Among the Imposters
(The Shadow Children sequence, Book 2)
Margaret Peterson Haddix
Aladdin Fiction
YA Fiction, Sci-Fi
**** (Good)
DESCRIPTION: Luke Garner once thought he was the only illegal third child in the world, until he discovered Jen Talbot, the third child of a "Baron" in a new housing development near his family's farm. Jen wanted to rally all the thirds to demand freedom from the oppressive Population Laws, but her revolutionary vision led to her death... and Luke's discovery by Jen's heartbroken father, himself an agent in the dreaded Population Police. Through his contacts, Luke now has a fake ID, a new name - Lee Grant - and a chance at a normal life... or as normal as any third child can hope for in this dystopian future.
Sent to the Hendricks School for Boys, Luke-turned-Lee is both terrified and secretly hopeful. After all, he's never been to a real school before. But something's not right about Hendricks, something worse than the school bully who latches onto him from the first day. Nobody seems to know or care what classes he's supposed to go to. Half the children are catatonic. The teachers and staff hardly notice what's going on. Luke finds himself drawn deeper into the school's peculiar mysteries... and finds himself in greater danger of discovery than ever before.
REVIEW: Much like the first book, Luke's world is painted in shades of paranoia and oppression, with highlights and shadows in secrets and fear. There's a certain whiff of plot convenience now and again, both in Luke's discoveries and dangers and in the characters he encounters. Some elements begin to strech credulity; even the deepest of conspiracies has to start tripping over its own feet eventually, but some impossibly fast action behind the scenes invariably prevents a tumble. Once again, Haddix uses Luke and his world to debate moral and legal issues, though now Luke is starting to form his own opinions rather than letting others and their propaganda do it for him. Overall, it's a nice story that reads fast and dark. I wouldn't mind reading more.
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