Among the Hidden is a science fiction novel by Margaret Peterson Haddix. It is the first book in the Shadow Children series. The story follows Luke Garner, a third child living in an over population-controlled society. It is illegal to have more than two children, and third children like Luke must remain hidden. When he meets Jen, a runaway who is also a third child, he begins to uncover the secrets of his society and to consider the possibilities for freedom.
The story begins with Luke describing his life as a hidden third child. His family lives on a farm, and he is constantly hiding from the population police. Despite living on a farm with two siblings, Luke never gets to go out or attend school, and he must stay in the shadows. He is constantly in fear that at any moment the population police could come and take away his family, or even worse, discover him.
One day, Luke spots an unfamiliar girl in the fields near his house. He is instantly intrigued, and begins watching her each day. He eventually discovers that the girl is Jen, a third child who ran away from her home after her family was taken away by the Population Police. With the help of Luke’s younger brother, they devise a plan to protect Jen while she learns to survive in their new world.
The two become closer, with Luke revealing his own secret to Jen: his true identity as a third child. He begins to feel less isolated and less alone in his world. As their friendship blossoms, the two of them hatch a plan to break free from the oppressive regulations of their society. Jen and Luke begin to question the rules of their world and propose ideas of how to fight their government.
At the same time, Luke and Jen are both struggling to survive and to pass for second children. Luke is forced to deal with his own fear, including a fear of being discovered. However, despite these obstacles, the two of them continue to build a plan of action to fight against their government regulations.
Meanwhile, the population police are slowly discovering Jen’s location, and will soon come to take her away. To protect Jen, Luke comes up with a plan to disguise her as a third child. Jen fears being discovered, but Luke is able to convince her otherwise. With love and courage, the two of them take a stand against their government, and they make it out safely in the end.
In the end, the story serves as a reminder of the importance of standing up for what is right, and the courage and strength it takes to do so. It is a testament to the strength of friendship and love and the power of standing up for what you believe in, no matter the consequences. Luke and Jen’s story remind us how freedom is worth standing up for and how it is possible to make a difference, even if it seems hopeless.