Among the Hidden

I've read the book "Among the Hidden" by Margaret Peterson Haddix at least twice or so before I decided to read it again and write and blog on it for one of my last outside reading books. The book is about a young boy named Luke Garner who is the third child in his family, after his two older brothers Matthew and Mark. As a third child, poor Luke is forced to live in the attic, and is really never able to come out. The reason for Luke's confinement, or hiding is because of the population law. It states that no family should have more than 2 children in their household. As time goes by, I think Luke just considers living in the attic and hiding a way of life, and that many children in other households do it too. Luke indeed is right about other children having to hide. One day he discovers another child in the window of a house nearby. Letting his curiousity get the best of him, he sneaks over to the house next door and meets the child he saw in the window. To his surprise, the child is a young girl about his age named Jen Talbot who is also a third child. Jen seems a little more well off and confident compared to Luke. She even has a fake ID. With this fake ID, she is able to leave the house and go to the president's house to form a rally for all third children. Luke chickens out and doesn't go with her, and unfortunately finds out later that things did not work out in Jen's favor. Jen's father gives Luke a fake ID and sends him off to a private school in hope of more freedom.

I'm not completely sure, but I believe the whole third child/population law is based off of what has occured and what still does take place in certain places around the world. It's sad to think that parents have to risk their child's life in order to keep them alive. One thing that's kind of cool about this book is that all the Garner boys have biblical names. In fact, they're gospel names (the 1st three gospels) Matthew, Mark, and Luke. This idea makes me think that Haddix is trying to point out that these children, especially Luke, are children of God.... just a thought. This book is really good and I would recommend it to anyone. I'm pretty sure this book is part of a series dealing with shadow children. I haven't read any of the others, but might think about it. I'm sure they would be good too.