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
A week and a half after the rally, the weather finally clears and Dad plans to spend the whole day in the fields. Luke turns on the light to signal to Jen, but when he gets no response, he creeps across the yards anyway. He has to break the window and rip the screen door, but he decides Jen can come up with an excuse—he has to get in. Luke remembers the sequence of buttons to push to disable the alarm, so he disables it and then searches the house, calling for Jen. He can’t find her anywhere in the huge house.
Luke might not be totally aware, but sneaking to Jen’s house in search of answers is one way that he can fight the Government propaganda. To believe the radio (which seems to be controlled by the Government), nothing happened—but Luke isn’t willing to take that for an answer. He knows too much now to not think more critically about things.
Themes
Finally, Luke goes to the computer room and fumbles as he tries to type “free” in to access the chat room. But when Luke gets into the chat room, there’s nothing there—nobody is talking. Shaking, he types out “Where’s Jen?” Nobody answers. He types more and when no one answers, he shouts at the computer that he has to know. Suddenly, the door opens behind him. A man’s voice says he has a gun, and Luke should say who he is and why he’s here.
Luke goes to the only place he thinks might have answers: Jen’s secret chat room. So it’s devastating when that doesn’t give Luke any information, as he’s not sure where else to turn. Things take a turn for the worse, and become even more frightening, when this man appears. Luke could be in even more danger now.
Themes
