Among the Betrayed
Third Shadow Children novel, told from Nina Idi's perspective.
Among the Betrayed is a 2002 novel by Margaret Peterson Haddix, the third of seven novels in the Shadow Children series. It shifts perspective from the first novel, focusing on Nina Idi, a shadow child arrested with Jason Barstow at the end of Among the Impostors.
- Spanish title
- Entre los traicionados
Lore & Background
The novel follows Nina Idi, whose real name is Elodie Luria. She left a dreary but emotionally comfortable life with her three aunts and grandmother, who purchased a fake ID and identity for her—'Nina Idi'—and sent her to Harlow School for Girls. There she fell in love with Jason, a boy at Hendricks School for Boys, and was later accused of trying to find shadow children at her school. She was arrested by the Population Police along with Jason.
Reader's Guide
Nina is given two choices by a Population Police official she calls The Hating Man. She is moved into a cell with three other children: Matthias, Percy, and Alia, who are ten, nine, and six years old—shadow children living on the streets. As Nina befriends them, she struggles with Jason's betrayal and whether to betray her cellmates to save herself. She chooses to help them escape, and they find their way to Hendricks School for Boys. There they are caught by Lee and Trey, who recognize her as Jason's girlfriend. The Hating Man reveals himself to be Mr. Talbot, who had put Nina through a test to see if she was a shadow child ready to take a side; she passes. Mr. Talbot also reveals that Jason did not betray her and is not dead, but still works for the Population Police.
Did You Know?
- The Spanish version is called Entre los traicionados.
- Nina's real name is Elodie Luria.
- The three children in her cell are Matthias, Percy, and Alia, ages ten, nine, and six.
- The Hating Man is revealed to be Mr. Hendricks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Whose point of view is Among the Betrayed told from?
The novel is narrated by Nina Idi, a shadow child who was detained alongside Jason Barstow at the close of Among the Impostors. This represents a deliberate shift in perspective from the series' earlier books.
Where does Among the Betrayed sit in the Shadow Children series?
It is the third of seven novels in Margaret Peterson Haddix's Shadow Children series, published in 2002. It picks up the story thread involving Nina Idi immediately after her arrest in the previous book.
What is Among the Betrayed about?
The plot centers on Nina Idi dealing with the aftermath of being captured by the government alongside Jason Barstow. It follows her experience as a shadow child navigating a system designed to erase unregistered children.
Who is the author of Among the Betrayed?
Margaret Peterson Haddix wrote this 2002 dystopian novel, which serves as the third installment in her Shadow Children series.
Why is Among the Betrayed significant within the Shadow Children series?
It expands the series' narrative scope by giving Nina Idi her own dedicated storyline after the events of Among the Impostors. This broadens the reader's understanding of the shadow children's world beyond the characters featured in the first two books.
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