Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Luke is the third son in his family. Unfortunately, the Population Police and the government only allow families to have two children, so he must stay hidden at all times. For most of his life he has enjoyed the protection of living on the family’s farm surrounded by woods. Now the government has built a new housing development right where the woods that once hid him existed, and Luke must stay confined to the attic, and isn’t even allowed to peek out of the windows. Desperate for some sunlight, Luke discovers that he can look out of the attic vents, which are angled so no one can see him inside. By peering out of the vents, Luke gets to know the habits of the new families living nearby, and knows each family member by sight. Then one day, he spots a face in a window of a house that he doesn’t recognize, and he realizes that it can only be another illegal child living there. Luke soon becomes obsessed with the idea of meeting this person, and when he does, she reveals a big secret. They aren’t the only shadow children out there. Just how many shadow children exists? And will they ever get to live free?

Don’t miss the other books in this exciting series!
Book 1 Among the Hidden
Book 2 Among the Impostors
Book 3 Among the Betrayed
Book 4 Among the Barons
Book 5 Among the Brave
Book 6 Among the Enemy
Book 7 Among the Free

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The Mailbox by Audry Shafer

Gable Pace was in the foster system since his mother died, but two and half years ago, he found himself living with his mother’s half-brother, Vernon Culligan. Uncle Vernon is a war veteran from Vietnam, where he lost the lower half of his left leg.

One day after school, Gabe comes home to find that Uncle Vernon has died. Shocked and frightened, Gabe doesn’t tell anyone. He realizes that if he tells anyone, he'll have to return to the foster system. The next day, he finds a mysterious note in the mailbox that reads “I have a secret. Do not be afraid.” He then discovers that Uncle Vernon’s body has disappeared!

Gabe begins a correspondence with the note writer, and doesn’t feel so alone. The note writer even gives Gabe a dog to keep him company. But he and the note writer are not prepared for what happens when the authorities find out about Uncle Vernon. Who will be his guardian now, or will he have to return to the foster system? Who is the mysterious note writer?

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The Hound of Rowan: The Tapestry Book One by Henry H. Neff

On a trip to the art museum with his dad, Max McDaniels discovers a magical Celtic tapestry showing the mythic Cattle Raid of Cooley, in a secret room at the museum. His discovery doesn’t go unnoticed, as he is soon after contacted by the Rowan Academy, a secret school for Potentials. A Potential is a student who displays special aptitude or skills in aspects of magic. After being invited to attend Rowan and surviving the perilous journey there, Max discovers that there’s more to being a Potential than just learning some fancy tricks. He soon learns that Rowan Academy trains the Potentials to become Agents who work against the Enemy. Finding himself firmly embroiled in a centuries old battle between good and evil, Max must learn to use his skills much sooner than a Potential normally would. His life depends on it.

I felt this book was a combination of the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, and the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan. There’s Celtic mythology, a boy with special magical powers, only one parent is present, there are magical creatures, and a magical school building. The disappointing factor is that the writing didn’t measure up to the quality of Rowling or Riordan. Max is a fantastic character, well developed and complex, but the supporting cast wasn’t given compelling histories of their own. They seem to purely exist to move the story along. In many ways they are interchangeable. I wonder if this is fixed in the second book of the series, The Second Siege. And maybe it is unfair to make the comparisons between Riordan, Rowling, and Neff, but with so many similarities, it’s hard not to do so.

Overall it was a good book to read, and I liked it a lot. I would recommend it.

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