Among the Free (Shadow Children #7)
ENOUGH GAMES.
Luke Garner is a third-born in a restrictive society that allows only two children per family. Risking his life, he came out of hiding to fight against the Population Police laws. Now, in the final volume of Margaret Peterson Haddix's suspenseful Shadow Children series, Luke inadvertently sets off a rebellion that results in the overthrow of the government. T
...moreHardcover, 208 pages
Published
April 25th 2006
by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
3,000)
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Jan 25, 2009
Marie
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Tweens and older
I have reserved my opinions on this series until I completed this final book.
Things I didn't particularly like about the series:
1. There is a lot of violence.
2. The intensity level is high and there are not many breaks in that anxiety/intensity.
3. The introspection in regard to fears seems overdone.
Things I liked:
1. The affirmation of life.
2. The discussion particularly in this last book about what freedom is and is not.
3. The validation that even the little things we do to promote good are imp...more
Things I didn't particularly like about the series:
1. There is a lot of violence.
2. The intensity level is high and there are not many breaks in that anxiety/intensity.
3. The introspection in regard to fears seems overdone.
Things I liked:
1. The affirmation of life.
2. The discussion particularly in this last book about what freedom is and is not.
3. The validation that even the little things we do to promote good are imp...more
Among the Free, by Margaret Peterson Haddix, the last book in the Shadow Children series, is an exciting science fiction novel that is a nail-biter. This action and adventure story is about Luke Garner, a teenage boy, who is the third born child in his family. He lives in a society controlled by the Population Police. The government is a system where the Population Police control the laws, such as how much food goes out to the people, and how many kids can be in each family. According to their p...more
So, to finish off the dystopian challenge month, I tore through the Shaddow Children series by Haddix. I really liked the concept for the series, and I enjoyed seeing it progress from different POV in each of the books. I must admit I was growing a bit tired of the cat-and-mouse game by the 5th book, so I decided to skip over book 6 and just get to the ending! I’ve been waiting for these poor kids and their families and friends to finally be free, and for the repulsive form of government the cou...more
Among the Free is about a boy named Luke that is an illegal third child. He lives when people called the population police are around and say families can only have two kids. Some families have three children, but they have to hid the third child from the police or else they will die. Luke wants to overthrow the population police so him and some friends go and work for the police to try and take it down from the inside. While Luke was working he was ordered to shoot a lady in the town Chiutza b...more
Among the Free
by Margret Peterson Haddix
The story of this book is about a kid who is illegal, only because he was born third. His name is Luke Gardener, a fourteen year old kid who is slowly, but surely, fighting for his freedom and the freedom of all third children in his country. These third children, or “Shadow Children” have to hide from a government organization called the Population Police, which the main character, Luke has infiltrated with other shadow children. At the first of the story...more
by Margret Peterson Haddix
The story of this book is about a kid who is illegal, only because he was born third. His name is Luke Gardener, a fourteen year old kid who is slowly, but surely, fighting for his freedom and the freedom of all third children in his country. These third children, or “Shadow Children” have to hide from a government organization called the Population Police, which the main character, Luke has infiltrated with other shadow children. At the first of the story...more
I got tired of writing reviews for the entire series, so I'm just going to wrap it all up in one concise review. The series was well-done and exciting. There were plenty of times that I had to suspend my disbelief, but it WAS written for teens after all. I think what kept me reading was not just the action, but the horrid realization that a government who controls population, controls farming, food, and many other aspects of life while allowing the rich and powerful to abstain from the laws is n...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
The final book and one of the best. Third children are finally free!
What I liked about this book was the ending. The author didn't do one of those publicly hated endings where its a cliff-hanger with no sequel, or a fade-to-black kind of thing. The author went out right and said the third children were free at the end, and were able to run up and down streets without having to think they are being watched after the Population Police Government had been overthrown.
What I disliked about the boo...more
What I liked about this book was the ending. The author didn't do one of those publicly hated endings where its a cliff-hanger with no sequel, or a fade-to-black kind of thing. The author went out right and said the third children were free at the end, and were able to run up and down streets without having to think they are being watched after the Population Police Government had been overthrown.
What I disliked about the boo...more
I'm glad I eventually finished the series, even though book 5, Among the Enemy was painfully monotonous. Perhaps Luke is just a better narrator than Trey, because I wasn't too terribly sick of Luke's introspection. Overall, the series sends a message about the importance of social action and the value of every human life. All of the narrators are so pure in their morality, given that their government had made the choice that they did not have the right to live; every single death is cushioned wi...more
It's a wrap! This final book in the Shadow Children series is told from Luke's perspective, which seems appropriate since we started this whole journey with him in the first book. Luke has infiltrated the Population Police and resists a direct order to shoot an old woman, inadvertently setting off a chain of events that leads to the demise of the Population Police. This seems like an amazing event, or is it? Our old friend Oscar Wydell (Smits' bodyguard from Among the Barons) places himself in c...more
When I first read this book, I have to confess to being disappointed in it. Although Haddix returns to Luke Garner as the protagonist, I felt that Luke had reverted too far back to the shy, scared boy he was at the start of the series. Without giving away any spoilers, I was also disappointed in the ending which felt incomplete. However, the more I have read this book, the more I have come to appreciate the finesse with which Haddix concludes this series. To truly appreciate the ending, the read...more
By Antonese
How is Among the Free like the Holocaust ? Can it become our future?
Stopped dead in your tracks as you hear the loud banging of the door followed by a horrible sound of scary men who call themselves population police. Once you hear that chills run down your spin as you go into hiding. At the same time you family is trying to erase any evidence that you were there. You crouch down in a small space in the dusty attic. So many thoughts are racing through you mind as you hope you don't ge...more
How is Among the Free like the Holocaust ? Can it become our future?
Stopped dead in your tracks as you hear the loud banging of the door followed by a horrible sound of scary men who call themselves population police. Once you hear that chills run down your spin as you go into hiding. At the same time you family is trying to erase any evidence that you were there. You crouch down in a small space in the dusty attic. So many thoughts are racing through you mind as you hope you don't ge...more
The first time I read this book a few years ago I remember being disappointed and thinking it was too political. Now I think the opposite. I wonder how many times you can read the same book the same way before it becomes a different book read by a different person.
Anyways, I read the entire series this time before I read this one (last time I would've been waiting as everyone else did for its release!) I enjoyed the whole series because of its well paced action and endearing characters. They all...more
Anyways, I read the entire series this time before I read this one (last time I would've been waiting as everyone else did for its release!) I enjoyed the whole series because of its well paced action and endearing characters. They all...more
This was one of the first series that I had read growing up and got really emotional to see it all end.
Among the Free left me with a sense of fulfillment and awe that I can only get from the final book that I have thoroughly enjoyed. I rode this high for days on end and when I look back on Luke's journey from book one till now, I see a different character that had steadily grown so seamlessly that you read his character the way you did in the beginning without losing the sense of who he was. Th...more
Among the Free left me with a sense of fulfillment and awe that I can only get from the final book that I have thoroughly enjoyed. I rode this high for days on end and when I look back on Luke's journey from book one till now, I see a different character that had steadily grown so seamlessly that you read his character the way you did in the beginning without losing the sense of who he was. Th...more
Hmm.
Wasn't impressed with the end of the series. It seemed really abrupt and unbelievable to me, which was disappointing, because I did actually start to care about the characters and what was going to happen. This wrap-up had too many holes for me... too many unbelievable moments. And you know, I suspended my belief for a lot of the series, and did so willingly.
I just don't think Haddix is a great writer. I think this was a great premise for a story - I think at times it was a great story - bu...more
Wasn't impressed with the end of the series. It seemed really abrupt and unbelievable to me, which was disappointing, because I did actually start to care about the characters and what was going to happen. This wrap-up had too many holes for me... too many unbelievable moments. And you know, I suspended my belief for a lot of the series, and did so willingly.
I just don't think Haddix is a great writer. I think this was a great premise for a story - I think at times it was a great story - bu...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This. Book. Was. PHENOMENAL!
Okay, so some people said it was "perplexing" or "a let-down"...I honestly don't know how on EARTH they got those ideas.
This book was the perfect end to an incredible series. EVERYTHING was tied up, even Jen. I loved this ending, everything truly came full-circle, Luke, Jen, Population Police, Third Children, random things you haven't thought about for multiple books, the entire plot-line of the whole (amazing) series led up to this moment, and I loved it. Every secon...more
Okay, so some people said it was "perplexing" or "a let-down"...I honestly don't know how on EARTH they got those ideas.
This book was the perfect end to an incredible series. EVERYTHING was tied up, even Jen. I loved this ending, everything truly came full-circle, Luke, Jen, Population Police, Third Children, random things you haven't thought about for multiple books, the entire plot-line of the whole (amazing) series led up to this moment, and I loved it. Every secon...more
With AMONG THE FREE (Shadow Children #7) we come to the end of this beautifully crafted story of strife, the danger of an all too powerful government, hate, genocide, the importance of equality, love, inner strength, faith and the power of the human soul. Haddix clearly has a gift for emotionally charged story telling.
Although this last installment is a bit slower than the rest it’s still a very strong read and definitely ends with a big bag. Captivating as the story comes full circle, returning...more
Although this last installment is a bit slower than the rest it’s still a very strong read and definitely ends with a big bag. Captivating as the story comes full circle, returning...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Jul 14, 2009
Huda Felimban
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommended to Huda Felimban by:
Mrs.NJD
Shelves:
english-books,
young-adults
This is just GRR-EAAT
I really liked the series, I would recommend them all and I'm getting my own copy as soon as I can, except 4 ONE I already have(;
All the 7 books were set in one year. What I really liked is that , you can read them separately and still ENJOY.
في مجتمع قوانينه تنص على أن لايزيد عدد الأبناء في الأسرة الواحدة عن الإثنان
ولد لوك 12 عاما ، وغيره من الأطفال (رقم ثلاثة) وعاشوا متخفين في الظل
خوفا من أن يتم القبض عليهم
في يوم ما يحدث شيء ما يعطيهم ومضة أمل للتحرر
ما هو؟ وكيف ستتابع الأح...more
I really liked the series, I would recommend them all and I'm getting my own copy as soon as I can, except 4 ONE I already have(;
All the 7 books were set in one year. What I really liked is that , you can read them separately and still ENJOY.
في مجتمع قوانينه تنص على أن لايزيد عدد الأبناء في الأسرة الواحدة عن الإثنان
ولد لوك 12 عاما ، وغيره من الأطفال (رقم ثلاثة) وعاشوا متخفين في الظل
خوفا من أن يتم القبض عليهم
في يوم ما يحدث شيء ما يعطيهم ومضة أمل للتحرر
ما هو؟ وكيف ستتابع الأح...more
This series is so awesome!!! Here's some stuff about it. There is a law that you can only have two children. A boy named Luke is a third child
and he hides his whole life. Until he sees a person one day in a yard of one of the new mansions by his house after everyone was gone. Its another third child!!!
and he hides his whole life. Until he sees a person one day in a yard of one of the new mansions by his house after everyone was gone. Its another third child!!!
When you have a book series like the "Shadow Children" series you never know what to expect, Among the Free is just like that, you don't know what to expect. As you would expect, Among the Free switches viewpoints AGAIN from Mathiass in "Among the Enemy" to Luke Garner in the current book "Among the Free". It makes sense because the series started with Luke but it's still hard to follow constantly switching viewpoints. This book is alright for a series finale, but having a title like "Among the...more
Haddix tells a good tale, and keeps your adrenaline flowing with these page-turners. But, this is a book you want to discuss with your kids. In order to survive the innocent must lie, sneak, pretend, or face certain death. You can’t blame them for their behavior - they don’t want to die, they are forced to live this way, and unless they deceive and ultimately revolt, nothing will change. Before you read the book, decide if you want this button pushing “thought provoker”, and be aware the ending...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
No word can describe the novel. I finally reached the long awaited conclusion to the Shadow Children series and again, Margaret Peterson Haddix blew my mind. The book is a realistic fiction that is set where famines and droughts take place; which lead to Population Police (a governmental organization that eliminates third children). It opens with a typical day for Luke as normal as being numbed with fatigue. But not until people wake up from Population Police’s lies which leads into building reb...more
What I liked about this series: imaginative world building and premises; likeable characters who grew and adapted over time; and an engaging story.
What I didn't like about this series: the author began with the story of Luke, and, although she set definite connections with him throughout, the viewpoint shifted to other characters as they were highlighted in different books; my brain complained loud and long about serendipitous coincidences, unlikely situations, and unbelievable circumstances; t...more
What I didn't like about this series: the author began with the story of Luke, and, although she set definite connections with him throughout, the viewpoint shifted to other characters as they were highlighted in different books; my brain complained loud and long about serendipitous coincidences, unlikely situations, and unbelievable circumstances; t...more
I thought the ending was good, after many books of leaving us hanging I had high hopes, these were met. Finally after so many years of discrimanatoin against the thrid child luke decides to overthrow the populatoin police. Luke lives in a soccity that only allows two chlidren per family.Luke is one of the many thrid children. Over the series luke and his new friends (other thrid children) fight for there right to be able to do things others do. Finally he gets freedom. After seven long books and...more
I didn't like the ending, but otherwise great book!. Luke finally is free now! Yay! All the third kids or the shadow kids are free. The population police is down and there's no one left to capture and kill these kids. There's a new government with freedom. People now can live a happy life and don't have to be threatened or treated badly by the government. I think Jen gave Luke the bravery to stand up and there people about how shadow kids were treated. Luke probably also wanted to be like Jen, b...more
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Margaret Peterson Haddix grew up on a farm near Washington Court House, Ohio. She graduated from Miami University (of Ohio) with degrees in English/journalism, English/creative writing and history. Before her first book was published, she worked as a newspaper copy editor in Fort Wayne, Indiana; a newspaper reporter in Indianapolis; and a community college instructor and freelance writer in Danvil...more
More about Margaret Peterson Haddix...
Share This Book
1 trivia question
More quizzes & trivia...
“Jen, we did it. Everyone's free now.”
—
35 people liked it
“I have a choice.”
—
23 people liked it
More quotes…

Loading...









view all 7 comments


















