Tomorrow, When the War Began
| Tomorrow, When the War Began | |
|---|---|
 Third edition cover |
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| Author(s) | John Marsden |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Series | Tomorrow series |
| Genre(s) | Young adult Action Adventure novel |
| Publisher | Pan Macmillan (Australia) |
| Publication date | 1993 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover and paperback) |
| Pages | 286 |
| Followed by | The Dead of The Night |
Tomorrow, When the War Began is the first book in the Tomorrow Series by John Marsden. It is a young adult invasion novel, detailing a high-intensity invasion and occupation of Australia by a foreign power. The novel is told in first person perspective by the main character, a teenage girl named Ellie Linton, who is part of a small band of teenagers waging a guerrilla war on the enemy garrison in their fictional home town of Wirrawee.
Tomorrow, When the War Began was adapted into a feature film of the same name that was released on 2 September 2010 in Australia and New Zealand. It was written and directed by Stuart Beattie, and starred Caitlin Stasey in the role of Ellie Linton.[1]
Contents |
Plot summary [edit]
Ellie Linton goes out camping in the bush for a week with her friends Homer Yannos, Lee Takkam, Kevin Holmes, Corrie Mackenzie, Robyn Mathers, and Fiona Maxwell. They find a way into a large, vegetated sinkhole in a remote area of bush the locals have dubbed "Hell", and camp there. During this time they see large numbers of planes flying through the night without lights, and though it is mentioned in conversation the following morning, they think little of it, dismissing it as military planes heading back from a demonstration.
While hiding out in Hell, a romantic relationship forms between Ellie and Lee, Homer falls in love with Fi, while Kevin and Corrie continue a romantic relationship started a few months before the invasion. The teens decide to raid nearby farmhouses, searching for food and other supplies, and then retreat to Hell to establish a base camp for themselves. The group eventually moves toward waging a guerrilla war against the invaders. Ellie, Fi, Lee, and Homer steal a petrol tanker and use it to blow up the main bridge out of Wirrawee. While the raid is occurring, Corrie is shot while she and Kevin are gathering supplies. Kevin takes her to the occupied town hospital, and turns himself in, in exchange for medical assistance.
Reception [edit]
Horn Book Magazine said that Tomorrow, When the War Began is "a riveting adventure through which Marsden explores the capacity for evil and the necessity of working together to oppose it".[2] Book Report magazine said that it was "an exciting story of self-discovery and survival".[3]
Between 1993 and 1998, over three million copies of the novel were sold.[4] During this timeframe, Tomorrow, When the War Began was translated into five languages, and was rated as the "4th best loved book" in an Australian survey.[4]
The novel is recommended by the New South Wales Board of Studies as a text to be studied in English classes during Stage 5 (Years 9 and 10).[5] In 1996, the American Library Association (ALA) named Tomorrow, When the War Began as one of the best young adult titles published in America in that year.[6] In 2000, the ALA listed the book as one of the 100 best books for teenage readers published between 1966 and 2000.[7]
In 2000, the Swedish government selected Tomorrow, When the War Began as the book most likely to inspire a love of reading in young people, and financed the printing and distribution of the novel to teenage school students in the country.[8][9][10]
In 2010, over 700 students, teachers, librarians, publishing personnel, authors and readers ranked Tomorrow, When the War Began thirty-second in a poll of the 100 best Young Adult novels.[11]
Film adaptation [edit]
In June 2009, Screen Australia announced that it would fund the development of the feature film to be produced based on the novel, to be written and directed by screenwriter Stuart Beattie.[12][13]
The film was released on 2 September 2010. Critical response to the film was mixed and it failed to find an overseas audience.[14][15]
References [edit]
- ^ Teen tale is the stuff of movies, Herald Sun 10 August 2010. Accessed 12 August 2010
- ^ Knoth, Maeve Visser (Jul/Aug95). "Tomorrow, When the War Began". Horn Book Magazine 71 (4): 467. ISSN 0018-5078.
- ^ Decker, Charlotte (Sep/Oct95). "Reviews: Fiction". Book Report 14 (2): 39. ISSN 0731-4388.
- ^ a b Dodds, George T. (1998). "The SF Site Featured Review: Tomorrow, When the War Began, The Dead of Night, A Killing Frost". Retrieved 27 May 2010.
- ^ "Fiction, Film and other Texts: A support document for the English Years 7–10 Syllabus". Board of Studies. p. 25. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
- ^ "Best Books for Young Adults". Young Adult Library Services Association website. American Library Association. 1996. Archived from the original on 17 March 2010.
- ^ "American Library Association's 100 Best Books for Teens". 2000. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
- ^ Birns, Margaret Boe (2007). "John Marsden". Guide to Literary Masters and their Works. Great Nek Publishing.
- ^ "Enough Rope with Andrew Denton - episode 47: John Marsden (21/06/2004)". ABC. 21 June 2004. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "John Marsden Books - Tomorrow When the War Began & more". The Bookshelf of Oz. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ http://www.persnicketysnark.com/2010/08/final-list-top-100-ya-novels-2010.html
- ^ "John Marsden book to be made into film". news.ninemsn.com.au. 22 July 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2009.
- ^ "Stuart Beattie looks to 'Tomorrow'". The Hollywood Reporter. 15 June 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2009.[dead link]
- ^ "Tomorrow, When the War Began (2010)". Rotten Tomatoes. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
- ^ http://if.com.au/2011/08/04/article/Killer-Elite-producer-Michael-Boughen-sentenced-on-tax-charges/YJYAHZVENB.html
External links [edit]
- Tomorrow Series (European Fansite)
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