Customer Reviews

Among the Free

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the final book in a "sequence" of seven. (I have no idea why they don't just call it a book series.) The other books are Among the Hidden, Among the Impostors, Among the Betrayed, Among the Barons, Among the Brave, and Among the Enemy. The set as a whole would rate 5-stars in my mind, despite the fact that not all my reviews are that high (I rated each on its own as it fits in its series, and under its own entry).

This book returns to Luke but, unlike the other viewpoint characters who continue to grow and progress, Luke appears to have regressed to worse than he was in the first book. His lack of action in the last few books is continually brought to the forefront of things and his apparent leadership in the third child cause is shown to have never actually taken root. He's nothing but a grunt who can't even be trusted to know the big picture. Once again, third children have become tools, and Luke's just standing by.

When the actions of the other third children are revealed and events appear to take a turn for the better, Luke finds himself in a state of denial over some new, and troubling, discoveries that threaten to undo all that they've sacrificed to achieve.

Luke eventually steps up to a degree, showing bravery, but no true leadership qualities. Perhaps it's supposed to show that kids should just be kids, but the book undermines the purpose of this sort of young adult fiction in my mind (to show that being young doesn't mean you're powerless).

Despite this fizzle at the end, I'd still recommend the series for reading. If nothing else, it does help one question what's presented before them and to think for themselves instead of just standing back and accepting what they're told.

This book is the sixth and last in the Shadow Children series.
Luke Garner is a shadow child, the third child in a family. In a world who's supplies are stretched to the limit, the government sets a law that families are only allowed to have two children, any third children discovered by the population police will be taken and or killed. Luke has been fighting a battle to over throw the population police from the inside out with the help of his friends, Nina, and Trey.
Will the shadow children be freed, or shot down like so many others before?
I'm sorry to say this final book did not impress me. Not like I wanted it to.
Ok book.