Chapter Summaries
Among the Hidden
Chapter 1:
Luke was outside when he heard his mother call him to come inside and he obeyed her command. While
the Garners ate dinner Luke asked his parents why they sold the woods next to their farmhouse. His
father told him the government wanted it and they had no choice but to give the government what they
wanted. The family discusses how Luke was no longer allowed to go outside and that they had to be more
careful so that no one would find out about Luke. Luke brothers Mark and Matthew complained that he
would not be able to do as many chores anymore. Then when they heard tires on the gravel driveway
Luke mother hid his dinner plate and moved his chair to the corner of the kitchen to make it look like he
did not exist.
Chapter 2:
Luke watches from the forbidden window as his family work outside. He sees his brothers having a great
time. When his mother comes inside Luke asks her why he is different than Mark and Matthew and why
he has to hide. He learns all about the law that each family was only allowed to have two children, the
population police, and how his mother hid his pregnancy. After learning all this Luke finally understood
why he had been hiding and why he has to continue to hide. He also decided that he did not mind hiding
so much anymore until they took the woods away.
Chapter 3:
Luke was playing with a train the same train that he longed for when Mark would play with it as a young
boy. Now Luke would rather be able to go outside than to play with the train. One day when he was
peeking under the shade his father asked him if he was trying to become discovered and then forbade
him from going near any uncovered windows and looking outside. Then Mark knocked on the front door
from outside playing gone of his “Population Police” tricks. Luke ran up to his bedroom in the attic and
began playing with his train until Mark came up and offered to play checkers with him. Luke got mad at
Mark and refused saying that his mother probably made him offer to play. After Mark left Luke
discovered two vents one on each side of the attic which allowed him to look down outside. He watched
the construction workers and observed them until his mother knocked on the door. He went and sat on
his bed before she entered because he did not want his parents to learn about the vents for fear that they
would forbid him from looking out them. His mother told him that she understood it was hard for Luke to
live in hiding, she told him he was a trooper, and she also said that things could be worse. Luke believed
that his mother really meant that things would get worse and he snuggled against her.
Chapter 4:
A few days later when Luke came down for breakfast and peeked through the door asking if it was safe
for him to enter the kitchen he was told no. His mother handed him a plate with his breakfast and his
parents told him it was no longer safe for him to sit at the table in the kitchen and eat with them. He
would now have to sit on the bottom steps completely out of site of both windows to eat. The family
needed to keep the shades up now as not to be suspicious because on man already asked them if they had
an air condition. Luke who was upset finished his breakfast not even tasting any of it.
Chapter 5:
From then on Luke ate all his meals on the bottom step. His mother began speaking softly during meals
and Luke couldn’t hear, however he could hear his brother cracking jokes at his expense not knowing
exactly what they were saying. A few weeks later in July the Garners received a letter from the
Department of Human Habitation, Environmental Standard Division stating that they would need to get
rid of their pigs because the families who would move in the new houses going to be build would not
want to live near the pigs. Mother asked what they were going to live on now since the pigs were their
bread and butter.
Chapter 6:
Two weeks later the hogs were loaded onto the livestock trailer the same day that the tax bill arrived.
This year the tax bill was three times it was last year because their property became more valuable due to
the new development of houses being built. Luke asked why it was bad that their property value was
raised, but everyone else already understood the answer to this question. Then Luke found out that his
mother was going to try and get a job at a factory. Luke began to say that she can’t work and to ask who
will stay with him and talk to him, but he did not finish what he was saying. He was once again the only
one who was surprised by his mother’s news.
Chapter 7:
By mid-September Luke’s days followed the same patter, he woke up at dawn to have breakfast on the
steps and then everyone rushed; his mother to the factory, his father to get the machinery working for
the harvest, and Matthew and Mark went to school. When everyone left the house Luke went back to his
room and watched out the vents. The houses, which were the size of mansions larger than both the
Garner house and barn put together were almost finished. Many workmen still arrived, however most of
the work was now being done inside the houses. He learned that they be moving into the new houses
were city people and rich Barons. He would watch the potential neighbors counting the children knowing
there would never be three or more. He began to think what of a family with only one child moved nearby
maybe he could sneak in and pretend to be their second children. Then maybe he could go to school, go to
town, and act like his brothers. Then he decided that would be a joke. Sometimes Luke would read one of
his books, which he had already read many times before. At lunchtime when he heard his dad come in he
would go to the stairs and eat a sandwich that his dad gave him at the same time as him. His father never
talked to him in fear that someone might hear him. When his dad left again Luke returned to his room to
either read or looked out the vents once again. Then at 6:30 his mother would come home and say hi to
Luke before rushing to do a days work in just a few hours. Sometimes one of his brothers would come up
and visit only to stay for a few minutes because they had to help their father and do their homework.
They would play games with Luke but he knew that they rather be outside. The best part of Luke’s day
was at the end when Luke’s mother tucked him and stayed awhile. Then one night Luke asked his mother
if she still tucked his brothers in when they were twelve and he told her he didn’t need her to tuck him in
anymore either.
Chapter 8:
On morning Luke’s family left in such a rush that they hardly had time to say good-bye. Mother handed
Luke some food so he wouldn’t get hungry since his father would be gone until late. Luke happened to
peak at windows noticing that both the shades were down. He was able for the first time in a long time to
go into the kitchen. When the floor squeaked with his first step Luke chickened out and headed to his
attic. He looked out the vent to the new houses most of which were now occupied. A family with two
teenaged sons and lots of sports equipment occupied the house behind the Garner’s. He called then the
Sports family. He watched until all of the neighbors had left then he knew it was safe for him to go
downstairs. He had plans of cleaning the kitchen, making bread, pulling the rest of the shades in the
house and cleaning it up, and even starting supper. He thought he could possible do this everyday. At two
in the afternoon he heard tire on the gravel driveway and hid upstairs. It was his dad who was back early
and he was upset at Luke because things could happen and people could come to the neighborhood at
anytime. He ordered Luke not to come in the kitchen again and to stay hidden. He went back to his room
and looked out the vents at the empty neighborhood and then he spotted a child out of the corner of his
eye peering from behind one of the windows of the Sports family’s house.
Chapter 9:
He lost his balance and fell backwards. When he looked again the face was gone. He questioned what he
saw if it was real or if it was one of the two teenaged boys and he thought of the different possibilities of
who it could be. He concluded that is was a child. He stared at their house for hours, but the face did not
reappear. At 6:30 his mother knocked on the door and he moved away from the vent. She came to talk to
him about what he had done earlier that day. Luke asked what he was supposed to do stating that there
was nothing for him to do. His mother said she would like to live a day of his life right now but Luke
thought to himself that she really wouldn’t.
Chapter 10:
Mother displayed Luke’s bread on a platter and at dinnertime he question why he couldn’t eat at the table
with them since it was winter and they could pull the shades down without being questioned. Father
replied that someone might she 5 shadows and get suspicious. Luke sat on the stairs for dinner and Mark
commented about Luke’s bread. Look thought what if something happened to Mark or Matthew then
would he be able to come out from hiding? He found out Matthew had a girlfriend during a discussion
about marriage. Then Luke asked to be excused and went up to his room and looked out the vent. The
Sports family’s house was the only one that had all of their windows completely covered.
Chapter 11:
He began to watch the Sports family’s house constantly. It wasn’t until the forth day that he saw the blind
panel of one window flip up and down a number of times. Another day when the windows were left on he
saw the lights go on and off when he knew that no one was home at the Sports’ house. Then the mother
came home stomping and put the blinds down before leaving again. Another day he saw lights and the
glow of the TV. He finally concluded that someone had to be hiding in that house.
Chapter 12:
Mark and Mathew began staying home from school to help the father bring in the crops and mother
began to work overtime. She would bring up a bunch of food to Luke’s room before leaving so he
wouldn’t get hungry. He watched the Sports family’s house randomly and less often. He came up with the
crazy idea of sneaking into the Sports family’s house and meeting the other third child. He spent much
time plotting his route and planning this although he would dare to do it. Until one day when he knew it
was going to be the day he watched as all 28 neighbors left and he went down to the kitchen and out the
door.
Chapter 13:
He crouched down both crawling and running along the side of the house, the hedges, and the barn. He
thought about turning around and going home, but after thinking of his own house as a prison he ran
straight for the screen down of the Sports family’s house, but it was locked.
Chapter 14:
He never thought that the door would be locked. At that moment he was more exposed than he had ever
been before in his life. The door would not budge so he put his hand through the screen and unlocked the
door letting himself into their house. He stood at the door until he heard someone cough from another
room and also a beep and a buzzing sound. Luke saw a girl sitting at a computer typing furiously. The girl
crossed the room, knocked him to the floor, and pinned him down telling Luke that their alarm went off
and their security guards would be there any minute. Luke said they couldn’t come and the girl asked
who he was to stop them. Luke replied with Population Police and the girl set him free.
Chapter 15:
The girl accused him of lying and asked Luke if he was another shadow child. She explained that she was
a third child and that he could tell her if he was. The girl quickly got up and dashed to try and shut off the
alarm but she was too late so she went to the phone and called her father. She explained that if the
security guards came she would have to hide, and that she believes her family has the alarm to keep her
in the house because they don’t know she knows how to disable it. The girl introduced herself as Jen.
Luke learned that she has met outside people because her parents and herself are could at bribery. She
questioned Luke about how he knew she was a third child and that she was there. He explained
everything beginning with the woods being torn down. Then Jen mentioned a mirror and Carlos and
ended with telling Luke that she was is ticket out.
Chapter 16:
That night at dinner Luke hardly paid attention to his family because he was thinking about his visit to
the Sports family’s house. He began to say “Did you know that Jen” and then he stopped himself. He knew
he ha to keep Jen a secret, but it would be hard. Luke and Jen discussed the mirrors and set up a signal so
that they could meet again. She explained that he parents had her on purpose, the two sons were from
her mother’s first marriage, and her dad was her mother third husband and really her step dad. She
questions whether or not she could trust Luke to tell him about the rally. Before Luke left he and Jen saw
blood on the carpet left from Luke who cut his hand on the screen. Jen used the screen to cut her own
hand as a way of covering the fact that anyone else was ever there. He had been scared of Jen because she
cut her hand for him after they just met.
Chapter 17:
One day the Government inspector came by to examine the crops and the next day Luke’s father did book
work in the house. The third day Luke flickered the lights to signal to Jen there was no response. After
leaving the lights on for 15 minutes he shut them off and went back to his room and worried about Jen.
The next day when Jen answered his signal he went over her house to find out that Jen went shopping
with her mother using a forged shopping pass. Jen told Luke that she used his fingerprints to check the
computer and found out that to the Government he did not exist. Luke learned from Jen that the
Population Law was passed to keep people from starving. He also learns about the rally of the shadow
children that Jen is planning for April.
Chapter 18:
Luke and Jen chatted on the computer with other shadow children as Jen had quite often. Luke learned
form Jen that through the net she has contacted with over 800 other shadow children in the chat room
that she created with the password free.
Chapter 19:
Jen sent Luke how with some book and computer printouts about the Population Law. Luke read for the
next few days being careful that his parents did not discover his secrets. Luke’s dad came up to his room
and played cards with him and Luke told him about the idea of growing food indoors. His mother
questioned him to see if he was all right since he had been quiet lately. He lied to her and said that he was
fine, but he was really worrying whether or not the government was right that he shouldn’t exist. Luke
asked Jen questions about the contradicting views about the Population Law that he had read.
Chapter 20:
Winter came and Luke’s was concerned about going to Jen’s house since his father would be hanging
around the house a lot more. His father began going to town many morning working on the idea of
growing food indoors that he got from Luke. Luke told Jen how his father was excited about hydroponics.
The two chatted in the chat room again this time everyone was debating fake ID’s. Luke thought about
how his family members would feel if they had to hide.
Chapter 21:
In February Luke’s dad got a letter from the Government forbidding from trying growing anything
indoors. Look deciphered the letter and his family was shocked. Since his dad could no longer work on
hydroponics his dad hardly left in February and March there for Luke did not go to Jen’s often. Jen and
Luke would play games and tell each other stories. Luke learned that when Jen was younger her mother
took her to a third child playgroup. Luke also found out that the government made being pregnant a
negative thing as a way of preventing pregnancy. Also Luke’s brothers barely spent any time with him
anymore.
Chapter 22:
It rained the first two weeks of April and Luke wondered when he would see Jen again. When Luke was
finally able to go to her house he learned of her plan for the shadow child rally. Luke told her that he
could not go and when she tried to convince him otherwise by telling him she knew he wanted to be free
they got in an argument. Luke ran home.
Chapter 23:
At home Luke began to go up to his room angry. He thought negative thoughts about Jen and he even
wished that someone would shoot her, but then he took it all back. His mother found him on the steps and
asked him if he was all right once again. E lied and said that he was fine.
Chapter 24:
Luke agonized about what he should do for three days. It continued to rain and Luke was trapped in his
house. Thursday night he fell asleep and woke up to Jen in his room. Jen came to say that she was too
hard on him, he was a good friend, and she would miss him. Jen said good-bye to Luke.
Chapter 25:
Luke stayed wake the rest of the night and got up really early to clean up the mud that Jen had tracked
into the house. He heard the toilet flush, hid, and took his place on the stairs where his mother greeted
him. His mother asked him if he was up in the night because she heard something and he said that he
could not sleep. When his family left the house he put the radio on low and kept an eye on his father. The
radio announced that cattle got loose and caused a car wreck. Then dad came home so Luke turned off
the radio and quickly went to his room. At lunch his father forgot to turn on the radio so
Luke reminded him. Every time his dad left the house that day he would turn on the radio or even turn on
his light for the signal knowing that Jen wouldn’t be responding. He watched he house constantly like he
had when he first discovered her. He even asked his mother if she ever considered visiting and
welcoming the new neighbors. A week passed and Luke became deranged, but he eventually came up
with a plan.
Chapter 26:
After a week and a half Luke took a trip to Jen’s broke in, disabled the alarm, and called for her. He went
to the computer and logged onto the chat room which was blank and asked where Jen was. No one
answered his questions. Then he heard the door and some on came in saying they had a gun and asking
who Luke was.
Chapter 27:
Luke replied with you’re Jen’s dad and then explained how he was a friend of Jen’s. Jen’s father
questioned how he knew about Jen and Luke explained how he figured out about Jen. Jen’s dad told Luke
that Jen was dead and that all forty kids at the rally had been shot down. Luke explained that Jen wanted
to live and not die or hide. Her dad warned Luke that after the rally the Population Police began to
monitor the chat room and then when he logged on it set off an alarm. Jen’s dad says that he can help
protect him and even get him a fake ID and the Luke learns that Jen’s father works for the Population
Police.
Chapter 28:
Luke began screaming, rushed to Jen’s dad and took his gun aiming at home. Jen’s dad said that he was on
Luke’s side. He explained further that he works at the Population Police headquarters, however he does
not agree with what they do and he tries to sabotage them as much as he can. The print out about the
Population Laws that Jen believe to be true was not exactly true. Her dad had convinced her that they
were in order to give her some hope. Her dad explained the history behind it all. For the first time Luke
felt like it was ok for him to exist although it was still illegal. Just as Jen’s dad was giving him advice and
getting ready to leave the Population Police pounded on the door.
Chapter 29:
Jen’s dad put Luke in the closet and told him to hide behind the secret door that was in the closet, but
Luke could not find the secret door. Jen’s dad had pretended that he was in the bathroom when there
were knocking on the door. Her father covered up the messages that Luke had left in the chat room by
saying that he pretended to be Jen all along. Jen’s dad opened the closet door and Luke covered himself
with a blanket. He heard the police walk away and Jen’s dad eventually came back holding Luke’s mouth
so he couldn’t talk showing him a note that said they were gone and not to talk because the house was
now bugged. Jen’s dad and Luke wrote note for a while asking each other questions, and giving
explanations, and Jen’s dad offering Luke a fake ID again. Luke decided to get a fake ID because he wanted
to help other children who were in hiding.
Chapter 30:
Lee Grant was Luke’s new identity. He remembered his mother’s last hg. He left with a trunk full of nice
Baron clothing. Lee Grant was a Baron who died in a skiing accident. Lee’s parents donated their son’s
name and identity card to help someone like Luke. The night Jen’s father brought Luke the identification
card Luke explained everything to his family and said goodbye to them. Luke left his family’s farm
beginning his new life as Lee Grant.