Among the Hidden (Shadow Children #1)

Reader reviewed by Maddie Hemmerle

 Among The Hidden is about Luke and his family. Luke has to hide from the outside because he is a third child. There is a Population law that says you have to only two kids only. He has two brothers and of course a mom and a dad. His brothers names are Matthew and Mark. Matthew and Mark can actually go outside and go to school. Luke felt like he was in prison, he hated to hide. But when he was just about to lose hope, he saw a face, a kind of young face in the Sports family window when everybody already left. He starts to make a plan to go meet the face. He finally got the idea, goes outside, and goes inside the Sports family house. He was very excited about meeting another third child. Her name was Jen; she has a very good personality and is very brave. But when she asks Luke to join her for the rally, will he go?

       First I thought the book was very interesting and entertaining. I liked reading about the Population law and Luke and Jen. If the Population law was in South Carolina, I would very sad because Im a third child and I wouldnt be able to go outside or meet anybody. My favorite quote in the book in the book was she She wanted to live. Not die. Not hide. Live. I thought that was a good quote. Its a really strong quote. My favorite character is Luke because I thought Luke was a brave curious character. When he was learning all these things that Jen told him and him going to Jens house from his house was a very interesting part. I thought that Jen was cool because she got to go outside even if she was a third child and I thought she was brave because she is brave enough to go to the rally.

         Second I didnt like what happened at Jen at the rally. It was kind of shocking. I didnt like the part when Jen cut her hand for Luke and squeezed out blood onto the carpet. It was touching but, it almost made me throw up. I thought it was kind of sad when Lukes mom told him he couldnt be in the kitchen or eat with them anymore.

         My rating for this book is 5 stars. This is a very exciting, entertaining, interesting, cant put down book. People from 7 to 85 will love this book. 7 because I dont think little kids like 5 and 6 years old will understand this book.

This book felt a little young to be, but at the same time is really well done. It is the perfect start to a series that is reminiscent to other big YA books, but can be read to younger kids without being too scary. The idea is not super new, but I love the way it is handled. Also, the books leaves at a place where the door is wide open for so much more to come!

Reader reviewed by Gorow911

My teacher posted excerpts of each chapter on my schooling home page (i'm homeshooled) and i was supposed to finish at the end of the quarter, but i finished two weeks ago, i couldn't stop reading it. i had to force myself off, her adjectives were just like watching a movie. i can't wait to read the rest of the series.

It has really been years since I read this book. But, I remember that this is what started me reading like a compulsive, crazy person. It's deep for such a young person to read.

After a worldwide famine, a population law is enacted in America. Only two children are allowed per couple, any other children are counted as illegal, or shadow children.

12-year Luke is a shadow child, he has lived his entire life on his family's farm hidden from the neighbors and the population police. He and his family live in fear every day of someone finding him. When a housing development is built behind his property, Luke loses the last freedom that he has, as he is forced to stay in his house or risk discovery.

A few weeks after the development is built Luke sees, somebody else inside one of the houses, and all the neighbors are gone. Eventually Luke takes a chance a discovers another shadow child, Jennifer Talbot. Jen is excited to meet Luke, and shows him a network she has developed to communicate with other shadow children, and organize a protest against the population law. Luke is excited to meet Jen, but intially disbelives that Jen will actually follow-thru. When Luke finally realizes that Jen plans to have the protest and risk her life and the lives of several other shadow children, he is forced to make a decison. In the end both Jen and Luke's decisions have far reaching impact and change their family and their lives forever.

This book is definitely thought-provoking and provides a excellent opportunity for discussion on population control and the extent of a government's involvement in it's citizen's lives.


Age Groups: 11 and older

Content: references to children being executed, references to children being imprisoned

Reader reviewed by TayTay

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
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God boook!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:) :) :) :) :) :) :)

Reader reviewed by Wyatt orris

What I Think Of the Shadow Children                                     

            I like Margret Haddixs books because her books are exiting and mysteries. Her writing is amazing and can make you feel like you are one of the characters in the book.                                                                                                                 Next, the mean charters are Luck and Jen. There not allowed to exist but they exist and are hiding from the government. In fact several hundred kids are illegal and are in hiding from the government and live in fare of the propulsion

Police will find them.                                                                                                    

            Finally I recommend the book for kids in forth or fifth grade and anybody who likes mysteries that is my opinion on Among the Hidden. If you want to hear the rest you should read it for yourself.  What is your opinion?

Reader reviewed by Ali

I am a fifth grader, and I just completed Among The Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix. When I was reading I kept asking to myself, "would I myself have own the guilt to have confidence in the rally of that sort?" It's something we all have our personal thoughts about. However, wouldn't it be a nice trate to have. In life ther's going to be ups and downs, positives and negetives, but that's life, and that's how it's going to be. Maybe if main character Luke, would have had the will, the ending would have a different result.

Reader reviewed by Ali101

This was such a good book! It had a good storyline to it and made me be thankful for who I am and glad that I don't live where ever he lives!!!!!! I have to give all the credits to the author!She really can write a GOOD book!!! I haven't read Among The Brave,Among The Enemy, or others that she wrote, but I will surely read them!

Reader reviewed by arima12

A fun, thrilling, book for all ages, among the hidden. One of many great books created by Margaret Peterson Haddix . Description of fanticy is a captivating experience. A page flipper full of exitment is what could be found in the insightful series. Luke Garner one of the major charactor of the book is an illegal third child whos spent most of his childhood in hideing. He soon comes to find that Jen a nabor who is also an illegal third child fighting for her rights at a rally that might take away her life,but never her freedom.