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. The people are finally free. But who is in charge now? And will this new freedom be everything they had hoped?

This is the sixth book in the series "Shadow Children." It stands alone pretty well; it is not necessary to have read any of the others to figure out what is going on. The protagonist, Luke, is the third child in his family and in this repressive society which only allows two children per family, he has been hiding all his life. What schooling he has was sort of cobbled together by his mother, and the only jobs he can get are menial ones where no one cares if he has no papers. The government controls the way people live, where they live, the food they get, the food they grow. It is all done so subtly that most people do not even notice that they are being controlled. Some do, of course, but how can a few people who see the truth make the whole population see it too? Fortunately, Luke is not alone. He has had a variety of jobs and has met many other "third children" who have become his friends. There are also some adults whose minds are not closed yet. Things come to a head when Luke discovers some posters stating that third children are responsible for all the ills of the world. The posters have not ever been used, but what will happen when the government begins to use them? Luke learns that this will happen very soon and he is determined to stop it. Wonderful descriptions of the landscape and buildings of this planet—if it is our planet—are captivating and keep us turning the pages.

Categories:

• Children's Books
  
  
  • Growing Up & Facts of Life
    • Family Life