Nina has been arrested for falsely accusing others of being illegal third children - a capital crime in a society that allows only two children per family. Now the government wants to strike a deal with Nina. In order to save her own life she must gain the trust of three young children and convince them to confess their hidden identities. Then she must betray them. The children will die; Nina will live. But then Nina discovers a way to escape and to take the others with her, but will their plan be successful and how does Nina know whom she can trust, in these treacherous times?

 

This is number 3 in The Shadow Children .

There are 160 pages in this book. This book was published 2002 by Random House Children's Publishers UK .