Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Among the Hidden, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Propaganda, Fear, and Control
Privilege, Wealth, and Perspective
Protest and Resistance
Coming of Age, Independence, and Family
Summary
Analysis
Luke hadn’t decided what he’d do if the screen door was locked. He mutters that he’s an idiot and struggles with the door, feeling exposed. Though Luke knows he should run back home, he instead punches through the screen and unlocks the door. He lets himself into the house.
At this point, Luke figures he’s come too far to just go back home without trying his best to get into the Sports Family’s house. This speaks to how essential he believes it is that he do this: he’s willing to commit a crime, which could put him in danger, to experience something new.
Themes
Even though all the blinds are drawn, the house is still light and bright. Everything is neat and polished. Luke has never seen new furniture before, or such polished wood floors. He only moves deeper into the house when he hears a strange beeping noise coming from another room. When Luke reaches the room where he thinks the buzzing is coming from, he peeks inside. A girl is sitting at what Luke thinks is a computer, typing furiously. It’s shocking to learn the Sports Family’s third child is a girl.
Everything Luke notices about the Sports Family’s house suggests that they’re far wealthier than Luke’s family is. So in addition to the shock of discovering another person for the first time, Luke is also getting his first look at how very wealthy people in his world live. Noting that Luke only thinks the computer is a computer shows how sheltered he is, and potentially that his family can’t afford this kind of technology.
Themes
When Luke gulps, the girl turns around and tackles him to the floor. She pins him with his face in the carpet and tells him that the security guards will be here soon. Panicky, Luke says the security guards can’t come. When the girl asks who Luke is and why the security guards can’t get him, Luke says, “Population Police.” The girl lets Luke go.
The girl seems just as concerned about intruders in her home as Luke would be if someone broke into his house—which gives more credence to the possibility that she’s an illegal third child. Invoking the Population Police is the only thing Luke can think of to save himself—he fears the Population Police more than anything, as his life would end if they found him.
Themes
