With a title like Among the Hidden, it doesn't take much to assume that there's going to be some major reliance on lies and deceit throughout the book. Oh, sure, there are all kinds of justifications for the lies—some of them even good justifications. So before you start chanting "liar, liar, pants of fire," ask yourself: would you tell the truth if it meant that you or your child would be handed over to the Population Police? Yeah. Didn't think so.
Questions About Lies and Deceit
- There is a lot of withheld information in Among the Hidden. Is that the same as lying? Why or why not?
- Who tells the biggest lie in this book? Why do they do it?
- Jen wants to tell the truth and ends up dead for it. Was she right to insist on honesty, or should she have gone along with all the lies?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Every character in Among the Hidden either flat out lies or holds back the truth in one way or another.
The only rational response to a Government based on lies and deceit is further lies and deceit.