Week 8 Reading Summary

Tomorrow, When the War Began written by John Marsden

 

This week I read an adolescent fiction novel called Tomorrow, When the War Began. It tells the story of seven teenagers from a small country town who go on a camping trip to ‘Hell’ during their school holidays. When they are away, they see military aircraft fly overhead. They do not suspect that these planes signify the start of a war, nor do they question their presence. When they return home they find their world’s turned upside down. With no training or advice, they instinctively learn how to escape, survive and fight back against the enemy.

Tomorrow, When the War Began is about how seven ordinary teenagers respond to war. The story is narrated by Ellie, the main character. It is told in first person which prompts heaps of action, adventure, verve, pace and suspense. The characters in this novel could be anyone of us, any group of young people in any country town. They are people you can relate to. This engages the reader in the text as it persuades them to question what they would do in a similar situation. The settings in the book are based on real places in Australia. Therefore, some of the language within the text reflects common Australian slang and jargon. I believe that Tomorrow, When the War Began has a very broad target audience. It appeals to most and is written in a style which is accessible to the younger reader without talking down to the older.