Among the Hidden

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix  153 pp.

This is one of the books I'm doing with the Treehouse Book Club. It's the first book in the "Shadow Children" series. After widespread famine and the advent of a totalitarian government, it became illegal to have more than two children per family. Luke is an illegal third child who must remain hidden from sight or the Population Police will punish his parents. From his attic hideout he watches the new home behind his family's and determines that there is another third child living there. While both families are away, he sneaks to the other house and meets Jen, the other "shadow child". From her he learns that there is a network of third and even fourth children and she is determined to band them together to fight against the government.