Among the Hidden

Among the Hidden 

• Genre: Fiction; young adult dystopian science fiction
• Originally Published: 1998
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 800L; grades 5-8
• Structure/Length: 30 chapters; approx. 153 pages; approx. 4 hours on audio
• Protagonist and Central Conflict: In this first novel of the Shadow Children series, the dystopian future setting includes a law limiting the number of children allowed in a family to two. Twelve-year-old Luke is an illegal third child who lives in secrecy and isolation on his family’s farm; when he meets Jen, another “shadow child,” Luke begins to question the rules that impact his future and must decide whether to participate in Jen’s rebellion against authority.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Violence and death

Margaret Peterson Haddix, Author

• Bio: Born in Ohio in 1964; attended Ohio’s Miami University, studying English, journalism, creative writing, and history; worked as a journalist before turning to fiction writing; has written more than 40 works, among them New York Times bestsellers, American Library Association award winners, and state reader’s choice award recipients
• Other Works: Just Ella (1999), first in The Palace Chronicles series; Found (2008), first in The Missing series; The Strangers (2019), first in The Greystone Secrets series
• Awards: ALA Best Books for Young Adults (1998)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Unit:

• The Effects of Privilege
• The Impact of Propaganda
• Legality Versus Morality

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Unit, students will:

• Develop a broader understanding of the role of dystopian literature by considering the literary/genre context of Among the Hidden.
• Connect the themes of The Effects of Privilege and The Impact of Propaganda to the perspectives and decisions of Luke, Jen, and other characters.
• Explore the concept of Legality Versus Morality by considering the motivations of the government as an antagonist.
• Compose an extension of the novel to show their understanding of the dystopian setting, plot, and protagonist Luke.