AMONG THE HIDDEN by Margaret Peterson Haddix (1998)

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; 153 pages; science fiction; ages 10-14; ISBN: 0-689-81700-2.

The first in Margaret Peterson Haddix's “Shadow Children” series, Among the Hidden explores a dystopic future in which a worldwide food shortage has forced the government to prevent families from having a third child. Luke has grown up in hiding the past 12 years thinking he’s the only third child that exists. Then he meets Jen, who lives hidden upstairs in the house next door. She tells Luke about other "shadow children," at which point his desire to live his own life and defy those in power becomes unstoppable. "We'll make them listen to us," Jen says. "We're a revolution!"

Because its themes include government control and free will, and because its story takes place in a future society where food is scarce, Among the Hidden has the potential to be used by parents and teachers as a stepping stone toward similar yet more mature fare like The Hunger Games. My favorite aspect of the book was the conflict of interest Jen's stepfather had as a member of the Population Police, but ultimately I prefer realistic fiction to this particular stripe of science fiction.

For further reading, check out the rest of Haddix's "Shadow Children" series.