![]() ![]() He soon finds out that Jen is a Shadow Child like him, and that she runs an internet forum for other Shadow Children. He is met by a young girl his age named Jen, who at first mistakes him for a robber. Other strange sightings around the house convince Luke of the possibility that a third child like him might be living there, and he decides to go over their house and knock at their door. Peering through the vents at the new neighborhood of Barons, Luke notices something strange: a child's face in the window at a time when everyone is gone. He pushes back against his confinement by going downstairs when his family has left, but his father yells at him for taking this risk. This leads Luke's mother (the person he is closest to) to take a job in a factory in order to make ends meet, which means that Luke now spends most of his days alone and confined. The Government takes away their ability to raise hogs, which are a major source of the family's livelihood, and raises their taxes at the same time. His only freedom is to peer out through the vents of the attic at the construction of the new housing complex, which will become a home for Barons, the country's wealthy elite.Ĭircumstances become more dire for Luke's family. Because of the increasing number of people walking around his house, Luke's parents agree that he can't go outside. However, when the woods are cut down, Luke loses the ability to even go outside. He lives in the attic, plays with his brother's toys, and reads his family's few books. Twelve-year-old Luke is used to being told when to hide, and he has always obeyed his parents' warnings to stay out of sight. His parents, who are simple farmers, must keep his existence a secret even from members of their extended family, their friends, and their neighbors. This is a major problem for Luke, who has never been outside of his family's yard because of his status as a Shadow Child: he is a third child in a world where the Government only allows families to have two children. It inspires Luke to accept a fake ID from Jen’s dad so he can receive an education and create positive change for shadow children in smaller ways, so that Jen’s death won’t be in vain.The Government is cutting down the woods near Luke's house in order to put up a housing complex. Luke suspects Jen might have known she’d die, but he takes comfort in his knowledge that Jen wanted to help and serve others-and her sacrifice does help others. Soon after, Luke learns that Jen and the other protesters were shot and killed at the rally. ![]() She later makes up with Luke just before she leaves for the rally. She’s so committed to her vision that when Luke refuses to go to the rally, Jen ends their friendship and insists that active protest is the only way to change things. Secure in her privilege, she’s certain the Population Police won’t kill children, particularly not when those children have parents in the Government. Jen believes that if a bunch of shadow children join the protest and demand the same rights as other people, there’s no way they’ll fail. When she meets Luke, she also takes on the responsibility of educating him about why the Population Law exists, and why it’s immoral. To further this goal, Jen has created a password-protected chat room for shadow children that has about 800 daily users, and she spends much of the novel planning a protest rally. Jen is extremely independent and she wants nothing more than to live freely, with all the rights that first and second children enjoy. Jen’s mom loves shopping, so she has a forged shopping pass for Jen so she can take Jen along into public spaces with her (something Jen detests, as she’s not into “prissy” activities like shopping). So, Jen has met other third children at play groups, she has a computer and access to the internet, and her parents have set up mirrors in the house so she can see outside without having to go to the window and look out. Though she has to live in hiding for her safety, like Luke, her life differs greatly from his because her family are wealthy Barons. Jen is Luke’s neighbor and a fellow shadow child. ![]()
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