Among the Hidden

Plot summary

In a future where the world’s food supply is stretched thin and too many people crowd the planet, the government has passed a law allowing each family only two children. Luke Garner is twelve years old and lives on a farm with his parents and his two older brothers, Mark and Matthew.

Because he is a third child, Luke and his family are breaking the law. To stay alive, he must remain out of sight at all times—if the Population Police find him, they will either kill him or lock him up. When the government clears the trees behind the Garner farm and builds houses for wealthy people, Luke is stuck inside all day, completely alone.

One day, Luke spots a child’s face in the window of one of those new houses, a house belonging to a Baron who already has two kids. A month later, his curiosity gets the better of him, and he runs over to the house. The child he saw catches him. Her name is Jen Talbot, and she tells Luke she is also a third child.

Jen shows him a chatroom where other hidden third children gather. They call themselves Shadow Children. Luke and Jen become close friends, and he visits her whenever he can.

Jen is angry at the government and tries to convince Luke that the law is wrong. Back at home, Luke starts to feel guilty about using food and supplies that could go to other people. Jen tells him about a planned rally, but Luke is too scared to go.

She gets upset and orders him to leave. Luke gets angry too, and for a moment he wishes the Population Police would shoot her at the rally—but he immediately regrets thinking that. That night, Jen sneaks over to his house, and they make up before she says goodbye.

The next morning, Luke is nervous and worried. He hears nothing about any rally. Afraid something terrible has happened to Jen, he breaks into her house again.

She is not there. He goes to the computer room, logs into the chatroom, and asks if anyone knows what happened to her. No one answers. Then a man walks in holding a gun. He demands to know who Luke is and how he knows Jen.

Luke tells him he is a Shadow Child and Jen’s friend, and he insists on knowing where she is. The man lowers the gun. He is Mr. Talbot, Jen’s father. He tells Luke that Jen and forty other children were shot and killed at the rally.