Student-Led Book Club Review

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix

I had a very passionate group of 6th graders read Among the Hidden for their book club book. This is our discussion after reading the book. There are many spoilers mixed throughout our discussion, so readers beware!

(You can read more about how I conduct student-led book clubs in my classroom here.)

Summary from Amazon

Luke has never been to school. He’s never had a birthday party, or gone to a friend’s house for an overnight. In fact, Luke has never had a friend.

Luke is one of the shadow children, a third child forbidden by the Population Police. He’s lived his entire life in hiding, and now, with a new housing development replacing the woods next to his family’s farm, he is no longer even allowed to go outside.

Then, one day Luke sees a girl’s face in the window of a house where he knows two other children already live. Finally, he’s met a shadow child like himself. Jen is willing to risk everything to come out of the shadows — does Luke dare to become involved in her dangerous plan? Can he afford not to? –Amazon

Overall Review

JB: 4 stars because the ending was kind of garbage because the rally was a bust and it just ends with Luke getting a fake ID.

N: 3.5 stars because I didn’t like the ending, how she just died.

A: 4 because I was the one group member who didn’t want to read and ended up liking up. The beginning and the ending were hard to get through.

JD : 4 out of 5 because Jen was my favorite character and she died and he had to leave his family.

Memorable Moments

JD: When Luke when he’s doing stuff in the house and he notices someone there in the neighbors house, even when everyone left.

A: Luke went to Jens house and she tackled him.

JB: The ending when he was waiting for the rally to come on the radio.

N: When he had to say goodbye to his parents –

JB: Did you cry?

N: No, it was just sad.

Would you read the sequal?

JD and N: (already started)

JB and Aly: No-

JB: Already read part of the second.

A: The rest of the books would be hard to get into like this one.

Tips to give to future readers

A: You have to give it a try and wait for it to get better.

JD: Don’t like skip ahead and read because–

A: –you wont understand–

JD: –or you will find spoilers.

A: You would like it if you are a person who like weird books. Old time, new time book.

JB: It would be better as a movie, because you get to experience it.  

JD: But not an animation movie.

Genre of the book and where it fit into your 40 book challenge

All: Genre: science fiction-choice category in 40 book challenge.

 

Have you read Among the Hidden? What were your thoughts? Comment below!