someone like him help bring down the Population Law? When Trey's friends are captured, it's up to him to face his fears and infiltrate Population Police headquarters and save their lives like he's once saved Luke's.

After finishing book four, I have to say, I was excited about the direction this series was heading. One aspect that I've enjoyed in the series so far is how we only know what Haddix's characters know. We know that the Population Law is unfair and evil but we only ever see how it affects the main characters and their very secluded environments. As I said, I eagerly anticipated finally being able to see what kind of world would let a law like the Population Law exist. I have to say, I was somewhat disappointed. There's nothing new, there's nothing fresh about this society. We've seen it all before in other films and books. People are homeless, poor, and begging for food. The government is in shambles and riots break out everywhere. It definitely would not be a comfortable or safe place to live, third child or not.

I also feel that Haddix lets all her creativity out on her "child" characters. So much, that the adults of the series are rather boring. Mr. and Mrs. Talbot have no depth and the new villains we're introduced to are well-worn and clichéd. Even Trey, the protagonist, is sloppily written. His transformation from zero to hero would be okay if Haddix wouldn't have already shown us how well she can pull this off by transforming Luke. This really stands out in a scene where Trey tricks a high-ranking Population Police official into believing he's a dedicated solider. Trey's gained a lot of courage but not enough to keep the reader from being skeptical here.

Being book five in a seven part series, this book would have to be much worse for me to lose interest now. I was rather excited about the possibility of a fresh and interesting look into a bleak future society, but that's my fault, not Haddix's. Fans of the series will enjoy it and there is a good message about overcoming your fears and rising to the occasion. It was indeed suspenseful; I guess I was just hoping for more.

Something to Think About.......2007-01-10

What if our country really became like this? This series really makes people think about the consequences if a moratorium was put on the number of children you could have, the amount of food you could have, and it has already happened in some countries!

Average customer rating:

Margaret Peterson Haddix is a genius!
among the barons
Among the Barons
Awesome 4th entry in the Shadow Children Series
Awesome 4th entry in the Shadow Children Series

Among the Barons (Shadow Children)
Margaret Peterson Haddix
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0689839103

Book Description

Luke Garner, an illegal third child, spent his first twelve years in hiding. For the past four months Luke has lived among others, using the identity of Lee Grant, at the Hendricks School for Boys. But just as things are finally starting to go right, Lee's little brother Smits arrives at the school and Luke finds himself caught in a tangle of lies that gets more complex with every passing day.

Can Luke trust Smits to keep his secret? And can he trust Smits's menacing bodyguard, Oscar?

Customer Reviews:

Margaret Peterson Haddix is a genius!.......2007-03-30

This series is brilliant. I bought them as a "future read" for my child and decided to try them for myself. I got completely hooked and passed them to my mother who also got hooked.

This series is a must read on so many levels. Warning for the future "DO NOT SURRENDER YOUR FREEDOM!"

Very strong characters. Beautifully written. Story is intense and gripping. Each book in series is a true page turner. You will not want to put them down.

among the barons.......2007-03-10

i thought this book was good its about luke garner and he took over lee grants name and he had met lees little brother smits and they lee and smits always hung out and smits was so sad.

Among the Barons.......2007-01-18

When we last left Luke Garner (or Lee Grant), he was happily planting garden's at Hendricks' School for Boys. He was content with his new surroundings and had openly chose Hendricks' as his new home where he would learn and grow. That was before we met Nina, Matthias, Percy, and Alia and this time around, Haddix decides that it is time to get back to Luke's story.

Luke (Lee) is treated like a god at Hendricks' School for Boys, and quite frankly, he should be. He introduced physical education to their daily schedules. He helps the students overcome their fears of the outdoors by letting them help in his gardens. He helps the students study so that they learn as much as they can from their classes. His life is changed drastically however, when Smits arrives at school. Smits is the real Lee Grant's (the name on Luke's false I.D. card) brother and this threatens Luke's situation at Hendricks'. Can he trust Smits with his secret and what exactly does Smits know?

Haddix cranks up the suspense and plot twists in this fourth installment, helping create in my opinion, the best of the series so far. While there are big things happening outside in the world she's created, Haddix very carefully decides not to tread there quite yet. She instead focuses on the somewhat smaller mystery of who the real Lee Grant actually was.

Through reading this series aloud to my class of fifth graders, I've discovered why these books are so appealing. Haddix creates characters that children can relate to. At times I find them predictable but they're by no means paper-thin either. My students love getting to know each new character and then invest a lot of emotion into watching that character survive in this world. Smits is no exception. He's initially unlikeable, but something draws children to him and the rest of these characters.

And Luke, this is not the same timid Luke we knew and loved from books one and two. This Luke is more seasoned. This Luke has seen things. This Luke has been places. Without having actually stepped foot in the outside world, he somehow has a sense of what it is like. I felt a strange chill when I realized that Luke is educating his fellow classmates and by doing so, creating an army of third children. Luke has clearly stepped forward as the hero of this series and if anyone is to save the day in this somewhat bleak setting, my bet is on Luke.

Tight suspense and clever plot twists aside, there's a reason this book has emerged as my favorite of the series. Something happens in this book that will change the remaining chapters of this series. A very simple scene that didn't actually cause my jaw to drop, but did cause me to pause and take in what was really happening. A scene in which you realize that nothing will be the same ever again for Luke. Haddix has now forced herself to venture into unseen territory and this is where this series will really be tested. She's created an interesting premise and it would seem that with book 5 coming, she's given herself an even bigger canvas to explore her world. Now lets see what she does with the paint brushes.

Awesome 4th entry in the Shadow Children Series.......2006-11-09

Among the Barons was a great and invigorating sequel to the second book in the Shadow Children series. Among the Barons is the third book in the series. Luke, Lee Grant under his fake identity, has to endure obstacles with Smits the real Lee Grants brother. Lee is forced to go live the Grant's but does not know their intentions. He finds out that they want Luke to stage Lee's death and if he doesn't will be punished.

Awesome 4th entry in the Shadow Children Series.......2006-11-09

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