49 pages • 1-hour read
Among the Betrayed
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Character Analysis
Nina Idi/ Elodie Luria
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of physical abuse, emotional abuse, child abuse, and death.
Nina Idi, born Elodie Luria, is the 13-year-old protagonist of Among the Betrayed, and the novel focuses on her journey toward maturity and moral agency. She is described as a girl with “medium height and medium weight, with medium brown hair” (13). Nina is a third-born child forced to adopt a fake identity in a society where such children are criminalized and outlawed. Her life is shaped by secrecy and fear, and she has lived most of her life enclosed and isolated at home to keep her existence secret from the tyrannical Government.
Nina grows up under the protection of her grandmother three aunts who raise her with love and care, describing herself as being treated like a “princess.” Although not wealthy, her family “scrimped and saved” to buy her an ID card from the black market and send her to the Harlow School for Girls, a school attended by first and second-born children. Their values and kindness continue to guide Nina’s decisions throughout the novel, helping her preserve her humanity in difficult situations.
At the beginning of the novel, Nina is imprisoned and tortured by the Population Police. While at school, Nina met Jason, a boy who attended the neighboring Hendricks School for Boys and introduced himself as an activist who fought for the rights of third children. Nina loved and trusted him, so she is devastated when she learns that he was a spy for the Population Police and betrayed her. Nina also recalls that none of her friends at school defended her or came to her aid during her arrest. As a result, she feels disillusioned and hopeless.
One of the Population Police officers—whom Nina things of as the “hating man”—proposes that Nina can avoid execution by becoming an informant. The Population Police have arrested three children, and the “hating man” asks Nina to gain their trust and learn their true identities. Nina confronts a moral dilemma: become a traitor herself or stay true to what is right. She is initially ambivalent, but after she meets the three children—Matthias, Percy, and Alia—she feels guilty and gradually builds the courage to resist the tyrannical Government, even at great personal peril. Ultimately, when she sees a chance to escape the prison, she takes the children with her, and they escape together to the woods.
The woods become a space of self-discovery, as Nina learns to survive, adapt, and lead. Her solo journey to Hendricks School represents her character growth: Despite her terror of crossing the dark woods alone, she makes it to the school, driven by her desire to help the children. Her friendship with the children deepens, signifying her transformation from bitterness to trust.
The plot twist at the end of the novel represents Nina’s ordeal as a “test.” Despite the injustice of this, she understands the operation’s importance for the collective cause and thanks Mr. Talbot for giving her a chance to grow and prove herself. After learning that Jason is alive and that he tried to save her, Nina struggles to make sense of the ambiguity of his actions. Still, motivated by an Enduring Hope in Humanity, she chooses resilience and moral clarity. She joins Mr. Talbot’s resistance against the Population Police, signifying a promising new start for her character who is now defined by purpose and hope rather than fear.
The “Hating Man”/ Mr. Talbot
Mr. Talbot first appears as the antagonist, the “hating man,” who is an officer of the Population Police. He is present at Nina’s arrest in school, and Nina recalls his “hate-filled eyes” (7), which is why she names him the “hating man.” He instills terror in Nina, who describes him as “tall,” “muscular,” and “powerful” (7). He is harsh and aggressive while interrogating Nina, and he pressures Nina to become an informant against Matthias, Percy, and Alia. To tempt her, he offers Nina food and safety. When she doesn’t give him the information he seeks, he threatens to execute Nina. For most of the novel, his presence fills Nina with fear.
However, at the end of the novel, the “hating man” reveals his true identity: He is Mr. Talbot, a resistance agent working undercover. As he explains, he is a “double agent” and his goal is to “double-cross” the Population Police (141). Mr. Talbot has experienced heartbreak himself, as his daughter died for the cause. His apparent ruthlessness is part of his plan to test Nina’s loyalty by pushing her to a breaking point. Nina ultimately discovers that Mr. Talbot is committed to the cause of dismantling the Population Police and the authoritarian government. He shows no hesitation in engaging with Nina despite her youth, showing his belief in young people’s capacity for resistance.
Mr. Talbot’s ideology illustrates the theme of Enduring Hope in Humanity. He tells Nina that in dark times, people must “try [their] hardest and have faith” (152). He understands the difficult choices people make under tyranny and encourages Nina to stop being “bitter” about Jason’s betrayal. Ultimately, Mr. Talbot helps Nina to forge a new identity for herself and immerse herself in a cause greater than herself as she volunteers to join the resistance against the Population Police.
Alia
Alia, the youngest of the three children Nina meets in the Population Police prison, is a six-year-old third child. Nina describes her as “sweet and cute and cuddly” (93). Alia has dirt in her face, wears a ragged and patched dress, and has a ponytail. She is inseparable from Matthias and Percy, two young boys. Like the boys, Alia also lived on the streets and was protected by Samuel Jones, an activist for third children who was killed at a rally. Nina notes that the children “take care of [themselves]” (42). Though Alia appears physically small and vulnerable, she shows intelligence, courage, and resilience and has learned how to survive in their hostile world.
Despite being part of Mr. Talbot’s plan to test Nina, Alia places her trust in Nina more readily than Matthias or Percy. Nina feels quickly fond of her as Alia shows her genuine warmth. As Nina observes, her “voice is buoyant with hope”, and she is always “calm and confident,” even during times of danger (40). This comforts Nina in moments of doubt and fear. Alia is also highly capable; she neutralizes the prison’s security system, demonstrating skills and maturity that is well beyond her age.
Alia actively shapes Nina’s growth. Her quiet strength and positivity inspire Nina and encourage her to continue her survival journey. Alia manages to reassure Nina, comforting her when she panics and countering her feelings of distrust.
Matthias
Matthias, a 10-year-old boy, serves as the de facto leader of the trio of children and acts like a protective older brother to Percy and Alia. Intelligent and courageous, he lived on the streets for most of his life. He is always alert, and Nina notes that he looks “worried” even in his sleep. He is initially wary of Nina, testing her reliability.
Matthias’s maturity and capability contrast with Nina’s inexperience. He challenges her to use her mind and develop her skills and independence. With time, he opens up to her, admitting that he—with Percy and Alia—and made fake ID cards for third children. Matthias hints at their role as activists in the rebellion against the Population Police, explaining to Nina that they were not selling IDs on the black market. Instead, their enterprise was a “nonprofit operation” (129). This underscores their commitment to justice over profit.
Matthias plays a pivotal role in Nina’s journey. He helps her survive and also develop her moral agency. Like the other children, he eventually becomes friends with Nina and comes to trust her.
Percy
Percy, a nine-year-old boy, is a third child who grew up in the streets with Matthias and Alia. He has long and tangled dark hair, pointed features, and a restless energy. Nina says: “Everything about Percy was sharp—his nose, the set of his mouth, the bony elbows jutting out of his oversized, rolled-up shirtsleeves” (94). Percy stays by Matthias’s side and looks to him for guidance and instructions, yet he is also intelligent and perceptive in his own right.
Initially suspicious of Nina, Percy’s trust grows as the narrative unfolds. Along with Matthias, he works to ensure their stay in the woods is safe. Percy urges Nina to go alone to Hendricks School, and this becomes a turning point in her coming-of-age journey, forcing her to face her fears. In the end, Percy accepts Nina as a friend, and they establish their bond with a group hug.
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