Shadow Children Boxed Set: Among the Hidden, Among the Impostors, Among the Betrayed, and Among the Barons

by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Imagine a world where families are allowed only two children. Illegal third children -- shadow children -- must live in hiding. If they are discovered, there is only one Death.
Among the Hidden
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
An ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
An American Booksellers Association Kids' Pick of the List
Among the Impostors
International Reading Association Young Adults' Choice
Among the Betrayed
An America Library Association Quick Pick
International Reading Association/Children's Book Council Children's Choice

Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Science Fiction, Fiction, Childrens, Adventure

720 pages, Paperback

First published August 31, 2004

About the author

Margaret Peterson Haddix grew up on a farm near Washington Court House, Ohio. She graduated from Miami University (of Ohio) with degrees in English/journalism, English/creative writing and history. Before her first book was published, she worked as a newspaper copy editor in Fort Wayne, Indiana; a newspaper reporter in Indianapolis; and a community college instructor and freelance writer in Danville, Illinois.

She has since written more than 25 books for kids and teens, including Running Out of Time; Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey; Leaving Fishers; Just Ella; Turnabout; Takeoffs and Landings; The Girl with 500 Middle Names; Because of Anya; Escape from Memory; Say What?; The House on the Gulf; Double Identity; Dexter the Tough; Uprising; Palace of Mirrors; Claim to Fame; the Shadow Children series; and the Missing series. She also wrote Into the Gauntlet, the tenth book in the 39 Clues series. Her books have been honored with New York Times bestseller status, the International Reading Association’s Children’s Book Award; American Library Association Best Book and Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers notations; and more than a dozen state reader’s choice awards.


Haddix and her husband, Doug, now live in Columbus, Ohio, with their two children.

Reviews

[Christian · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of my students wanted these to be added to our classroom library. Since I like to be familiar with what the kids in my class are reading, I figured I should read these before putting them on the shelf.

The premise of the series is intriguing...in a world similar to our own, in the near future, families are prevented from having more than two children. A totalitarian government rules the country and the Population Police enforce the government's Population Law, killing or imprisoning "shadow children," any 3rd child (or beyond) in a family.

The series follows the life of one Shadow Child, Luke Garner, from his life on a rural farm to rebel against the government. These first four books came as a boxed set. I did not know that this was a series (that isn't completed yet...I believe there are 7 books so far....I have only read these 4) until they arrived. I read all four in about a day and a half.

The target audience is 8 to 12 years old and I think that is appropriate. The story is somewhat simple and the pace plodding at times. That being said, it has a disturbing, thought-provoking hook and it might be a good gateway series for a younger reader not quite ready for more adult themed books or authors (can't get a good comparision right now) that we all seem to discover in our teens.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the series quite a bit. I read all six books and liked each one. I liked how the author would switch the focus onto different characters for each of the books. I was an easy read but had deep messages.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kids love this series! It is really easy to read, follow, and find yourself getting into.

In the beginning of the book we meet Luke who is the third and youngest child in his family. However, we quickly learn that life for Luke is much different than life for his brothers. Luke is rarely able to go outside, he is not allowed to go to school, and he does not have any friends. As the novel continues, we learn that where Luke lives third children are illegal and if they are found then they will be killed. However, Luke is not the only third child out there and eventually he becomes involved with a dangerous plan to make life safe for third children.

This is the first box in the Shadow Children series, and middle school students truly enjoy the entire series. This book appeals to both boys and girls because of its interesting topic and variety of characters. This would be a great book to read aloud with a 5th, 6th, or 7th grade classroom because it is an easy read but it deals with a serious issue that can bring about a lot of discussion.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read! I love young adult fiction! This entire series is yet another way that someone depicts how the future could be. I felt the courage of youth and felt their desires to make the world a better place. I saw a lot of myself in these characters that struggled with physical as well as emotional pain trying to live what they thought was right...finding truth within themselves and how they needed to share truth with others. Through differing books, you have reactions and stories from different characters....I loved seeing the different points of view. It made me realize that though I might be going through an experience at the same time as someone else, their view of it might be completely different!

[Brianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

These book's are about shadow children who are either a third child or above.. For them it is illegal to be alive.. This book is very good, it also describes the rights some have and those who will go and fight for what they believe in.. I am going to start on "Among The Barons" when i get back to my school..

[Charity Bradford · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually still need to read Among the Barons, but here is my review for the 1st three.

The series was hard for me to get into. The first book dragged and I had problems with Luke. He acted too young for the age he was supposed to be. Now I know that's because of his situation, but it still made it hard for me to get into his character.

I enjoyed books two and three better.

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the box series and was drawn in to rush out and buy the additional books. This is a great line of stories of what it would be like if you could only have two children, or should I say, if you are an illegal third child. It is adventurous and full of suspense! These are great chapter books and I recommend them highly!

[Carissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book, it is so suspensfull, a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat, and you never want to quit reading utill you know the end.

[Justie]

Super amazing series.

Its becoming so real!

Keeps you on the edge of youe seat.

A must read!!

[Jolene Bernhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this to my students for years and they love them. It always conjures up great discussion on being the third child. How would our lives/families be different?

[Kenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mother got me the first four books in a collection when I was younger. She quickly realized it may have been a mistake as I would have my nose in the books everywhere we went. I remember her having to tear the book from me (not literally) just so I'd put it down. I absolutely loved the series. It does have darker sides to it, yes. So I recommend it for jr high and above.

It really draws you into the characters, making you feel what they are going through as if this world were our own. I remember just breezing through the pages, one after another, hooked to all of these books. One of the few series that I really felt something while reading. Please get this for your Jr high/freshman students/kids. Honestly, it's a good read for any age, just more targeted for young adults.

[Ranette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you a third child? If so, in this society you wouldn't be born. A great series with good questions for kids and teens.

[Jaclyn Culbert]

Very good and different! It was a little scary when I read it as a child. Haddix does a great job of creating this crazy world, where the third child is not allowed to be alive!

[. · Rating 4 out of 5]

AMONG THE HIDDEN (Shadow Children #1) is a very strong start to a series that looks to have tons of potential. Truly a clean and suspenseful book for readers of all ages.
Luke is 12 and a secret child, a 3rd child hidden away from the outside world, because his very existence is forbidden. In this future society where the government has put a limit on families of a two child maximum, the danger of being caught and shot on sight by the Population Police is a very real thing. Luke's quite life, hidden in the attic of his family’s farm house suddenly become very exciting, when he discovers another "shadow child" has moved into the newly built neighboring house. Now he must decide to risk it all to have a friend or live out the rest of his day’s tucked away, content to just be alive at all.
What a great concept Haddix has come up with here. And although I know this series was written with a much younger reader in mind, I didn't find it to be dumb down at all; on the contrary, the writing, although an "easy" read, was quite mature. AMONG THE HIDDEN is a wonderful thrilling read that is sure to get your blood pumping and your emotions running high.. In fact, it would make for a great movie concept.
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AMONG THE IMPOSTORS (Shadow Children #2) is just as strong a read as the first, maybe an even better one.
Picking up where AMONG THE HIDDEN leaves off, Luke Garner is off to start his new life as Lee Grant. Leaving his family (the only people he has every really known) to protect them from the Population Police, with the help of Jen’s dad, Mr. Talbert, Luke/Lee is enrolled in Hendricks School for Boys. Excited and terrified, Luke finds that the outside world is not at all what he had expected. He is never truly alone, the teachers are awful and seemingly oblivious to the student, unless they are giving out demerits and the other boys are disregarding and or cruel. Just as Luke starts to feel he’s at his breaking point, losing himself, the real him.. He meets Jason and everything changes. But who can you really trust when you’re living a life that isn’t really yours?
AMONG THE IMPOSTORS, Haddix second book in the Shadow Children series is another thrilling page turner that I challenge you not to be swept away by. Our hero grows leaps and bounds in this installment really finding his voice by the end. All I have left to say is... “Next book please!”
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Haddix switches focus in AMONG THE BETRAYED (Shadow Children #3) from Luke who we followed through the first to books to Nina Idi. Continuing the story from where things were left in book #2, Jason and Nina have been arrested as traitors and accomplices, conspiring to falsely turn over shadow children to the Population Police.
The danger is much more present and direct in this third installment as Nina struggles for survival in Prison. Hungry, terrified and feeling betrayed by all her friends including the boy she thought loved her, Nina isn’t quite sure she can resist when the interrogator gives her an opportunity to save her own life. Can she betray other third children; condemn them to certain death even if it means her own survival?
This ongoing plot continues in the same vein as the first two books; fast paced, close calls, betrayal and plenty of white knuckle moments. Haddix has so far consistently done a great job keeping the series fresh and thrilling and I am anxious to dive right into what happens next.
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In AMONG THE BARONS (Shadow Children #4) I was pleased to find that the storyline had circled back around to Luke at the Hendricks School for Boys.
Just as Luke Garner (under the ID of Lee Grant) is starting to make a home for himself at the boarding school, starting to make real friends, people he can trust, other boys with a secret in common.. well it would be an understatement to say complications arise. Smits, the real Lee Grant’s little brother enrolls at Hendricks with an imposing and interfering bodyguard in tow. Now with the new boy’s oversized guardian Oscar, suddenly ever present, everyone is on high alert and there is no safe break from the charade. Why is Smits even there?... To trip up Luke?.. To expose him?.. Is Smits another spy like Jason? Or is Smits in just as much danger as Luke with secrets of his own to protect?
Haddix once again does an excellent job, skillfully bringing yet another installment of the Shadow Children series to life; keeping the story moving forward at a heart-pounding pace. AMONGE THE BARON contains some of the biggest surprises and plot twist thus far and the ending is definitely what you would call a cliffhanger. It’s clear the Shadow Children’s gripping story is far from over.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the entire Shadow Children series.
This series starts out strong and interesting. We have a main character that is finding strength in his own self and an engaging story to back him up. However, the series changes main characters from book-to-book. This is the same issue I had with The Giver series. It's difficult to follow.
Love Among the Hidden and Among The Impostors... the rest were difficult to follow and almost boring.

[Tirzah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series was one of those dusty ones on my to-read shelf: I knew someday I would read them and the someday took a long time. I was interested in them, but other books had higher priority. Finally, I read the books. While I was glad I read them, I have to say "The Shadow Children" series was just an okay series.

The concept is compelling: set in the future world, the law orders only two children per couple. Failure to comply to this bullying results in death. One third child will rise to fight for all third children, which eventually leads to a rebellion. The concept may not be fresh, but it is still compelling.

Haddix chose to switch protagonists throughout the series. Nothing is wrong with that, but my personal preference is the same protagonist(s) in which I can learn to appreciate and watch grow through his or her saga. I could not really enjoy this since Haddix introduces several protagonists. And in some installments, the previous protagonists were barely in the storyline or not in them at all.

It may sound like a silly reason to mark "The Shadow Children" as okay, yet this is just my reading preference. I do not know about others, but I like consistency in life (including books!). However, I would not discourage anyone from reading the series as it holds good lessons and gets readers thinking.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are great. The whole idea behind the books is so interesting, and the different perspectives of the different characters makes it even more so. Many people may have heard of how China has a population restriction law right? Well, in this book there were extreme food shortages and starvation so the law has become world-wide and strictly enforced by the Population Police. Third children, or "Shadow Children" are illegal and will be tortured for information and killed if they are found. Therefore, they must live in secrecy and hiding, becoming paranoid, and terrified of the world outside. The government controls everything related to food, thereby controlling everything. What they don't tell the ignorant citizens is that if the Barons, (rich, upper-class people), shared their food and wealth and the food was distributed evenly, there would be enough and having three or more children would be no problem! These books follow the lives of these third children as they try to change the laws, become free, and live life as normal kids, not in hiding.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

ORAL PRESENTATION CATEGORY
This seven-book series tells of a futuristic dystopia where families are allowed to have only two children. The main protagonist of the series, Luke, is a third child. The series tells of how he came to find other third children, leave home for the first time to try and make a difference in the world, and, eventually, how he helps overturn the laws prohibiting third children. At times the plot moved slowly (particularly in the first parts of the first and second books), but generally speaking there was plenty of action to keep readers engaged. I felt like the depth of the characters was at times inadequate to the dramatic nature of some of the plot developments, but I also felt like the drama would be engaging to reluctant readers. Because the books end on an optimistic note of life getting better for third children everywhere it will certainly provide young adult readers with the sort of ending they will want. On the whole I feel like this series deserves the acclaim it has received as a good pick for reluctant readers.

[Krista Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good series for a younger reader. Explores how a totalitarian government tries to control its population (needlessly) but making a scapegoat out of children who are third in their families and my killing those children and their families if they're caught.

People begin to rebel and the series follows different children as they try to change forces much greater than them. The kids are surprisingly realistic - sometimes the characters did things I didn't expect, but stayed in character. Adults fall into three camps - good, bad, and neutral - pretty true to reality there too. Both strong male and female kid character (more male).

My only complaint was that the writing was somewhat histronic. Kids don't really go around yelling, shouting or moaning, "Noooooooooo". That diction always interrupted my reading - but kids might not even notice it.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are the first four in the Shadow Children series. Its a great read if you like realistic fiction. It is based in the future when there is a population law that stops families from having more than two children. Its suspensful and unpredictable. I've read the first four but there is also Among the Brave, Among The Enemy, and Among The Free.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of a third child in a world where couples are only allowed two children. Third children must hide and are considered Shadow Children. It's interesting to comtemplate a society like this one. You find yourself cheering on the shadow children as they try to find a place for themselves and elude the Population Police. Although I read the entire series, I must admit that the latter books lost momentum and became a little too predictable.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

so when i 1.st looked at the cover i didn't know that Luke {main charter} was a third child in his family that had to hide from the poulation police. Luke thought he was the only third child alive but when the population police cut down there family farm to build new homes will luke have the courge to come out of hidding to see next door if he's the only third child alive? find out for yourself and read the seires!just like i am :-}

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

as a kid Haddix was my favorite author her ability to create suspense is phenomonal. she makes you want to keep reading and reading and reading until you have finished the whole book in one night. (believed me it happend on several occasions). the shadow children series was definetly one of her best and most intriguing series i loved it a lot. the only bad part was the ending it felt kind of rushed. but all in all the series was great.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

We have just finished the Shadow Children series and we really enjoyed them! The first book didn't really "suck" me in that much- but as the series went on we really got caught in the story line. I think it is a great series to help us value the freedom we enjoy, and the evils of a totalitarian government.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is absolutely amazing!!! One of my 4th grade students introduced me to them. I have read the entire series, and every book was difficult to put down. Even though these books are considered children's literature, adults will find they contain deep topics to prob, analyze, and discuss. Don't let the children's literature genre turn you off. These books are definite must reads.

[Shila · Rating 5 out of 5]

o my Gosh you guys, this is a MUST read series, it's totally clean-ok, im not posotive that there arent maybe a couplke swears in the whole series: but other than that, i am posotive you will love it. i relaly dont think that there are any swears, but im not posotive, and i dont want to lie, so ya. but wow, these books are amazing!

[Aubrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this series. It obviously was meant for younger readers, but even so I really enjoyed them. I found it very easy to get drawn into each of the books. Not sure how big the books are (cause I just downloaded them onto my kindle) but it took only about a day and a half to get through each book. (which says alot for me)

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whole series of books was great. She did such a good job at keeping your attention. I couldn't wait until the next book came out just ask my friends!
I just hope that we never have a population police. A must read

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just a fantastic series. Clearly written for children but with some seriously complex and thought provoking issues. I was really impressed that it managed to be deep and a quick read at the same time!

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This entire series is fantastic. Takes place in a future where third children are against the law, therefore, there are many hidden children. You see the life of a hidden child, you see the life of one trying to make it in the real world under a false identity and you see the start of a revolution.