Shadow Children sequence

The Shadow Children Sequence is the series of books by Margaret Peterson Haddix that's about a future where the Population Police enforce the world, permitting a family to have only two children. If the population find out that there is a third child, or a shadow child, in a family, or place, they either kill, or lock up the third child, and punishes whoever was helping them with the same punishment. The books tell the story of several third children, and how they try to overthrow the law, and become free.

Luke Gardner, a shadow child who lived his life hidden from the outside world, limited to only stay on his property. He then notices that his new neighbors also had a shadow children. Luke sneaks over to their house, and he meets Jen Talbot, another shadow child. Unlike most shadow children, Jen lives a priviledged life as the third child of a Baron, one of the social elite. Educated and dedicated, she intends to organize a rally to prove 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 he is caught sneaking into Jen's house by her father, a double agent of Population Police, he discovers Jen and everyone at the rally was 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 imposter. He gradually discovers he is not the only third child at the school and finds new friends.... until one of them reveals himself to be a spy for the Population Police. The spy is caught and arrested under the pretense he is the third child and Luke discovers the whole student body school contains third children.

Luke is not alone in the dangerous world he now lives in; Nina, Trey, and Matthias, also third children, join his battle where they are forced to deal with betrayal and trust, discovery of what courage really is, and the true faces of the enemy. Together, they try to over throw the police and obtain true freedom.

Novels

*Among the Hidden

*Among the Impostors

*Among the Betrayed

*Among the Barons

*Among the Brave

*Among the Enemy

*Among the Free