Luke has never gone to school. He has never celebrated his birthday or slept at a friend’s house. In fact, Luke has never had friends. He is one of the Shadow Children, a third child forbidden by the Population Police. He has lived in hiding his entire life.

One day, Luke sees the face of a girl in the window of a house where he knows two other children already live. At last, he has met a hidden girl like himself.

This fast-paced young adult dystopia, the first title in the Shadow Children series, addresses themes such as freedom, survival, and courage in the face of a totalitarian government. It is an engaging and exciting read that maintains tension from the very first page and forces you to question imposed rules. Without a doubt, it is worth reading.

The author, Margaret Peterson Haddix (Ohio, USA, 1964), is an American writer of young adult literature known for her science fiction, mystery, and alternate history plots. She has received numerous literary awards and her books have been translated into many languages, reaching, among others, the New York Times bestseller list.