Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix Book Review

Have you ever felt like you were trapped? It is one of the most upsetting and frustrating feelings. Most people would hate not being free. In the novel "Among the Hidden" by Margaret Peterson Haddix, illegal children are forced to hide all of the time and stay at home. The theme of the novel is that everyone deserves freedom. The author develops this theme by using details in the text.

Margaret Peterson Haddix develops the theme of the story by describing a conversation between the children. The children in the novel live in a dystopian society that only allows two children per family. Although only two children are allowed, some families still have more than two children. The main characters of the novel are illegal third children, also called shadow children. In paragraph 13 of "Among the Hidden" by Margaret Peterson Haddix it says, "My parents have been begging to get me a fake I.D. for years, but I won't until I can have one that says 'Jen Talbot' and is really mine." This quote demonstrates the desperation that the shadow children have to not have to hide. They feel like they are confined to secrecy and they cannot do anything. The author uses this detail to show the reader that the children are not free and are very upset. By doing this, the author develops the theme that everyone deserves freedom. 

Margaret Peterson Haddix conveys the theme of the story by showing the reader how upset the children are. In the story, the children talk to each other about their thoughts on having to always hide. In the novel "Among the Hidden'' by Margaret Peterson Haddix it states, "I want to be me and go about like anybody else. There's no compromise." This quote contributes to the text by conveying to the reader that the children want to be free and to be themselves. In their current situations, they are not free at all. Therefore, the children are very upset. By describing the children being upset about their lack of freedom, the author develops the theme that everyone deserves freedom. 

The theme of the novel "Among the Hidden" by Margaret Peterson Haddix is that everyone deserves freedom. The author develops this theme by showing the reader how upset the children are about not being free. Freedom is very important to the children in the text. Lack of freedom is very upsetting and depressing to people. Furthermore, most people couldn't imagine living a life of confinement.