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Among the Hidden (Shadow Children, Bk 1)
Among the Hidden - Shadow Children, Bk 1
Author: Margaret Peterson Haddix
Luke has never been to school. He's never had a birthday party, or gone to a friend's house for an overnight. In fact, Luke has never had a friend. — Luke is one of the shadow children, a third child forbidden by the Population Police. He's lived his entire life in hiding, and now, with a new housing development replacing the woods next to his fa...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780689824753
ISBN-10: 0689824750
Publication Date: 3/1/2000
Pages: 160
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Rating:
  • Currently 4.2/5 Stars.
 196

4.2 stars, based on 196 ratings
Publisher: Aladdin
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio Cassette, Audio CD
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

alaina avatar reviewed Among the Hidden (Shadow Children, Bk 1) on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
Back in high school, I picked this book from my younger sisters stack of library picks because I was desperate for reading material. The character Luke made a big impression on me. I felt so bad for him; I teared up at some points. The children in the series all face difficult decisions and dangerous situations, which makes for a compelling read. After reading this, I searched out the rest of the Shadow Children Series and anything else Haddix had written. Of the non-series books I like "Running Out of Time" the best.
writing-writer avatar reviewed Among the Hidden (Shadow Children, Bk 1) on + 46 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
Luke has two older brothers, Matthew and Mark, which makes him a third child, which also makes him illegal. By law he should never have been born, by law he should be dead. So he hides on his family's farm in constant fear that someday, someone will find him.
However, it is he who finds someone.
When the government takes away the forest that surrounds his house, cuts down all the trees, and builds dozons of new houses, Luke must remain in his attic bedroom for what seems like is going to be the rest of his life!
He takes to looking out a small window in his attic at all the houses and their people. He knows that each house can have no more than four people living in them: a father, a mother, two children... legally, that is how it should be.
Then he sees a fifth face in the window of one of the houses. Could it be? Could it actually be another third child like himself? Luke must find out and soon meets daring, adventurous Jen Talbot... a friend that will change his life forever.

Please note that it is KEY to the plot to read these books in order, as where each book ends the next book begins.

#1: Among the Hidden*
#2: Among the Impostors
#3: Among the Betrayed
#4: Among the Barons
#5: Among the Brave
#6: Among the Enemy
#7: Among the Free
reviewed Among the Hidden (Shadow Children, Bk 1) on + 33 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
My daughter loved this book. She can't wait to read the next books in this series.
bibliocat avatar reviewed Among the Hidden (Shadow Children, Bk 1) on + 76 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Excellent story - for late elementary to adults.
reviewed Among the Hidden (Shadow Children, Bk 1) on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I ordered this book to see if it was something that my seventh graders would enjoy. It is a wonderful, clean novel. I have several students who have read it and begged me to buy the sequels. Highly recommend!
Read All 44 Book Reviews of "Among the Hidden Shadow Children Bk 1"

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havan avatar reviewed Among the Hidden (Shadow Children, Bk 1) on + 138 more book reviews
The first in a series of seven dystopian novels aimed at tween readers about a totalitarian society that has implemented a two-child policy in response to a famine. The story is told from the viewpoint of Luke, a hidden third child. One of the shadow children. While his parents are farmers, a number of new houses are built nearby for a privileged class and Matthew soon discovers that one of the new families has a shadow child as well.

As with most dystopian novels the sense of foreboding heavily affects the story-line but it is overcome in spots by the natural optimism of children. Yet, this reader, as a sadder but wiser adult felt a sense of disaster looming but I was still surprised by the outcomes.

At 153 pages this story moves right along and is a gripping read and while there could have been more character development in spots, what was there really was sufficient for the story as told. I look forward to reading the next installment in the series.
JonnieAngel avatar reviewed Among the Hidden (Shadow Children, Bk 1) on + 44 more book reviews
Among the Hidden is the first of the Shadow Children books. I love it. It is a fast read and though the setting is definitely not suburban America, the characters are relatable. (My 11 year old son likes it and that says something.)

It's a bit of a "heavy" read, not at all light-hearted. It is recommended for children 9-11, though not every child will be emotionally mature enough for this story line.

I made the mistake of letting my aunt with Alzheimer's read the book. She spent the day hiding from the population police, convinced she was being hunted.

Spoiler alert.

SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER One of the main characters is killed. It ends with a cliff hanger. I apologize for the spoiler. But as a parent, I would want to know. SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
skywriter319 avatar reviewed Among the Hidden (Shadow Children, Bk 1) on + 784 more book reviews
After the Government purchases the woods behind the Garners' house from them to build mansions, twelve-year-old Luke is forced to remain inside and away from windows. He looks on with envy as his older brothers complain about going to school and perform outdoor chores on the Garners' farm, and yet he mustn't complain, because they are keeping him hidden for his own safety.

Luke Garner is a third child, one of the Shadow Children, illegal under the Population Law. To the rest of the world except his immediate family, he doesn't exist. His world is his family's farm, and, after the taking away of their forest, his house.

Then one day, in the window of one of the mansions in his backyard, he spies the face of a young girl in a house he knows already has two children. Luke soon strikes up a friendship with Jenny, another illegal third child.

Unlike Luke, however, Jenny is full of strength and ideas. She plans to gather a group of Shadow Children, found from their online chat board, and march to the White House. She invites Luke along, but he is afraid. Does he choose to stand up for his own rights or to save himself for perhaps a better future?

AMONG THE HIDDEN marks the beginning of a startling new series by acclaimed author Margeret Peterson Haddix. Anyone who enjoys dystopian books should pick up this one.
reviewed Among the Hidden (Shadow Children, Bk 1) on
A great thought provoking book for any age!
reviewed Among the Hidden (Shadow Children, Bk 1) on
My 12 year old son, who is a home schooler, enjoyed reading this book :)
reviewed Among the Hidden (Shadow Children, Bk 1) on + 2 more book reviews
My son loved this book. This is the first book in a series of seven. I would recommend it for older kids around 14 yrs. old rather than really young ones as there are some more mature themes regarding death. Look forward to the rest.
confuzzledbooks avatar reviewed Among the Hidden (Shadow Children, Bk 1) on + 482 more book reviews
Taking place in the future, the government has issued a law that couples can only have two children. But families like Luke's, who is a third child, have decided not to follow the law. Because he is illegal, Luke has hidden all his life. Distant family members don't know he even exists. He has never been to school or met children other than his brothers.

All that changes when a new family moves in next door. Luke notices that when every one in that family leaves, there is a face in the window, and he wonders if they have a hidden child just like him.

I loved this book. It reminds me a little of The Gift by Lois Lowery. It was thrilling, and I never knew what was going to happen next. The way it grabs you and hooks you in by the end, you just have to read the others in the series to see what happens.

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