Meet Luke in hiding
Begin with Among the Hidden; no later volume works as a clean entry point.
Book Series · 7 Books
Shadow Children Books
In order from Among the Hidden to Among the Free.
Children outlawed by an authoritarian population law live in hiding, assume false identities, and join a dangerous resistance in this tense middle-grade dystopia.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read the Shadow Children Books
Read the seven novels strictly in numbered order. Later books change central characters but assume earlier identities, deaths, and resistance activity.
Sources: Simon & Schuster's Shadow Children inventory, Margaret Peterson Haddix's series guide.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
The government threatens discovered third children with death. The series includes surveillance, imprisonment, executions and attempted executions, gun violence, explosions, betrayal, food scarcity, grief, and deaths of children and adults. Accessible prose does not make the fear or ethical questions mild.
The story invites discussion of propaganda, civil disobedience, hidden identity, unequal privilege, and whether promised safety justifies state control.
Where to start
Where Should a New Reader Start?
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$759
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 1998
Among the Hidden
By Margaret Peterson Haddix, Cliff Nielsen (Illustrator)
A hidden third child discovers a risky plan to defy oppressive laws. Dare he join the fight?
153 pages· 32,099 words· Est. 3.5 hour read
$7.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: In a world where third children are forbidden, Luke has spent his life in hiding. When he spots another shadow child, Jen, in a nearby house, he faces a choice: remain in the shadows or join her daring plan against the Population Police. As danger looms, Luke must decide if he can risk everything for a chance at freedom. Will he step into the light or stay hidden forever?
In reading order
Shadow Children Series
7 books · Published 1998–2006
#1
Sale price
$759
Among the Hidden
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 1998
A hidden third child discovers a risky plan to defy oppressive laws. Dare he join the fight?
#2
Sale price
$759
Among the Impostors
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2001
An illegal third child risks exposure while uncovering secrets at a mysterious school.
#3
Sale price
$1797
Among the Betrayed
Chapter Book · Ages 9–14 · 2002
Nina must choose between betrayal and death in a world where third children are forbidden.
#4
Sale price
$1797
Among the Barons
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2003
A hidden identity, a grieving brother, and a dangerous secret threaten Luke's survival.
#5
Sale price
$759
Among the Brave
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2004
Trey must rescue his friend from the Population Police, risking exposure of all shadow children.
#6
Sale price
$759
Among the Enemy
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2005
Caught between rebels and enforcers, a hidden child must choose: betray or resist.
#7
Sale price
$759
Among the Free
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2006
A hidden third-born sparks rebellion, toppling a tyrannical regime. But is freedom truly within reach?
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the Shadow Children series?
There are 7 books in the Shadow Children series. It began with Among the Hidden in 1998, and the newest book, Among the Free, was published in 2006.
What order should you read the Shadow Children books in?
Start with Among the Hidden and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #7.
What ages are the Shadow Children books best for?
The series is best for ages 8–14, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
Which Shadow Children book is the longest?
Among the Brave (Book #5) is the longest book in the series at 48,845 words (256 pages).
Which Shadow Children book is the shortest?
Among the Hidden (Book #1) is the shortest at 32,099 words (153 pages).
The people
The Creatives Behind the Books
The people who bring Shadow Children to life.
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