Reading & Thinking (Purpose, Questions, Predictions)
Why is it important to establish a purpose before reading a book like Among the Hidden?
It helps focus attention, improve comprehension, and connect the story to personal or broader ideas.
Describe a personal experience that relates to Luke’s feeling of being hidden.
Answers will vary but should include feeling excluded, unnoticed, or needing to keep a secret.
What motivates Luke to stay hidden at the start?
It isolates him physically, limits his contact with others, and keeps him hidden from authorities.
What is the author’s main purpose in writing Among the Hidden?
To explore themes of freedom, identity, and government control through Luke’s story.
Identify a metaphor or personification used in the story.
Example: “The house seemed to watch him like a silent guard,” personification giving the house human-like qualities.
Generate a question you might ask before reading chapter 5.
Examples: “Will Luke meet other hidden children?” or “What risks will Luke take next?”
How do Luke’s feelings about his family reflect your own experiences?
Answers will vary; students may relate to feeling loved but also restricted by family rules.
How do Jen’s actions create conflict for Luke?
Jen encourages Luke to take risks and challenge rules, increasing danger and tension.
How does the setting create obstacles for Luke?
The strict surveillance and physical isolation prevent him from normal socializing and freedom.
How do the short chapters help build suspense?
They create a fast pace and frequent cliffhangers, keeping readers eager to continue.
What prediction can you make about Luke’s choices based on chapter 3?
Luke may become braver or take risks despite the danger.
Connect a struggle a character faces to a challenge in society today.
Answers may connect hiding due to laws to modern issues like discrimination or oppression.
Explain how Luke’s motivations evolve by chapter 10.
He moves from fear and hiding to curiosity and willingness to act for change.
How would the story change if it were set in a city instead of a farm?
There might be more people to hide from, different challenges, and possibly more help or danger.
How does the author’s use of alternating thoughts and actions affect the story?
Limited third-person from Luke’s perspective; it creates empathy and focuses on his experiences.
How can creating mental images improve your understanding of Luke’s secret life?
Visualizing helps you grasp the dangers and emotions Luke faces, making the story more vivid.
How does Luke’s situation connect to themes in other books you’ve read?
Themes like oppression, identity, and courage appear in many stories about marginalized characters.
Analyze how a character’s behavior influences the story’s resolution.
Jen’s rebelliousness pushes Luke to grow and take action, driving the plot forward.
How does the government’s control influence the plot?
It creates central conflict by forcing Luke to hide and shaping his decisions.
Explain how the text’s structure supports the theme of secrecy.
Short, clipped chapters and limited viewpoint keep readers “in the dark,” mirroring Luke’s hidden life.
What questions would you ask after finishing chapter 12 to deepen understanding?
Examples: “What will Luke do next?” “How will his choices affect his family?”
How does the theme of hiding relate to real-world social issues?
It parallels experiences of discrimination, fear, and marginalized groups forced into silence.
How do Luke’s decisions in chapter 12 show character growth?
He shows courage and independence, moving beyond fear to take control of his life.
Describe how the physical and social setting limits Luke’s freedom.
Strict laws, surveillance, and isolation prevent him from normal life and expression.
Why is the author’s use of print or graphic features important in conveying the message?
Though limited, features like chapter breaks emphasize tension and pacing, reinforcing the story’s mood.