The Shadow Children Series

[Guest Lauren D.]

I recently decided to pick up a book called Among The Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix and I was surprised how much I could enjoy a young adult fiction when I've grown so used to the sometimes cryptic writing aimed at adults. In the universe this book takes place in, there is a population law that restricts families to having a maximum of two children. Any excess children are to be aborted or the family will face dire ramifications. The book is about a third child that has been hidden his entire life, forbidden to leave his home, attend school, meet other people, or do anything a normal child would be allowed to do.

To a cis gendered person, this would appear as a mere young adult fiction. However, I as a transgendered woman identify with the characters and feel that I know what they are going through. I have just recently embarked on the journey of my transition and I feel as if I have come out of hiding. If you think about it, trans people never truly meet anyone or experience anything other than isolation and pain until they transition because the person they were forced to be is nothing but an image as fictional as the characters in these books. I feel that I understand the character's pain and confusion as they enter the world for the first time and try to live as though they have had years of experience like others that were born in a more fortunate situation. I understand the aversion to social events for not having had any experience dealing with people.

Sorry to rant, but I just really wanted to share my opinions on this series. I was slightly leery about reading it as first, but I'm glad I did. It is well-written and I am enjoying it thoroughly.

[Sally]

Thanks, Lauren,

That makes the books sound interesting.

A very good insight - comparing this hidden child to a transsexual - fascinating analogy!

I may just have to give this series a once over.

Love ya,

Sally

[Guest ~Brenda~]

Hi Lauren,

Interesting analogy in you connecting transgendered people to the "third" child. With that being said, many of us are not hidden from or by our families. Indeed there can be some confusion and unacceptance among families (some poor souls actually get abandoned by their families, how a family can turn their back on their own is incomprehensible).

I will say this, I never felt like the third chld and had to be hidden. As I grew to accept myself, others accepted me in kind.

Let go of your anger and embrace who you are.

Others will follow

Brenda

[Guest praisedbeherhooves]

I recently decided to pick up a book called Among The Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix and I was surprised how much I could enjoy a young adult fiction when I've grown so used to the sometimes cryptic writing aimed at adults. In the universe this book takes place in, there is a population law that restricts families to having a maximum of two children. Any excess children are to be aborted or the family will face dire ramifications. The book is about a third child that has been hidden his entire life, forbidden to leave his home, attend school, meet other people, or do anything a normal child would be allowed to do.

To a cis gendered person, this would appear as a mere young adult fiction. However, I as a transgendered woman identify with the characters and feel that I know what they are going through. I have just recently embarked on the journey of my transition and I feel as if I have come out of hiding. If you think about it, trans people never truly meet anyone or experience anything other than isolation and pain until they transition because the person they were forced to be is nothing but an image as fictional as the characters in these books. I feel that I understand the character's pain and confusion as they enter the world for the first time and try to live as though they have had years of experience like others that were born in a more fortunate situation. I understand the aversion to social events for not having had any experience dealing with people.

Sorry to rant, but I just really wanted to share my opinions on this series. I was slightly leery about reading it as first, but I'm glad I did. It is well-written and I am enjoying it thoroughly.

I read the first book. I was in going into the fourth grade. I found it sort of interesting but not really a brillitant work of fiction. I didn't really think of it that way though. Maybe I'll add it to my grand reading list, though I probably won't get to it for quite a while since I've got quite a great deal of books on my grand reading list.

[Guest Larson]

I read that whole series as a kid. I positively loved it, but never related to it like you described. I think I'll go reread them from that perspective. Now that I'm older I bet it will take on a whole new meaning.