Among the Free

By Margaret Peterson Haddix
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

This is the 7th and final book in the Shadow Children series. In an effort to undermine the all powerful Population Police, Luke and his other 3rd children friends take menial jobs in the organization. Luke is working in the stables when one day he is selected to go along on a mission. He is driven to a town and is to gather everyone into the town square so they can be issued new identity cards all at once. But when one woman refuses, Luke is ordered to shoot her. Luke drops his gun and runs away instead. He later finds out that his single action sparked a rebellion against the Population Police which quickly spread to other towns, and the dictatorship is peaceably overthrown. But Luke has been hiding for too long and has been through too much to believe it until he goes to Population Police Headquarters himself. But just when Luke begins to think he is finally free, he overhears something that could mean just the opposite. But what can one person do to change the course of events? Readers will agonize over the choices Luke must make and be pleased with the ending.