For this week’s BOTW, I’d love to transition from Greek mythology into something more mysterious, perfect for the Halloween season!
Artfully written in 1998 by Margaret Peterson Haddix, Shadow Children is not only a spine-chilling series, but it’s an electrifying escape from boredom–making it a perfect book for October. Taking place in a dystopia enforced by a ruthless Population law, our main protagonist Luke Garner is an illegal third child, a “shadow child.” He is forced to hide in his attic from the Population Police, a cruel enemy group that believes parents should only have two children. The laws of their world forces them to eat, sleep, and breathe exactly the way they want them to. Every creak of a wooden floorboard or peek out a window is a life-or-death risk. Nevertheless, as Luke grows more confident, he realizes that in order to truly be alive, and to become a normal person, he must fight for the freedom that everyone deserves. For me, reading the second book “Among the Imposters” during the lockdowns in 2020, during a time of loneliness and sadness was a powerful experience. Almost as if I was jumping into a world of adventure and being alive.
This isn’t a simple world; every move Luke makes is a dangerous rebellion against the law. His timid fear is forged into bravery as he risks everything to find others like him. The stakes are high: death, or hiding in a life of nonexistence. Luke must make terrifying choices, eventually leaking his identity. I felt a constant tension—will Luke be discovered? Will the people he trusts turn out to be enemies?
If you’re interested in what happens next, you need to uncover this thrilling series!
Want More? Try These!
If Luke’s fight for freedom has left your heart racing, consider diving into these other dangerous adventures to continue the fight!
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins:
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Like Luke, protagonist Katniss Everdeen fights back against The Capitol-a ruthless, all-controlling government that demands obedience in the darkest ways.
The Maze Runner by James Dashner:
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Run or die. An overwhelming sense of mystery and confinement reminds me of Luke’s cry for help, but in this story, there’s an added urgency of constant, life-threatening danger.
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld:
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Perfect for teen girls. Seriously. While not only exploring themes of identity and fighting conformity, it also mirrors exactly what Luke must do when he sheds his “shadow child” true self.
The Giver by Lois Lowry:
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This novel is a very chilling tale which possesses the same mood as Shadow Children. It will show how life can almost become meaningless and robotic when a powerful system dictates every minute detail of existence and eliminates what being alive truly means. Many have read this in the past as well!
