Among the Hidden

The Bookworm says......YES! Among the Hidden, a Shadow Children novel, by Margaret Peterson Haddix, was a truly stunning book. 11 year-old Luke Garner has no friends, and has never been off his family's small farm. This is because he is among the hidden. This means he is a shadow child. A forbidden third. In Luke's time and government, third children were not allowed. Banished. Illegal. The government even has population police that hunt down and kill third children. The population law was created when there was a shortage of food, because the farmers didn't have a good harvest. The government is micro-managing the countries. They control where you live, what you eat, what you plant, and even how many children you have. Luke is allowed outside sometimes, as long as he runs inside to his hiding place when his mother calls for him. But then a group of wealthy people, called barrens, build lots of house where there used to be a large forest. Now Luke cant even go near the windows. One day when he is sitting in his attic bedroom, he thinks he sees a flash of light. He carefully observes the house for weeks and decides there is another shadow child living there. He sneaks over to the house and meets Jen, an outgoing, barren, shadow child. She is planning a rally, where all the shadow children will march to the presidents house and demand freedom. Will it work? I surely hope so! I would recommend this book to anyone who doesn't mind a little morbidness, sadness, and loves a good thriller!