This is the first book in the Tomorrow series by Marsden. There are seven books in that series and all have been released. This was a well done and engaging book about survival and war.
I listened to this on audiobook and the audiobook was really well done. I would definitely recommend listening to this on audiobook if you enjoy audiobooks.
The book is about a group of teens who go out to hike the bush in Australia during school break. When they come back they find that their small Australian town has been taken over by a hostile enemy force. The teens struggle to figure out what has happened without getting captured themselves and also work to survive in this new hostile world.
I really enjoyed the characters and the mystery. This story pretty much just introduces the issue and the characters. The reader slowly finds out more about this hostile group, but much of what is happening remains a mystery.
A lot of the story involves the teens as they struggle with how to deal with the future and survive. Both their struggle with longer term issues (food, water, shelter) and short term issues (not getting captured and getting along with each other).
Marsden writes the story in a way that conveys a lot of urgency and is very engaging. Parts of the book had me on the edge of my seat and holding my breath wondering what would happen next. There is a lot of interesting survival stuff in here as well. Which is something I always find interesting and enjoy reading about.
Nothing is wrapped up in this book, but I enjoyed it enough that I will probably continue reading the series.
Overall this was a very engaging and exciting story. There is a lot of action, survival skills, and mystery. I would recommend to those who enjoy fast-paced books about apocalyptic events, war, and/or survival. This book doesn't really resolve anything but it does an excellent job of setting the story up. I enjoyed it enough that I will probably continue reading the series.
OK book. The aussie flavor was a nice change of pace, but it was really written for a teen reader. More "Young" than "Young Adult".
Its a wonderful series. There are 10 books in all, but it is hard to find the 3 from the Ellie Chronicles. I recommend to anyone who likes adventure stories.
When Ellie and six of her friends return from a camping trip deep in the Australian bush, they find things hideously wrong. Their families are gone, houses abandoned, pets and livestock dead. Gradually they begin to comprehend that their country has been invaded and everyone in their town has been taken prisoner. As the horrible reality of the situation hits them, they must make a life-and-death decision: Will they run back into the bush and hide, give themselves up to be with their families, or stay and try to fight?
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What would you do? A very interesting novel full of heart-stopping, adrenaline-pumping adventure, interlaced with teen love and the age-old philosophical questions of what is right and what is wrong.
Though the story is told through the eyes of a teenaged girl, I believe this is a good read for YA readers of both genders. Older readers might be dissuaded by my mention of "teen love", but that takes a very small portion of the story and is definitely outweighed by the adventure.
Alison H. (Alison-H) - 
