Among the Free (Shadow Children #7)

Gr 5-9 -This final installment in the set focuses on illegal third-child Luke, who has been working undercover in the Population Police stables with the hope of somehow helping to topple the oppressive regime. After being handpicked for a special chore by government officials, Luke and several other boys are loaded into a van and driven through the gates of headquarters and out into the world. All of the country -s citizens are being issued new identification cards and they are told to knock on every door and summon the terrified people to a mandatory assembly. But one woman -s steely refusal to comply kick-starts a revolution in which Luke is destined to play a critical role. Haddix -s storytelling hums along quickly, if somewhat predictably. She relies a bit too heavily on stock dialogue and caricatures; change the name of the evil empire in command, for instance, and lines like -The Population Police will prevail - could have been written for any number of government goons in practically any futuristic novel. That said, this is a light, easy read that delivers what it promises. Fans of the series won -t be disappointed." -Catherine Threadgill, Charleston County Public Library, SC" Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"Fans of the series won't be disappointed."

— "School Library Journal"