Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix is a young adult novel published on September 1, 1998[1] and is the first book in the Shadow Children series.

The book tells the story of a fictional future in which drastic measures have been taken to quell overpopulation.

[2] The novel is set in a dystopian future in which families are limited to two children due to food shortage and overpopulation.

The protagonist is Luke Garner, a 12-year-old boy, who lives on a farm with his mother, father, and two brothers.

Like all third children, Luke must spend his days hidden or away from public view, so that he is not killed or imprisoned.

The next month, he runs over to the house out of curiosity and is caught by the child he saw in the window, Jen Talbot.

The Population Police arrive and demand to enter the home as the government had begun to monitor use of the Shadow Children chatroom after the rally.