Tomorrow When the War Began

Tomorrow, When the War Began is the first book in a seven-part series by Australian author John Marsden, first published in 1993. The story follows a group of seven teenagers from the fictional rural town of Wirrawee in Australia who go camping in the remote countryside for a weekend with no parents or adults present. While they are away, their country is suddenly invaded by a mysterous foreign military force. As they struggle to survive, they eventually face an impossible choice to either remain passive victims or take action to fight back against the invaders and reclaim their family and their town. The book became a bestseller in Australia and overseas. It inspired a film in 2010, and an ABC television series, cementing its place as one of the most significant works of Australian young adult literature ever written.

DID YOU KNOW:  When John Marsden saw Australian teenagers pay tribute to fallen soldiers at an ANZAC Day parade, the idea for Tomorrow When the War Began to take root. He started wondering whether young people, who were (at the time) frequently written off by older generations, would rise to the occasion if faced with genuine crisis such as a war. Convinced that they would prove themselves equal to the bravery and duty shown by those who came before, he crafted the story as a testament to that very possibility.

Main Characters

Ellie: Serving as both protagonist and first-person narrator, Ellie is an Australian teenager. While brave, capable, and utterly dependable in crises, Ellie remains recognisably human, a young person figuring things out as they go.

Homer: Ellie's longtime mate and next-door neighbour, Homer starts off as a carefree prankster who dodges adult expectations and is always getting in trouble. The conflict brings out a remarkable transformation. He becomes one of the group's sharpest tactical minds. 

Lee:  Lee is a quiet boy from a family who runs a local resturant in the town. His connection with Ellie runs deeper than shared feelings; they align intellectually and emotionally. Lee demonstrates startling fortitude, powering through agony to keep supporting his friends.

Fiona: Another member of the original six who headed to Hell before everything fell apart. Fiona initially seems untouchable, an outwardly flawless girl from an wealthy, protected upbringing. Yet the war strips away that polish, revealing growth no one in the group expected. 

Robyn: Robyn embodies contradiction. She is gentle yet determined, pragmatic yet burdened by conscience. Robyn is very religous and does not like the presence of blood. The situation she and her friends are in force her to confront her fears and grow up.

Minor Characters

The Hermit | Kevin | Corrie | Chris | Mr Clement

Setting: Rural Australia

The story unfolds in Wirrawee, a make-believe country town tucked somewhere in rural Australia, and the untamed bushland that encircles it. This quiet, familiar landscape becomes a sanctuary  to the violent, conflict-ravaged world awaiting the characters upon their return from camp. Numerous locations in the book borrow heavily from real Victorian geography. Tailor's Stitch, for instance, draws from the Crosscut Saw loop, a ridge straddling Mount Speculation and Mount Howitt. The enigmatic spot called Hell finds its roots in Terrible Hollow within the Australian Alps, accessible via precipitous climbs known locally as the Devil's Staircase: ➥ Article on The Devils Staircase

Dive deeper into the real-world social dynamics and structural analysis of the text:

➥ John Marden's own website

➥ Tomorrow When The War Began Fan Website

➥ Tomorrow When the War Began Fan Website #2

➥ Analysis Article: John Marsden on why the book became so popular

➥ Analysis Article: John Marsden’s books are his legacy but so is his empathy

➥ News Article: John Marsden's legacy: Why millions of teenagers around the world have been forever changed by his work

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