Other strange sightings around the house convince Luke of the possibility that a third child like him might be living there, and he decides to go over their house and knock at their door. Peering through the vents at the new neighborhood of Barons, Luke notices something strange: a child's face in the window at a time when everyone is gone. He pushes back against his confinement by going downstairs when his family has left, but his father yells at him for taking this risk. This leads Luke's mother (the person he is closest to) to take a job in a factory in order to make ends meet, which means that Luke now spends most of his days alone and confined. The Government takes away their ability to raise hogs, which are a major source of the family's livelihood, and raises their taxes at the same time. His only freedom is to peer out through the vents of the attic at the construction of the new housing complex, which will become a home for Barons, the country's wealthy elite.Ĭircumstances become more dire for Luke's family. Because of the increasing number of people walking around his house, Luke's parents agree that he can't go outside. However, when the woods are cut down, Luke loses the ability to even go outside. He lives in the attic, plays with his brother's toys, and reads his family's few books. Twelve-year-old Luke is used to being told when to hide, and he has always obeyed his parents' warnings to stay out of sight. His parents, who are simple farmers, must keep his existence a secret even from members of their extended family, their friends, and their neighbors. This is a major problem for Luke, who has never been outside of his family's yard because of his status as a Shadow Child: he is a third child in a world where the Government only allows families to have two children. This poster can be can be for the law or against the law - and can be for China or Luke's society.The Government is cutting down the woods near Luke's house in order to put up a housing complex. Complete a Venn Diagram comparing the law in China to the law in Among the Hidden. You may use websites linked here - or the books in the classroom. Read about the One-child Law in China.In addition, you have two additional tasks. For security reasons, you will always use your 'screen name' in your blogs.

You will also be choosing a 'screen name' for your 'Shadow Child' that will be used in all blogging activities. (Note: Wikipedia was chosen because it provides consistently formatted information with maps, statistics, etc. You will also be given a link to a Wikipedia site that you will use to learn more about your town/city. In addition, you will be given a link to a live EarthCam that will let you 'see' what it looks like 'out your window' each day.

Other special information about your living situation will also be given. When you receive your 'Shadow Child' identity you will discover what city and state that you live in, as well as the type of house in which you are hidden.

Some of you will have other siblings who are also 'Shadow Children.' Others will not. Some of you will live in big cities, others will live in very rural communities. Some of you will have some privileges like shopping passes, others will not. Some of you will belong to families who are rich. In order to get a better idea of what it must have been like for 'Shadow Children' from all over the United States to join together via the internet, each of you is going to be assigned the role of a 'Shadow Child' who lives somewhere in the United States.

Shadow children among the hidden movie