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 climbs into the car, trying to keep his story straight: he’s now Lee Grant. He’s getting ready to leave the farm where he ended up after running away from home. The real Lee Grant was a Baron who died last night in a skiing accident; his parents donated his name and identity to an underground resistance group. That group is paying for Luke to go to a private boarding school, supposedly as punishment for running away. Living away from family is an odd thought, but Luke’s glad he doesn’t have to pretend to love strange parents.
As Luke accepts his new identity, his world suddenly expands. He discovers that there are lots of people willing to help kids like him, from the original Lee Grant’s parents to the people in the resistance group. Now, Luke has to do his part by fully becoming Lee Grant—and by working toward his goal of finding some way to help shadow children that is more successful than Jen’s rally.
Themes
Luke looks back at the porch, where Mother, Dad, Matthew, and Mark are waving. Mother is sobbing, just like she did when Luke finally told them everything. She’d broken down when Luke told her about the fake ID and said she’ll miss him if he leaves, but Luke said he had to leave. He doesn’t want to be a burden on his brothers, and he wants to help other third kids. She promised to get him a fake ID when he was an adult and asked Dad to back her up—but Dad agreed with Luke. Dad said he’d asked around to see if third kids can live normal lives. Around here, they can’t. Luke was half disappointed as on some level, he wanted to stay his parents’ little boy forever. This was two days ago. Since then, Mother has been reminiscing nonstop about Luke’s entire life.
Leaving his home and his family represents the final step as Luke grows up and comes of age. Particularly when he frames staying in his attic as being his parents’ little boy forever, it highlights that staying in hiding was keeping Luke from coming of age. Dad seems to recognize this when he supports Luke taking the fake ID and leaving the farm. Though Dad has been a somewhat distant and scary presence for Luke throughout the novel, he shows here that he does want to do right by his son and make sure he has the opportunity to live.
Themes
This morning, Jen’s dad pulled up and thanked Mother and Dad for housing the runaway. He’d then turned to Luke, scolded him, and slipped Lee Grant’s ID into Luke’s pocket. When Mother asked if they already had to pretend, Jen’s dad mouthed, “bugged.” Then, Jen’s dad pulled out Luke’s new travel papers that state he’ll go to Hendricks School for Boys. Mother asked to hug Lee, since she got attached. Jen’s dad allowed it, so Luke hugged his mother and stumbled to the car.
The fact that Jen’s dad is still bugged speaks to how intent the Government is on finding and doing away with anyone who might compromise their mission and jeopardize their power. Again, the bug suggests that while Mother and Dad may have misjudged how the Government surveils people, it is true that they are watching and trying to control the population through fear.
Themes
As Jen’s dad pulls out of the driveway, Luke peers back at Mother, Dad, Matthew, and Mark. For the first time, Luke can see the whole barn and the fields in the distance. This is exciting, even if it’s frightening. He thinks for a moment he should tell Jen and is instantly sad. Luke murmurs that someday, when third children are free, he’ll tell people about Jen and put up statues honoring her. Luke looks back at his family’s farm until it disappears—and then Lee Grant looks forward, to the future.
What Luke says about honoring Jen shows again how important her rally was. It didn’t get shadow children more rights, but it inspired Luke—and perhaps others—to find other ways to resist. Then, when the novel notes that Lee, not Luke, looks to the future, it symbolizes Luke’s final step to coming of age. Lee will be Luke’s adult identity, and Luke is now ready to accept it and greet whatever comes next.
Themes
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