Among the Impostors (Shadow Children Books) [Paperback]

Margaret Peterson Haddix (Author)

Book Description

Series: Shadow Children Books

OUT OF HIDING. INTO DANGER.

Luke Garner is an illegal third child. All his life has been spent in hiding. Now, for the first time, Luke is living among others. He has assumed a deceased boy's identity and is attending Hendricks School for Boys, a windowless building with cruel classmates and oblivious teachers. Luke knows he has to blend in, but he lives in constant fear that his behavior will betray him.

Then one day Luke discovers a door to the outside. He knows that beyond the walls of Hendricks lie the secrets he is desperate to uncover. What he doesn't know is whom he can trust -- and where the answers to his questions may lead him...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This sequel to Among the Hidden picks up with Luke finally out of hiding and going to boarding school under an assumed identity. "While Haddix is often able to capture the suspense of her earlier work," wrote PW, "this installment gets mired in too many confusing details." Ages 9-14. (Oct.)
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-7-Luke, a third child, hides quietly in his house, eluding the Population Police because he lives in a society in which families are only allowed two children. Now he has a chance to come out of the shadows by taking on an assumed identity and leaving home. This sequel to Among the Hidden (S & S, 1998) has Luke, now Lee, entering the Hendricks School for boys and a completely new existence where he feels lost and confused by his surroundings. He has gone from a furtive solitary existence to one in which he is never alone, from being desperate for company to being hazed by his classmates, particularly his roommate, "the Jackal." Lee learns to cope with the changes before him by escaping through the door to the outside. The story is artfully told with suspense and interesting twists. As Lee's confusion dissipates, readers begin to see what is going on. Lee is a fully realized character, developing courage and a true sense of self. Peripheral characters are not as fully developed, serving solely to further the story. Repeated references to Jen, another third child from the first book and martyr to all third children, may cause readers to wonder what they have missed. By the end of the story, the main character evolves into "L" and the author has created the possibility for another sequel. This compelling read can be enjoyed alone but it's sure to leave readers wanting to know the whole story.
Susan M. Moore, Louisville Free Public Library, KY
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 172 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689839081
• ISBN-13: 978-0689839085
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (109 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,904 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I grew up on a farm outside Washington Court House, Ohio. As a kid, I liked to read a lot, and was also involved in 4-H, various bands and choirs (I played flute and piano), church youth group, the school newspaper, and a quiz-bowl type team. I was pretty disastrous as an athlete, although I did run track one year in high school. After graduating from Miami University (of Ohio), I worked as a newspaper copy editor in Fort Wayne, Indiana; a newspaper reporter in Indianapolis; and a part-time community college instructor and freelance writer in Danville, Illinois, before my first book was published. I've moved around a lot as an adult, having also lived in Luxembourg (during a college semester abroad) and in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania. Several years ago, I moved back to Ohio with my husband and kids; we now live in Columbus, Ohio. My husband trains investigative journalists, and my kids are in high school, so there's always a lot going on around our house.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MPH Has Done It Again! This is better than Among The Hidden, June 23, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Among the Impostors (Hardcover)

When "Lee Grant" goes to school, he is not used to going to school, "although he has been going all his life." The truth is, Lee Grant is dead. Luke Garner is a third or shadow child, a violation of Population Law. All families must have 2 children max because of food shortage. So Luke gets a fake ID, a chance to come out of the shadows, to meet new people. So LEE GRANT (A.K.A Luke Garner) enters Hendricks School for Boys, the equivelent to Harrow School for Girls. Tortured and getting a record breaking 10 demerits is not what Luke calls meeting new people. Luke is also scared. Do you call showers ang toilets with nodoors, eight nosy people to a room and only one table for his grade very private? No! Luke is worried that someone will catch him. Turn him in, which means death. He knows that from previous expirience. Then Luke finds a door, leading to a wood. THat's his ticket from strange boys and weird teachers. THis book is amazing! It's kind of slow a t first but keep reading! I was reading it at a restaraunt and I kept gasping, and everyone kept turning around and looking at me. I wouldn't even eat! Now my dad is reading it and he loves it!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Among the Imposters, June 10, 2001

By 

W. D. (Noxon, MT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Among the Impostors (Hardcover)

Margaret Peterson Haddix has done it again! Among the Imposters is an exciting book that refuses to be put down. As a sequel to Among the Hidden it rates very highly. Many sequels often lose some of the power that the original book portrays, however Among the Imposters not only is an excellent story in its own right, it also readies the reader for the next installment in the series. Third children in this future society are not allowed. In fact families are closely monitered by the Population Police. However many third children secretly exist. Luke,our protagonist in this story, is a boy that has lived in secret with his parents for all of his life. The discovery that other third children exist is new to him. He is helped by a neighbor and former father of a third child. Luke is given a new identity and is enrolled in a private school. At first Luke lives in terror that he will be discovered. But as time goes on he realizes that all is not as it should be in this school. The author surprises the reader with many suspense filled twists in the plot that keep you guessing until the end. Students and teachers in my school were so enthralled with Among the Hidden that they are lining up for the opportunity to check out Among the Imposters. As the librarian, it will be my challenge to keep this series current!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Among the Impostors, October 19, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Among the Impostors (Shadow Children Books) (Paperback)

The book Among the Impostors is written by Margaret Peterson Haddix. She writes about a boy named Luke who has taken the secret identity of Lee Grant, because he is an illegal third child and is hiding from the population police. When he arrives at Hendricks School for Boys he thinks that this will be a new adventure for him. After he meets Rolly, and a bunch of other boys he knows that he will be in for a lot of trouble because they are mean and secretive. After the weeks he had been there, trying to figure out his schedule and trying to make a friend, he still didn't get it. One day, he was wandering to find his class when he found a door that was cracked open ajar. There was a bright light shining through the door. He decided to sneak out. It was like heaven to him. He hadn't been outside since he lived at home and the woods were behind his house, but then they tore down the woods and he wasn't allowed to go outside anymore. After that day at school since he had been outside and he hadn't gotten in trouble, he decided that he was going to do that every day. You will have to read this amazing book to find out if he gets discovered by the population police or if he will be continuing his little visits outside in enjoyment by himself.
This book catches you in the decisions that Lee has to make. You travel with him and see what being a third illegal child would be like. I recommend this book to any reader who is looking for a book that has a weird twist in the end and is entertained by jam packed action books.