Among the Hidden (Shadow Children Books, #1)

by Margaret Peterson Haddix

In a future where the Population Police enforce the law limiting a family to only two children, Luke has lived all his twelve years in isolation and fear on his family's farm, until another third convinces him that the government is wrong.

• ISBN10: 0689817002
• ISBN13: 9780689817007
• Publish Date: 1 September 1998
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Imprint: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
• Edition: Repackage ed.
• Pages: 153
• Language: English

Reviews

[boghunden]

This book was pretty good. The first 25% was a little slow, but after that it was fine. It was somewhat predictable at times and the story wasn't exactly new, but I enjoyed it anyway.

Even though it's a rather short book, Luke - the main character - went through a development. I liked him a lot towards the ending. I didn't like his parentes too much through and I wondered about Jen's mom since she didn't make an apperance in the book.

It felt a little like this wasn't a complete book and that maybe all seven books in the series should've been just one book.

I found this young-adult book to be fascinating and gripping with suspense. My children as well as myself have greatly enjoyed this quick read and will be reading the 2nd book in the series.

[nannah]

"I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this" . . . I say as I turned every flippin' page!

This little novel has surprising power. It deals with a totalitarian government, and though this theme is not uncommon (ESPECIALLY in the YA books of today--by god it's a super fad), the way it's treated in this novel is very original. It's not shoved into your face or made the main theme of the novel. Instead, Luke is the focus (as he well should be!).

I can't wait to get my hands on the second . . . and I can't believe it's taken me this long to start reading these books.

[Jane]

I had to read this in elementary school... It's definitely one of my overall favorite books. I'd love to read it again. The series is wonderful, and it's so hard to not get into it and have all of these crazy emotions about the deal with the Population Police and justice.