Let's see: seven main characters in Among the Hidden and five of them are related. Yeah, we'll say that family matters here. But we're not just talking about the ins and outs of Luke's daddy issues. We're talking about the restrictive laws that the Government places on all families. How homey can home be, if the Government tells you what you can do inside your own four walls? (Quick Brain Snack: Haddix tells us that inspiration for the story came when deciding whether or not to increase her own family.)
Questions About Family
- What are the differences between Luke's and Jen's families? What do we find out about Jen's family?
- In what ways do the Garners show their love for one another?
- Why do you think the Government choose two as the magic number of kids a family could have? Why not one? Or three?
Chew on This
Luke and Jen's attitudes towards rebellion reflect the different ways in which they were raised.
The existence of shadow children suggests that the Population Law has failed to deter families from having a third (or even fourth) child, and further suggests that government intervention in family affairs will ultimately be unsuccessful.