 |
|
| Author | Margaret Peterson Haddix |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Cliff Nielsen |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Shadow Children sequence |
| Genre(s) | Young adult novel |
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing |
| Publication date | March 1, 1998 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 160 pp |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-689-81700-2 |
| Followed by | Among the Impostors |
Among the Hidden is a 1998 young adult novel by Margaret Peterson Haddix concerning a fictional future in which drastic measures have been taken to quell overpopulation. It is the first of seven novels in the Shadow Children series.
Plot Introduction
The story begins in a country with a government that has made it illegal for people to have more than two children. This is due to uneven food distribution that led to shortages and violence. When peace was finally restored the president took drastic measures in order to ensure that the violence didn't break out again; this included the population law. In order to enforce this the president forms the Population Police, a ruthless force established to kill all third children. Thus these children must go into hiding; hence the name Shadow Children.
Plot Summary
Luke Garner is a Shadow Child, a third child forbidden by the Government. The woods behind Luke's house are torn down, and Luke is forced to stay in his room. One day, he sees a girl's face in the window of a house where he knows that two other children already live. Then Luke investigates and finds that this girl's name is Jen. Jen is a baron so she does what ever she wants to in her big house. They become great friends and spend the day together. Jen has been planning a rally for a long time now.She gathers Shadow Children from her protected online chat room.The password is known only by Shadow Children. The password is Free.Luke doesn't like the idea of the rally and is scared to go. He has to decide between helping his friend or risking his life. After planning Jen goes to the rally with only 40 of the pplanned 800 Shadow Children. while Luke stays home because he is too scared to go.Though one day, Luke decided to go to Jens house to see if she is there.He has noticed that she hasn't been returning his signal and she has not by anyway possible, tried to invite Liuke to the house. There,Luke meets Jens dad, a worker for Population Police but entirely against the cause, and he told Luke that the Population Police shot every single third child that had attended the rally and none are left except the ones in hiding.Not even Jen.The fearless girl.The one who was oblivious to death and all things dangerous. The last thing Jens father did was give Luke a fake I.D. card and send him to a boys school called Hendricks.There He took on a fake identity. He is now known as Lee Grant.
