Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Haddix, Margaret Peterson. (1998). Among the Hidden. USA: Simon & Schuster.

Among the Hidden is the first novel in the seven part Shadow Children series. All of the novels in this series are science fiction. This novel is written for children in approximately grades 5-7. Presently, there has not been any audio or video productions of this novel. Luke is a third child in America. Not typically a big deal, except that this novel is set in the future where population laws have been put in place limiting each family to only two children. Luke never goes outside or leaves his farm. Once a subdivision is built behind his house where the woods used to be Luke is forced to live in the attic. Luke has a tiny peep hole that he looks out and one day he thinks he spots a child in a house that already has two children. Luke's suspicions are correct. Luke gains the courage to sneak over to that house and begins a friendship that will change his life forever. Luke meets Jen, another third child. Jen is not like Luke because she is not fearful of being a third child. Her father works for the Population Police and as a result she has much more knowledge than Luke. Jen stages a rally to protest third children to the government. Not to anyones surprise the rally does not go as planned. Luke eventually finds himself free from his home with a fake i.d. The next books in the series follow third children as they hope to gain freedom in America.