Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Bibliography

Haddix, Margaret Peterson. 1998. Among the Hidden. New York: Simon and Shuster Books for Young Readers.

Summary

Twelve year-old Luke is an illegal third child in a society where the Population Police only allow each family two children. He must always hide, never allowed outside, living in isolation for the entire twelve years of his life until one day he sees a child's face in a window of the house next door--a house where he knows two other children already live. Could the person he'd seen be another "shadow child" like he is?

Critical Analysis

Margaret Peterson Haddix has a created a dystopic-but-fascinating future society where individual freedoms are smashed under the thumb of a totalitarian government. Readers will be hooked by Luke's situation as a shadow child, and further, the dilemma he faces after discovering another third child. He has hope for a friend, finally, but for that to happen, he must risk of exposing himself. Haddix skillfully builds suspense, leaving readers to wonder about Luke's safety, and if eventually, there is hope that he may have the opportunity to lead a life worth living.

Reviews

Publisher's Weekly--"...the unsettling, thought-provoking premise should suffice to keep readers hooked."

School Library Journal--"Readers will be captivated by Luke's predicament and his reactions to it."

WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT--THE BASIC VERSION:

It's difficult for me to imagine a life like the one Luke must live. As I read, it made me think about all the freedoms that I take for granted. Reading about what life is like for him was fascinating to me, even though I found myself angry at the society he lives in. I couldn't wait to see what actions Luke might take to change his situation. There has to be hope, right? This story is really compelling because it makes you think about what it would be like to live like this and wonder how you would react in the same situation.

IF YOU LIKED THIS BOOK, YOU MIGHT ALSO WANT TO READ:

(You're in luck! This book is the first in a series about shadow children. Woo hoo!)

*Other books in the Shadow Children Series

AMONG THE IMPOSTERS. This one continues Luke's story with his entering a boarding school under an assumed name.

AMONG THE BETRAYED. Thirteen-year-old Nina is imprisoned by the Population Police, who give her the option of helping them identify illegal "third-born" children, or facing death.

AMONG THE BARONS. 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.

*Other books about dystopic societies (which means "something's not quite right...")

Yay! Another series! The Books of Ember series:

DuPrau, Jeanne. CITY OF EMBER. In the year 241, twelve-year-old Lina trades jobs on Assignment Day to be a Messenger to run to new places in her decaying but beloved city, perhaps even to glimpse Unknown Regions.

_____. THE PEOPLE OF SPARKS. Having escaped to the Unknown Regions, Lina and the others seek help from the village people of Sparks.

_____. THE PROPHET OF YONWOOD. This one's a prequel, which means that it comes after City of Ember, but the story actually takes place BEFORE. In The Prophet of Yonwood, it's fifty years before the settlement of Ember. Interesting.