Great writing - very vivid images - very ingrossing stories. I loved the books. But I am 47 years old. If you wouldn't let your kids watch an R rated movie, think hard before you let them read these books.

These books are much more realistic and frightening than would be appropriate for children. And the messages are terrifying. In the first book of the series, the protagonist is 'tested' by 'good adults' with fear and intimidation. 'Bad children' are killed. Errors are punished with death. I figured the sadness would let up as the book series continued, but it doesn't.

This is heavy stuff, even for an adult, let alone a child. I think the author is gifted, and the books are well written - but not for kids. Please read these and think about them from a child's perspective before you let your kids read them.

Parents should reivew this book before allowing children under 12 to read. Don't believe all the positive reviews. Yes, these books are very well written, and bring to mind vivid images. But, are these the kind of images for young minds? Images of adults looking for 'illegal' children to capture and kill along with the families that harbor them. Images of the Poplulation Police searching private homes and mass killing of illegal children. The children in this series live in daily fear for their lives with little to no hope of ever being a part of society. Even their 'friends' could be enemies. They can trust no one. Adults who are their 'friends' abuse the children to be sure of their loyalty. It's seven books of dark, disturbing, death and betrayal.

These books are in a real-life setting with cell phones and internet. Unlike Harry Potter and the Eragon-Brisanger Series', The Shadow Children series cannot be dismissed as fantasy. Ms. Haddix should use her exceptional writing ability and pour it into adult novels.

I have to say it: I don't recommend this series, at least to kids under 12. I've never given a one-star rating to anything before, but I do here as a warning: These books are violent and could be profoundly disturbing to some young children, as the world created here is one in which no adult can be trusted, and innocent children are beaten, tortured and murdered. As an advocate for kids, just let me say, without attacking the poorly written books further, that there are hundreds of books out there that are appropriate for young readers. Keep searching, regardless of what others may have said about the series--or check it out from a library and read the books (you can skim one in about 30 minutes) before you make the critical decision to put one into the hands of a malleable mind. Again, I do not recommend them.

This is a superb series.

I am a secondary English teacher and it IS sometimes difficult to get young adults interested in this series. However, it is worth the effort. This is a book that a lot of adolescents will have an easy time identifying with. One child in the family is an illegal, not allowed in the sunlight. Teenagers identify with the character once they start reading it because they are teenagers.

This is an almost teenager who the world really IS against. That proves they were right all along.

On top of all that, it is also a well written series.

The Shadow Children boxed set by Margaret Peterson Haddix is a captivating series of stories about the life of "illegal" third children. I purchased the the set for my daughter and found myself reading the entire series unable to put the books down. Haddix leaves the reader wanting more with each book in the series!