Haddix has said that China's one-child policy wasn't the primary inspiration for Among the Hidden, but she did do a lot of research on China's own population laws. Which one is Haddix's fictional world in which a government dictates how many kids a family can have?Ĭhina has as a very well-known (and very controversial) one-child policy.

While some authors create fantastically imaginary worlds (we're still waiting for our acceptance letter to Hogwarts), others choose to make up not-so-far-fetched dystopias (pretty sure Big Brother actually is watching). What is Among the Hidden About and Why Should I Care?

Let's just say you don't want to turn your back on them. We won't spoil anything, but The Missing ends up grappling with some of the same questions: what happens to kids who aren't supposed to exist-and who are targeted by some seriously evil adults? Those ALA guys sure know how to pick 'em.)Īfter finishing the Shadow Children series, Haddix began a whole new series called The Missing. (Also on the list that year? Harry Potter #1. Haddix racked up a whole bunch of awards with Among the Hidden, including being listed on the American Library Association's 1999 list of best books for young adults. Third children-shadow children-are hunted down and killed by the cheerfully named Population Police. Among the Hidden is a sci-fi novel set in an overpopulated future where the Government has decreed that families can only have two children. If you're reading that paragraph right now, going ' baroo?,' you've probably figured out that this is not Real Life. And first order of business is convincing Luke that the Government is a big, fat, corrupted liar. He meets Jen Talbot, also a third child, who's utterly against their oppressive government and is ready to start a revolution. It introduces Luke Garner, who's an illegal third child hiding from the Population Police.

Among the Hidden is the springboard for Margaret Peterson Haddix's Shadow Children series-and there are seven books in the series, so make sure you have extra batteries for your late-night reading flashlight.Īmong the Hidden was published in 1998. Finish up your homework, polish off your library card, and get ready to hunker down for a reading marathon.

Haddix among the hidden