The Shadow Children

Margaret Peterson Haddix is a semi-well-known author who writes for children (which, if you haven't guessed by now, means everybody). I've read some of her works before, but now it's time to look into her most ambitious to date. It's the Shadow Children, or Among the... books. This post will get a tad long. You've been warned.

Among the Hidden: 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 whole life in hiding. But that's all about to change when he sees a girl's face in a house where he knows two other children live. Jen is willing to risk everything to come out of the shadows. Does Luke dare to become involved?

My rating: 8/10

Among the Imposters: Luke, under the alias Lee, finds himself in hot water. He's finally at school. But there are too many people, all of them with secrets of their own. He finds a door to the outside, but who can he trust?

My rating: 8/10

Among the Betrayed: Nina Idi-- a third child-- has been betrayed by the boy she loved, and arrested by the Population Police as well. The only thing Nina knows is that she is innocent. Now, she has a choice: convince three other prisoners to admit they are shadow children and be spared, or refuse to cooperate and be killed.

My rating: 8.5/10

Among the Barons: Luke Garner, aka Lee Grant, is in yet another scrape: the real Lee's little brother, Smits, arrives at the school, and Luke finds himself in an inescapable web of lies. Can he trust Smits? More importantly, can he trust Smits's bodyguard, Oscar?

My rating: 9/10

Among the Brave: Trey, another third child, goes to Mr. Talbot's home just as Talbot is taken away in chains. Soon Trey, known to be a coward, finds himself with a need to rescue all of his friends from the hands of the Population Police. He also had a need to be brave...

My rating: 8.5/10

Among the Enemy: Matthias saves the life of one of the Population Police, and as a reward, he is taken in among their ranks. In their headquarters, he encounters a young wonam named Nina Idi...

My rating: 9/10

Among the Free: Luke, when he rejects orders to kill anold woman, accidentally kick-starts a revolution. But is freedom really free?

My rating: 9.5/10

Really, I need to post my thoughts about these, but they're all very good, and near impossible to put down. Read them. That's all you need to know.

Coming Soon: I'm not telling you anymore.