In a future where population control is law, families are allowed to have no more than two children. Luke, the main character, is a third child, also called a shadow child, and therefore has lived his entire life in secret. Luke is forced to live his life indoors when houses began to build around his family's farm house. He can not go to school, play outside or even eat with his parents and two older brothers. Luke discovers a third child named Jen that lives near him. The two become friends and confide in each other. Jen's father is a member of the Population Police and she is extremely outspoke about the violation of her rights. She organizes a rally against the government and Population Police for shadow children, but Luke is too scared to attend. Luke later learns that Jen and all of the shadown children have been killed in the rally. Jen's father, who is under strict surveillance due to suspicion of rebellion, gives Luke the ID card of a legal boy who was killed in an accident. Luke is forced to leave his family in search of a normal life as his new identity.
Impact on Me
This book was well-written and is an interesting read for younger readers, such as those in fourth-eighth grade. I enjoyed the book's themes and hypothetical future warnings, but I did not find the writing to be that entertaining. If I was not reading this for class, I most likely would have stopped reading it half way through. I felt sorry for Luke's situation and the world he lived in, but I found him to be a bit of a boring character.
Reviews
This first title in Margaret Peterson Haddix's Shadow Children series (S & S,
1998) introduces listeners to a time in the not-so-distant future when having more than
two children is illegal. Luke Garner is a third child, a shadow child, whose existence is punishable by death. Luke has spent his whole life hiding until one day he catches a
glimpse of another third child in a new house near his home. Luke discovers Jen, a
bold girl who makes him dream of freedom.
Yusko, S., & Mandell, P. (2005). Among the Hidden. School Library Journal, 51(5), 66.
Luke is the third son in this futuristic novel in which only two children are allowed in a family. The secrecy surrouning Luke's existence is threatened when Luke risks everything to meet another shadow child.
Among the Hidden. (2003). Read (Teacher's Edition), 52(13), 5.
This title has some of the same tones as The Giver by Lois Lowry (Houghton Mifflin, 1993), though the writing is not as taught. Definite food for thought and discussion.
Hoy, S. (1999). Reviews: Fiction. Book Report, 18(1), 63.
In a Library
After students read this book, they will be anxious to know what happens next in Luke's journey. Students can hypothesize what will happen to Luke by writing a paragraph and submitting it to the librarian. The librarian can then read the creative answers to all of the students who submitted an answer or post all of the answers, anonymously if students want, on a wall that will advertise the book. After students are able to read the submissions (about a week), the librarian can put the second book on display so that interested students can discover what actually happens to Luke. The librarian can use Among the Hidden to discuss current events in other countries, like China, where population control is a real thing. This would be ideal in a social studies or even English class, but it could be used in a booktalk. Students can discuss the realities of population control, such as the possibly missed contributions from illegal individuals, how the welfare system would work with a small population and even lead to a discussion of the failed attempts of communism.
Haddix, M. P. (1998). Among the Hidden. New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
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