Shadow Children sequence

The Shadow Children sequence is a series of books by Margaret Peterson Haddix about a futuristic, overpopulated, resource-deprived Earth, and the effects of the government's attempts to quell overpopulation. The Population Police enforce the government's Population Law, killing or imprisoning "shadow children," any child born after his or her family's second.

Luke Garner, a shadow child, lives his life hidden from the outside world for fear of the Population Police (the government who is responsible for the assurance of a low population). One day, he notices one of his new neighbors has a shadow child, named Jen Talbot. Unlike most shadow children, though, Jen lives a privileged life as the third child of a Baron, one of the social elite. Educated and dedicated, she intends to organize a rally of all the shadow children in the country, to be staged outside of the president's house, to prove to the world that what the government is enforcing is wrong. Luke reluctantly refuses and stays home, realizing weeks later that Jen has not returned. After being caught sneaking into Jen's house by her father, a double agent of the Population Police, he discovers Jen and the other 39 people at the rally were shot. Mr. Talbot, hoping to help Luke, gives him a fake identity and sends him to a private school in hopes of obtaining some freedom in the world.

Luke struggles to adjust to his new life, fearful that he will be caught and declared an impostor. He gradually discovers he is not the only third child at the school and finds new friends. He also secretly finds that one of them is a spy for the Population Police. The spy is caught and arrested under the pretense of being a third child, and Luke discovers that almost every student in the school is a third child.

Luke is not alone in the dangerous world he now lives in. Nina, Trey, and Matthias, also third children, join his battle. They are forced to deal with betrayal, courage, and the true faces of the enemy. Together, they try to overthrow the government and the Population Police and obtain true freedom.

Main Characters

Luke Garner (Lee Grant),Matthias,Percy,Alia,Nina Idi,Trey,Jason Barstow,Mr.Talbot,Jen Talbot,Mark Garner,Matt Garner,Mr. Hendricks,Joel,John,Smithfield (Smits) Grant (later Peter Goodard).

Novels

*Among the Hidden

*Among the Impostors

*Among the Betrayed

*Among the Barons

*Among the Brave

*Among the Enemy

*Among the Free