Tomorrow When the War Began

Tomorrow When the War Began by John Marsden

After the Christmas holiday, Australian teenager Ellie and six of her friends decide to camp in the bush for a long weekend. They hope to find their way into Hell, a hidden valley where a legendary hermit once lived. Hell's not an easy place to find though- you can see it from Tailor's Stitch, but you have to descend a series of cliffs known as Satan's Steps to reach it. Ellie is surprised and delighted when they actually discover the trail into Hell. They spend a lazy week in the valley, only disturbed one night as an endless series of planes fly overhead. They assume the planes are just part of the Commemoration Day celebrations going on back in town, but when the emerge from the valley, they quickly discover the truth. Their country has been invaded, their families and friends are locked up in the fairgrounds and they are alone. Ellie knows they could disappear into Hell and stay safe, but what about everyone else? Slowly, the come to the realization that they must fight if they hope to see their family and homes again.

John Marsden's Tomorrow Series is a fast-paced action adventure. For some readers (Gen-Xers, especially) it will immediately bring to mind Red Dawn, the Cold War teens-turned-resistance-fighters movie where Solviets invade the U.S. With seven books and three post-war sequels, this series offers more character development than any movie can provide. Ellie is a fierce heroine, often vulnerable and conflicted, but ultimately tough and tenacious as well. Her friends, especially her best mate Homer and her crush Lee, are just as driven and just as flawed. As they transform themselves from average teenagers into guerilla fighters, they also learn that nothing, even their fight for survival, is black and white.

The series continues with The Dead of Night, A Killing Frost, Darkness Be My Friend, Burning for Revenge, The Night is for Hunting, The Other Side of Dawn, While I Live, Incurable and Circle of Flight. The audiobooks are well worth a listen too!