Summary
This
is a young adult science fiction book—the first of seven in a series
about a twelve-year-old boy named Luke. Luke needs to stay hidden and is one of
the “shadow children” because he is the third child in his family. The government limits families to two children. He has two
older brothers. Luke is not able to play outside
in the woods behind his house when a new housing development is built
on property his family had to sell. He must stay hidden inside all the time.
His father is a farmer but the government controls the crops and prices. His father buys supplies to grow food
inside but the government finds out and sends him a letter that he must return
everything he bought. His mother goes to work to help make ends meet. One day
while Luke is looking out a window, he sees a shadow in the house next
door when he knows the family of four has left for the day. He watches
and determines there is another shadow child living next door. He
risks getting caught by the Population Police by sneakily going to her house
and getting inside to meet this person. It's a 13-year-old
girl named Jen, who opens his eyes to many things going on in the real world outside. Her
family has money and influence because her dad is a baron who works for the
government. Jen spends much of her day on the internet with other shadow
children and organizes a rally at the government offices to stand up
for their rights. Read the book to
find out what happens . . .
Reference
Haddix,
M. (1998). Among the hidden. New
York, NY: Simon & Schuster.
My
Impressions
This
dystopian story is well-written, but somewhat heavy-handed in its portrayal of
an over-reaching government. The story describes what could happen if the
government is allowed control over everything. The government places
limitations on how people live and the government uses surveillance tactics and
propaganda to ensure compliance. The fear and paranoia caused by the
totalitarian government is what makes this book effective. Many reasons are
illustrated in this book why a totalitarian government is something to avoid.
The characterizations of Luke, Jen, and their families are believable
considering the circumstances. They are relatable because of their hopes,
dreams, and frustrations described in the book. The reader feels sympathetic
toward them and their difficult situation.
Professional
Review
In a chilling and intelligent novel, Haddix (Leaving Fishers, 1997,
etc.) envisions a near future where a totalitarian US limits families to only
two children. Luke, 12, the third boy in his farming family, has been hidden
since birth, mostly in the attic, safe for the time being from the Population
Police, who eradicate such “shadow children.” Although he is protected, Luke is
unhappy in his radical isolation, rereading a few books for entertainment and
eating in a stairwell so he won’t be seen through the windows. When Luke spies
a child’s face in the window of a newly constructed home, he realizes that he’s
found a comrade. Risking discovery, Luke sneaks over to the house and meets
Jen, a spirited girl devoted to bringing the shadow children’s plight
center-stage, through a march on the White House. Luke is afraid to join her
and later learns from Jen’s father, a mole within the Population Police, that
Jen and her compatriots were shot and killed, and that their murder was covered
up. Jen’s father also gets a fake identity card and a new life for Luke, who
finally believes himself capable of acting to change the world. Haddix offers
much for discussion here, by presenting a world not too different from America
right now. The seizing of farmlands, untenable food regulations, and other
scenarios that have come to fruition in these pages will give readers a new
appreciation for their own world after a visit to Luke’s. (Fiction. 9-13)
Among
the hidden [Review of the book Among the hidden].
(1998, September 1). Kirkus Reviews.
Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/margaret-peterson-haddix/among-the-hidden/
No comments:
Post a Comment