Reviews

Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden

brittany88's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

isabelle_sweaterweather's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

beaundarrows's review against another edition

5.0

The first time I read this I was in my early teens, possibly even before that. I enjoyed it then. But I think I've gotten even more out of re-reading it now, at 28.

zordrac's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

bookgirl1209's review against another edition

2.0

I marked this one as apocalyptic but it's not really.
Ellie and her friends return from a camping trip to the outback to find that their town, their homes and their families have been overtaken and that their country is at war. Heeding the note left by the father of one of the kids they decide to "go bush" until they can figure out what's going on.

Much along the lines of Red Dawn...except less everything, this was an okay read. I would have liked more detail in everything... it seemed like so much was glossed over or left out that I felt I was missing the story.

I've since discovered that this is number 1 in a 7 part series, so perhaps my wish for more detail can be found in the rest of the series.

michael070's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

coldlikeadqblizzard's review against another edition

5.0

I LOVE these books. The Tomorrow books are one of the greatest collections of series I have ever read. Each installment is gripping and exciting, full of suspense, teamwork and kick-ass action. So much happens in this series - wars are waged, governments are changed, many characters grow up and tons of beloved characters lose their lives.

I can't even begin to understand how John Marsden is able to put himself in the mind of a 17-year old girl and write this series from the perspective of Ellie in a way that is so real. Every character in this entire series was so dynamic and well created that they all just came to life for me. One of the most spectacular things about this series is that there is almost constant fighting and conflict, but yet it's so character driven! Marsden does an amazing job at balancing character growth and ass kicking. AND THERE'S SO MUCH ASS KICKING. Ellie and her gang are so smart, strong and amazingly brave. I won't even pretend that I could survive the sort of post-apocalyptic situation that takes place in the Tomorrow series, but somehow the way these kids survive is not only heroically epic but also believable.

I straight fan-girl over Ellie and Homer by the end of this series. I recommend it to everyone. READ THESE.

angek98's review against another edition

2.0

the story line was boring and littered with plot holes, the writing was generic and the dialect was robotic.
2 stars

tiadots's review against another edition

adventurous funny inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

yopoydan_kirjat's review against another edition

4.0

Tomorrow, When the War Began (1993) on yllättävän hyvin aikaa kestänyt nuortenkirjallisuuden klassikko Australiasta. Seitsemän 17-vuotiasta nuorta lähtee joululomalla patikkaretkelle. Kun he palaavat paratiisimaisesta paikasta, hurmaavasti nimeltään The Hell, he huomaavat, että vieras valtio on valloittanut maan ja ottanut heidän perheensä vangiksi.

Mitä tehdä tällaisessa tilanteessa? Nuoret keräävät selviytymisen kannalta tarpeellisia esineitä ja ruokaa kodeistaan ja linnoittautuvat patikkaretkellään löytämälleen aukiolle. Sieltä käsin he tarkkailevat tilannetta ja taistelevat vastaan.

Harmillisesti tarina loppuu kesken, sillä se kattaa vain noin kuukauden ajanjakson. Sarjassa on seitsemän osaa ja voisin kuvitella, että vasta viimeisessä, 1999 ilmestyneessä osassa, sota lopulta päättyy. Kirjassa on romanttisia virityksiä, loukkaantumisia ja paljon kuvausta selviytymisestä niin fyysisesti kuin henkisestikin.