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Tomorrow #6
The Night Is For Hunting
Librarian's Note: this is an alternate cover edition - ISBN: 9780330361361
Hell's a big place, but it gets crowded when Ellie and her friends take an uncooperative crew of orphans under their wing and into their hidden refuge. It's not easy to keep four young children busy and happy in the bush, and things only get worse when Ellie and Homer find evidence that mysterious visitors have discovered their sanctuary. Could it be a patrol of enemy soldiers sent on a search and destroy mission? They find out all too soon.
In a time and place where war robs your identity, makes you forget your past and fear your future, it seems impossible for Ellie to make sense of a world that is quickly falling apart. And after a peaceful food raid turns into a nightmarish fight for survival, escape back to Hell seems hopeless.
Ellie, Fi, Homer, Lee, and Kevin brave the worst in this electrifying continuation of their battle to stay alive and sane in a war zone that was once their home.
The Night Is for Hunting is the sixth book in the Tomorrow When the War Began series.
Hell's a big place, but it gets crowded when Ellie and her friends take an uncooperative crew of orphans under their wing and into their hidden refuge. It's not easy to keep four young children busy and happy in the bush, and things only get worse when Ellie and Homer find evidence that mysterious visitors have discovered their sanctuary. Could it be a patrol of enemy soldiers sent on a search and destroy mission? They find out all too soon.
In a time and place where war robs your identity, makes you forget your past and fear your future, it seems impossible for Ellie to make sense of a world that is quickly falling apart. And after a peaceful food raid turns into a nightmarish fight for survival, escape back to Hell seems hopeless.
Ellie, Fi, Homer, Lee, and Kevin brave the worst in this electrifying continuation of their battle to stay alive and sane in a war zone that was once their home.
The Night Is for Hunting is the sixth book in the Tomorrow When the War Began series.
252 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
137 people are currently reading
5239 people want to read
About the author
John Marsden
90 books1,958 followersThere is more than one author with this name in the database, see f.e. John Marsden.
John Marsden was an Australian writer and school principal. He wrote more than 40 books in his career and his books have been translated into many languages. He was especially known for his young adult novel Tomorrow, When the War Began, which began a series of seven books.
Marsden began writing for children while working as a teacher, and had his first book, So Much to Tell You, published in 1987. In 2006, he started an alternative school, Candlebark School, and reduced his writing to focus on teaching and running the school. In 2016, he opened the arts-focused secondary school, Alice Miller School. Both schools are in the Macedon Ranges.
John Marsden was an Australian writer and school principal. He wrote more than 40 books in his career and his books have been translated into many languages. He was especially known for his young adult novel Tomorrow, When the War Began, which began a series of seven books.
Marsden began writing for children while working as a teacher, and had his first book, So Much to Tell You, published in 1987. In 2006, he started an alternative school, Candlebark School, and reduced his writing to focus on teaching and running the school. In 2016, he opened the arts-focused secondary school, Alice Miller School. Both schools are in the Macedon Ranges.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 406 reviews
May 25, 2025
first read: july 8th 2010
re-read: March 22nd 2018, September 23rd 2020, June 18th 2022
So I found myself telling my own stories. It was strange: as I did it I realised how much we get shaped by our stories. It's like the stories of our lives make us the people we are.
Amidst a brutal war with no end in sight, Ellie and her four remaining friends discover that their hidden refuge becomes a crowded place when they decide to care for an uncooperative crew of orphans. Things only get worse when Ellie and Homer learn that mysterious visitors have discovered their sanctuary. Has the enemy found them out?
ok this is the 6th book of the series and for me this was the book that was very quiet and nothing really happened as much as the other ones.
it had it's moments but it was still a good book!
4 out of 5 stars is what i would give it
re-read: March 22nd 2018, September 23rd 2020, June 18th 2022
So I found myself telling my own stories. It was strange: as I did it I realised how much we get shaped by our stories. It's like the stories of our lives make us the people we are.
Amidst a brutal war with no end in sight, Ellie and her four remaining friends discover that their hidden refuge becomes a crowded place when they decide to care for an uncooperative crew of orphans. Things only get worse when Ellie and Homer learn that mysterious visitors have discovered their sanctuary. Has the enemy found them out?
ok this is the 6th book of the series and for me this was the book that was very quiet and nothing really happened as much as the other ones.
it had it's moments but it was still a good book!
4 out of 5 stars is what i would give it
February 1, 2008
Okay, I LOVE the Tomorrow series, but this one is undoubtedly the nadir. In this book, no lie, the teens stumble upon a pack of feral kids, lead them out into the bush, and baby-sit them. For the entire book. Don't worry, the series does recover in book 7, so if you've made it this far in the series, just stick it out.
December 3, 2015
Our teen heroes are forced to evacuate Stratton with a bunch of feral orphan children when the soldiers get too close. Upon returning to Hell, the children decide to abandon the teens, who now feel responsible for them. After being rescued, they then celebrate Christmas.
The plot doesn’t sound that interesting, but it really is. See, Ellie and Lee rescue the kids at gunpoint and fly out of Stratton with the other teens in a stolen truck. Upon abandoning the truck, it’s found one of the children has broken her arm. The teens force the kids to walk to tailor’s Stitch where they promptly lose them. During the hunt, which lasts several day, the teens lose one of the children to exposure but manage to save the other four.
Since it’s summer, Ellie and Fi decide to celebrate Christmas, so Ellie, Homer and Fi go out for a lamb and supplies at a nearby farmhouse, which just happens to be occupied by enemy soldiers. One of the children is captured as well, and after a daring escape the group manage to make it back to Hell to celebrate Christmas.
You really feel the tension in this novel. I don’t really understand why Ellie and others felt so responsible for the children, especially since after they saved their lives and fed them they just abandoned them. I would have gone, “Fuck it, let them wander off into the bush and die!” But then again, I haven’t lived in a war zone, so I have no idea what kind of empathy and other emotions the teens felt towards the kids. The book is basically about babysitting the ragamuffins and showing the horror of war on children even younger than our guerrilla group.
But you really feel like they’re on edge because the enemy is desperate to find them after the airfield attack, and traipsing around the farmlands around Hell looking for food to feed five hungry teens and four orphan feral children is getting really dangerous. There’s a group of camping soldiers out looking for them which ends in a spectacularly awesome gun battle.
It ends on a cliffhanger, which is probably a really good idea because the next book is the final in the series.
The plot doesn’t sound that interesting, but it really is. See, Ellie and Lee rescue the kids at gunpoint and fly out of Stratton with the other teens in a stolen truck. Upon abandoning the truck, it’s found one of the children has broken her arm. The teens force the kids to walk to tailor’s Stitch where they promptly lose them. During the hunt, which lasts several day, the teens lose one of the children to exposure but manage to save the other four.
Since it’s summer, Ellie and Fi decide to celebrate Christmas, so Ellie, Homer and Fi go out for a lamb and supplies at a nearby farmhouse, which just happens to be occupied by enemy soldiers. One of the children is captured as well, and after a daring escape the group manage to make it back to Hell to celebrate Christmas.
You really feel the tension in this novel. I don’t really understand why Ellie and others felt so responsible for the children, especially since after they saved their lives and fed them they just abandoned them. I would have gone, “Fuck it, let them wander off into the bush and die!” But then again, I haven’t lived in a war zone, so I have no idea what kind of empathy and other emotions the teens felt towards the kids. The book is basically about babysitting the ragamuffins and showing the horror of war on children even younger than our guerrilla group.
But you really feel like they’re on edge because the enemy is desperate to find them after the airfield attack, and traipsing around the farmlands around Hell looking for food to feed five hungry teens and four orphan feral children is getting really dangerous. There’s a group of camping soldiers out looking for them which ends in a spectacularly awesome gun battle.
It ends on a cliffhanger, which is probably a really good idea because the next book is the final in the series.
March 19, 2015
I am a horrible person but I really didn't care for the children.
August 19, 2018
Summary/recap:
This story went at such a different pace than the others, and was really less focussed on the actual "fighting" of war, and more on the effects that war has on everyone involved, not just soldiers and enemy combatants, but on the innocents; those caught in the crossfire, those whose entire lives are basically ripped out from under them - on CHILDREN. I think this story probably hit closest to home to be honest, there wasn't a lot of actual battling in this novel (with the exception of basically a rescue mission at the beginning, and a fight-for-their-lives at the end), and instead we got something that, while slower-paced, was not by any means less powerful.
One of the things that I love most about this novel, and this series as a whole, is that it doesn't glorify war and fighting. Sure, it has action and adventure and explosions, but it's so much more than that. This novel especially focuses on the more gritty and dark aspects, and even has a moment in which, while Ellie and Co. reminisce about how, as a kid playing "war games" on the computer, you are never exposed to the more gritty aspects of the life and death of war. You are never shown the clean-up of the fight, just the initial "heat of the moment" battling and explosions, and how it's just not realistic and displays war as something "fun" and "exciting", rather than something that is horrifying and has an effect on everyone surrounding, not just those in the battle.
There is a scene in M.A.S.H (a comedy/drama about war) that perfectly describes this book, and what it's trying to get across;
Hawkeye: War isn’t Hell. War is war, and Hell is Hell. And of the two, war is a lot worse.
Father Mulcahy: How do you figure that, Hawkeye?
Hawkeye: Easy, Father. Tell me, who goes to Hell?
Father Mulcahy: Sinners, I believe.
Hawkeye: Exactly. There are no innocent bystanders in Hell. War is chock full of them — little kids, cripples, old ladies. In fact, except for some of the brass, almost everybody involved is an innocent bystander.
(Note: dialogue borrowed from IMDB)
And while this novel is depressing, I can't help but love it for how honest and realistic the depictions of war in this are. For that, I cannot give the novel less than five stars, despite the few small issues I had with it.
This story went at such a different pace than the others, and was really less focussed on the actual "fighting" of war, and more on the effects that war has on everyone involved, not just soldiers and enemy combatants, but on the innocents; those caught in the crossfire, those whose entire lives are basically ripped out from under them - on CHILDREN. I think this story probably hit closest to home to be honest, there wasn't a lot of actual battling in this novel (with the exception of basically a rescue mission at the beginning, and a fight-for-their-lives at the end), and instead we got something that, while slower-paced, was not by any means less powerful.
One of the things that I love most about this novel, and this series as a whole, is that it doesn't glorify war and fighting. Sure, it has action and adventure and explosions, but it's so much more than that. This novel especially focuses on the more gritty and dark aspects, and even has a moment in which, while Ellie and Co. reminisce about how, as a kid playing "war games" on the computer, you are never exposed to the more gritty aspects of the life and death of war. You are never shown the clean-up of the fight, just the initial "heat of the moment" battling and explosions, and how it's just not realistic and displays war as something "fun" and "exciting", rather than something that is horrifying and has an effect on everyone surrounding, not just those in the battle.
There is a scene in M.A.S.H (a comedy/drama about war) that perfectly describes this book, and what it's trying to get across;
Hawkeye: War isn’t Hell. War is war, and Hell is Hell. And of the two, war is a lot worse.
Father Mulcahy: How do you figure that, Hawkeye?
Hawkeye: Easy, Father. Tell me, who goes to Hell?
Father Mulcahy: Sinners, I believe.
Hawkeye: Exactly. There are no innocent bystanders in Hell. War is chock full of them — little kids, cripples, old ladies. In fact, except for some of the brass, almost everybody involved is an innocent bystander.
(Note: dialogue borrowed from IMDB)
And while this novel is depressing, I can't help but love it for how honest and realistic the depictions of war in this are. For that, I cannot give the novel less than five stars, despite the few small issues I had with it.
June 4, 2025
These books are trying my patience and so is Ellie. Ok, mostly Ellie. She's behave like a spoiling child. But this book was just stalling the action and some parts were boring.
May 9, 2016
3.5★
A bit slow at times & there didn’t seem to be a lot happen in this book (a lot of just hiding out)but when things got going it was action packed with our group of teens coming face to face with the enemy soldiers more than once. Plus we get a lot of insight into Ellie & just how she is dealing with the war & how much it has changed her.
This is the 2nd last book in this great series & it ends on a cliffhanger. I am really looking forward to the final book (The Other Side of Dawn ) to see how this all ends & more importantly how our 5 surviving teens make it through both physically & emotionally.
A bit slow at times & there didn’t seem to be a lot happen in this book (a lot of just hiding out)but when things got going it was action packed with our group of teens coming face to face with the enemy soldiers more than once. Plus we get a lot of insight into Ellie & just how she is dealing with the war & how much it has changed her.
This is the 2nd last book in this great series & it ends on a cliffhanger. I am really looking forward to the final book (The Other Side of Dawn ) to see how this all ends & more importantly how our 5 surviving teens make it through both physically & emotionally.
January 29, 2021
3.5*
I'm sad that I only have one book left in this series. It's been a really interesting read and I've loved watching the characters grow and the plot progress. It'll be weird when it's over!
I liked this one slightly more than the past couple - I think that the plot of this one was different enough that it felt like things were really moving forward, rather than just kind of moving in circles. These books were a bit of a challenge to track down and I'm happy to find that it was worth the effort!
I'm sad that I only have one book left in this series. It's been a really interesting read and I've loved watching the characters grow and the plot progress. It'll be weird when it's over!
I liked this one slightly more than the past couple - I think that the plot of this one was different enough that it felt like things were really moving forward, rather than just kind of moving in circles. These books were a bit of a challenge to track down and I'm happy to find that it was worth the effort!
August 25, 2016
I think I started this 2 YEARS ago, and I have finally finished, thanks to the commute to uni :P
It's not that I didn't enjoy it, I just eventually forgot about it over time. So glad I began listening to it again, I can't wait to start the next (and last) book in the series!
It's not that I didn't enjoy it, I just eventually forgot about it over time. So glad I began listening to it again, I can't wait to start the next (and last) book in the series!
May 4, 2023
I want a Kevin's version
July 31, 2021
Ta część chyba najbardziej pokazuje jak okropny jest tu wątek romantyczny, który mam nadzieję, że zniknie w ostatnim tomie. Pojawienie się tych dzieci często podnosiło mi nerwy, ale w końcu Ellie nie jest taką egoistką i zazdrośnicą.
August 10, 2017
Ce tome m'a encore un fois transportée dans la chaleur étouffante du bush australien. Rien qu'en lisant le livre, j'avais la gorge sèche, la sensation d'avoir le visage plein de poussière, et j'entendais les moutons bêler au loin.... Ce livre se vit totalement et pleinement, grâce à la plume géniale de l'auteur australien John Marsden qui a le chic pour nous décrire avec beaucoup d'authenticité et d'intensité les pensées et les nombreux états d'âme d'Ellie, notre jeune héroïne, qui sert un peu de meneuse dans ce petit groupe d'adolescents résistants et livrés à eux-mêmes. L'idée ici d'inclure dans leur groupe des enfants de la ville, eux aussi orphelins et très méfiants des "plus grands" a été une bonne idée de la part de l'auteur, même si certains passages sont assez durs à lire émotionnellement.....Cette saga est culte en Australie depuis plus de 20 ans, et cela, à juste titre. Si vous ne connaissez pas Tomorrow, quand la guerre a commencé, qu'attendez-vous pour vous y plonger surtout qu'un groupe de fans a décidé de traduire le 7ème et dernier tome de la saga (puisque les maisons d'Edition ont laissé la saga en plan depuis 2000....Quelle honte !!!!!). Heureusement, ce sabotage culturel va bientôt être réparé....En attendant que le 7ème tome soit entièrement traduit, je vous encourage donc vivement de commencer la saga dès maintenant, très franchement, vous ne le regretterez pas ! (et si vous préférez lire en VO, et bah, qu'est-ce que vous attendez, nondidiouuuu !). Cette saga est étudiée dans les lycées australiens, c'est vous dire sa qualité et son impact sur ce pays !....Vous aussi, rejoignez les fans d'Ellie, Homer, Fiona, Lee, Kevin et leurs nouveaux amis !
Ma note : 18.5/20
Mon avis complet sur : http://lespassionsdeviedefun.blogspot...
Ma note : 18.5/20
Mon avis complet sur : http://lespassionsdeviedefun.blogspot...
February 20, 2017
Hat mir besser gefallen als der letzte Teil und ich liebe die Reihe weiterhin.
Trotzdem bin ich froh, dass ich nur noch das letzte Buch vor mir habe. Ich will endlich wissen, wie es für Ellie und Co endet.
Trotzdem bin ich froh, dass ich nur noch das letzte Buch vor mir habe. Ich will endlich wissen, wie es für Ellie und Co endet.
March 27, 2018
Oh dear... Can we pretend this one never happened?
March 9, 2024
This isn’t bad but this series is running out of inspiration and originality. 3.2 stars
March 2, 2024
Loved. The plot is honestly kind of loose and it feels like most of the book is just filler, but the action scenes are absolutely GRIPPING
September 2, 2012
Aww man, only one more book to go now! I'm so glad I finally got my act together and started reading this series. Just loving it - although I admit that I thought this one started off a LOT slower than any of the others, and I was originally thinking that it was going to be the first three-star book of the series o.O but then of course it picked up and I got way more into it. I think it was just all the fuss over the kids at the start which just wasn't as thrilling as all the other stuff, and I couldn't help but wonder a few times why they bothered... I guess war wouldn't make me a nicer person ;) Also, tracking the kids for days into the bush when they stupidly ran off... again, that used up a lot of their manpower to go and find them again.
The second half of the book was a lot more fast paced than the start, which was great. Ellie's motorcycle ride through the house after being locked in the car boot was kind of epic, and then her and Homer's shoot-out at the end... whoa. I was sure he was going to be a goner. Actually, I was certain he wouldn't make it out of the car boot fiasco alive!
Christmas was really sweet too, I loved that part :) Made me wonder what the date actually was, I kept imagining someone from NZ on the radio saying it was April or something XD
The second half of the book was a lot more fast paced than the start, which was great. Ellie's motorcycle ride through the house after being locked in the car boot was kind of epic, and then her and Homer's shoot-out at the end... whoa. I was sure he was going to be a goner. Actually, I was certain he wouldn't make it out of the car boot fiasco alive!
Christmas was really sweet too, I loved that part :) Made me wonder what the date actually was, I kept imagining someone from NZ on the radio saying it was April or something XD
May 14, 2012
I was wrong. This was a bit slower paced and not quite as action packed as the previous books however for me it was even more emotional with adding the young feral children.
I loved it! They cling to any normalcy they can like with the pseudo Christmas and playing games and telling stories. The little ferals.. They were strong and resilient how can we not admire them? I cried when they found Darina. I cried when Jack left weedy flowers for Ellie.. In the end this book was not a filler it was getting back in touch with the emotional side of the war and its toll on the teens and little ones.
I loved it! They cling to any normalcy they can like with the pseudo Christmas and playing games and telling stories. The little ferals.. They were strong and resilient how can we not admire them? I cried when they found Darina. I cried when Jack left weedy flowers for Ellie.. In the end this book was not a filler it was getting back in touch with the emotional side of the war and its toll on the teens and little ones.
November 16, 2017
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
This book is a bit slow at times, but still, looking back, quite a lot is happening as it becomes increasingly difficult to find food not just for themselves but also a couple of kids they have rescued, and then get lost.
The end is nearing, and it is clear from this book. One more to go!
This book is a bit slow at times, but still, looking back, quite a lot is happening as it becomes increasingly difficult to find food not just for themselves but also a couple of kids they have rescued, and then get lost.
The end is nearing, and it is clear from this book. One more to go!
August 18, 2021
Omläsning
June 30, 2024
mention indigenous people without referring to tropes of ancient mysticism [IMPOSSIBLE]
May 12, 2019
I reviewed the entire Tomorrow series, including The Night is for Hunting, as part of my Throwback Thursday series where I republish old reviews, re-review books I've read before or review older books I have only just had a chance to read.
For this week’s Throwback Thursday review, I dive back into one of the most popular and iconic Australian fiction series of all times, John Marsden’s epic Tomorrow series.
The Tomorrow series, by bestselling and award-winning Australian author John Marsden, is a powerful and thought-provoking young adult series that was released in the 1990s. Made up of seven books, the series began in 1993 with Tomorrow, When the War Began and ended in 1999 with The Other Side of Dawn. The Tomorrow series follows a small group of young teenage protagonists as they deal with a foreign invasion of Australia which forces them to hide in the bush and engage in a guerrilla war to win. Thanks to its strong characters, frank depictions of war and trauma and its excellent utilisation of Australia’s bush and rural landscape, the Tomorrow series has become one of the most highly regarded and popular Australian series of all times, with millions of copies sold in Australia alone (which, considering our relatively small population, is pretty impressive). It is also considered a must-read series for young Australian readers, and it is still required reading in many schools to this day.
I have been a major fan of this series for a very long time. I remember reading these books while I was at school, both for classes and for my own enjoyment, and I was enthralled by its depictions of war and its captivating story, which stoked my imagination for years. Re-reading it at an older age, I began to appreciate the more complex nature of its story and the characters portrayed within. I have re-read or re-listened to these books many times over the years, and it still remains one of my most favourite series of all times. I have actually been planning to review this as part of my Throwback Thursday series for some time, and after recently mentioning it in my First Ten Books I Reviewed list, where it placed No. 1 thanks to a review project at school, I have decided it was time to share why I love this series and why those who readers unfamiliar with it should check it out.
The Tomorrow series is set in the 1990s, around the same time as the books were written, in a fictional area of Australia. The plot revolves around seven teenagers, Ellie, Corrie, Homer, Fiona, Lee, Robyn and Kevin, who live in and around the rural town of Wirrawee. During the holiday period they decide to head out to a remote and mostly unexplored area of the bush, known as Hell, for a week of camping. Isolated from the rest of the world, they are mostly unaware of events transpiring beyond their bush hideaway. Once they finish their trip, they emerge from Hell to find their farms and houses abandoned and their town occupied by soldiers. It soon becomes apparent that all of Australia has been invaded by a foreign nation, with Wirrawee being one of the initial points of occupation due to its proximity to a harbour that is vital to the invader’s supply network. Using Hell as a base, the protagonists have to come to terms with the new reality they find themselves in, and they must band together to not only survive, but to try and find some way to oppose the invading army.
The next book, The Night is for Hunting, is set right after the events of Burning for Revenge and sees the protagonists still hiding out in the suburbs of Stratton. Their new way of life is shattered when they witness troops capturing some of the wild street children who also haunt the ruins of Stratton. Rescuing the small group from the enemy, the protagonists escape back to Hell, and must find a way to adapt to their new charges. However, Hell may not be the safe haven they remember; violence visits them in the bush for the first time. The Night is for Hunting is probably my least favourite book in the Tomorrow series, although it still is an extremely enjoyable book and an essential part of the series. It is a little hard to deal with this book’s change of focus from war to childcare, but the focus on the new war orphans who require care allows for some interesting scenes and some intriguing character development. Most of the child characters are pretty annoying, but their leader, Gavin, more than makes up for it, as the deaf badass has some amazing scenes through this book. The final action sequences above Hell are also quite jarring, as the bush location that has been built up as a safe haven for your favourite characters is invaded.
To see the full review of this series, check out the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2019/05/10/...
For other exciting reviews, visit my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
For this week’s Throwback Thursday review, I dive back into one of the most popular and iconic Australian fiction series of all times, John Marsden’s epic Tomorrow series.
The Tomorrow series, by bestselling and award-winning Australian author John Marsden, is a powerful and thought-provoking young adult series that was released in the 1990s. Made up of seven books, the series began in 1993 with Tomorrow, When the War Began and ended in 1999 with The Other Side of Dawn. The Tomorrow series follows a small group of young teenage protagonists as they deal with a foreign invasion of Australia which forces them to hide in the bush and engage in a guerrilla war to win. Thanks to its strong characters, frank depictions of war and trauma and its excellent utilisation of Australia’s bush and rural landscape, the Tomorrow series has become one of the most highly regarded and popular Australian series of all times, with millions of copies sold in Australia alone (which, considering our relatively small population, is pretty impressive). It is also considered a must-read series for young Australian readers, and it is still required reading in many schools to this day.
I have been a major fan of this series for a very long time. I remember reading these books while I was at school, both for classes and for my own enjoyment, and I was enthralled by its depictions of war and its captivating story, which stoked my imagination for years. Re-reading it at an older age, I began to appreciate the more complex nature of its story and the characters portrayed within. I have re-read or re-listened to these books many times over the years, and it still remains one of my most favourite series of all times. I have actually been planning to review this as part of my Throwback Thursday series for some time, and after recently mentioning it in my First Ten Books I Reviewed list, where it placed No. 1 thanks to a review project at school, I have decided it was time to share why I love this series and why those who readers unfamiliar with it should check it out.
The Tomorrow series is set in the 1990s, around the same time as the books were written, in a fictional area of Australia. The plot revolves around seven teenagers, Ellie, Corrie, Homer, Fiona, Lee, Robyn and Kevin, who live in and around the rural town of Wirrawee. During the holiday period they decide to head out to a remote and mostly unexplored area of the bush, known as Hell, for a week of camping. Isolated from the rest of the world, they are mostly unaware of events transpiring beyond their bush hideaway. Once they finish their trip, they emerge from Hell to find their farms and houses abandoned and their town occupied by soldiers. It soon becomes apparent that all of Australia has been invaded by a foreign nation, with Wirrawee being one of the initial points of occupation due to its proximity to a harbour that is vital to the invader’s supply network. Using Hell as a base, the protagonists have to come to terms with the new reality they find themselves in, and they must band together to not only survive, but to try and find some way to oppose the invading army.
The next book, The Night is for Hunting, is set right after the events of Burning for Revenge and sees the protagonists still hiding out in the suburbs of Stratton. Their new way of life is shattered when they witness troops capturing some of the wild street children who also haunt the ruins of Stratton. Rescuing the small group from the enemy, the protagonists escape back to Hell, and must find a way to adapt to their new charges. However, Hell may not be the safe haven they remember; violence visits them in the bush for the first time. The Night is for Hunting is probably my least favourite book in the Tomorrow series, although it still is an extremely enjoyable book and an essential part of the series. It is a little hard to deal with this book’s change of focus from war to childcare, but the focus on the new war orphans who require care allows for some interesting scenes and some intriguing character development. Most of the child characters are pretty annoying, but their leader, Gavin, more than makes up for it, as the deaf badass has some amazing scenes through this book. The final action sequences above Hell are also quite jarring, as the bush location that has been built up as a safe haven for your favourite characters is invaded.
To see the full review of this series, check out the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2019/05/10/...
For other exciting reviews, visit my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
July 8, 2025
De oorlog duurt voort, en Ellen en haar vrienden blijven vechten – niet alleen tegen de vijand, maar ook tegen de tol die alles eist. Wanneer ze een groep oorlogskinderen redden, komen ze niet alleen voor nieuwe gevaren te staan, maar ook voor de grillen van hun jonge, getraumatiseerde metgezellen. De veilige plek die ooit ‘de Hel’ heette, verandert in een broeikas van spanningen. En als de kinderen plots verdwijnen, volgt een uitputtende zoektocht. Alsof dat nog niet genoeg is, worden er sporen van vijandelijke aanwezigheid ontdekt, en loopt een voedselmissie gruwelijk uit de hand. In dit voorlaatste deel van de serie staat het team opnieuw met de rug tegen de muur, met steeds minder zekerheid dat ze het er levend vanaf zullen brengen.
De oorlog duurt voort, en Ellen en haar vrienden blijven vechten – niet alleen tegen de vijand, maar ook tegen de tol die alles eist. Wanneer ze een groep oorlogskinderen redden, komen ze niet alleen voor nieuwe gevaren te staan, maar ook voor de grillen van hun jonge, getraumatiseerde metgezellen. De veilige plek die ooit ‘de Hel’ heette, verandert in een broeikas van spanningen. En als de kinderen plots verdwijnen, volgt een uitputtende zoektocht. Alsof dat nog niet genoeg is, worden er sporen van vijandelijke aanwezigheid ontdekt, en loopt een voedselmissie gruwelijk uit de hand. In dit voorlaatste deel van de serie staat het team opnieuw met de rug tegen de muur, met steeds minder zekerheid dat ze het er levend vanaf zullen brengen.
Dit boek voelde meteen anders. De hoofdstukken zijn langer, het tempo ligt lager, maar de thematische diepgang is groter dan ooit. Het verhaal schuift langzaam richting het einde van de serie, en dat voel je. De vraag “wie en wat zijn wij na de oorlog?” sluimert voortdurend op de achtergrond, samen met de onmogelijke wens om terug te keren naar hoe het ooit was. Tot ineens de laatste hoofdstukken alles weer volledig overhoop gooien. Het was pure stress op papier, ik heb er grijze haren aan overgehouden.
Wat me dit keer het meest raakte, was de verschuiving van ‘tieners in oorlog’ naar ‘kinderen in oorlog’. De hoofdpersonen zijn al zwaar genoeg belast, maar Marsden gooit er met de komst van een nieuwe groep kinderen nog een schep bovenop. En toen Darina overleed? Straight to jail with a life sentence. De scène met de mond-op-mond beademing was écht intens, ik kreeg er kippenvel van. En ja, ik wil best een hoop accepteren in het kader van fictie, maar dat Gavin doof is en zich alsnog als een soort schaduw door het bos beweegt? Dat gaat mijn ‘ongeloof opschorten’-grens net iets te ver over. Ik ben ook echt klaar met hoe Ellen en Fi omgaan met de verkrachting van Ellen – SHE IS THE VICTIM, MY GOD. En dan ineens al die God-referenties… Het neigde naar evangelie, al blijft het nét binnen de lijnen. Ik zie hoe het past in Ellen’s zoektocht naar houvast, zeker in relatie tot Robyn, maar ik had het zelf niet gemist als het was weggelaten. Waar ik wél weer helemaal achter sta, is Marsdens blijvende boodschap over oorlog. Dat het iets is wat je nooit moet willen, nooit moet verheerlijken. Zijn kritiek op oorlog-videospelletjes is vlijmscherp en spot on. Oorlog is geen entertainment, het is ellende, trauma, dood. En dat blijft deze serie, zelfs na zes delen, pijnlijk goed duidelijk maken.
De oorlog duurt voort, en Ellen en haar vrienden blijven vechten – niet alleen tegen de vijand, maar ook tegen de tol die alles eist. Wanneer ze een groep oorlogskinderen redden, komen ze niet alleen voor nieuwe gevaren te staan, maar ook voor de grillen van hun jonge, getraumatiseerde metgezellen. De veilige plek die ooit ‘de Hel’ heette, verandert in een broeikas van spanningen. En als de kinderen plots verdwijnen, volgt een uitputtende zoektocht. Alsof dat nog niet genoeg is, worden er sporen van vijandelijke aanwezigheid ontdekt, en loopt een voedselmissie gruwelijk uit de hand. In dit voorlaatste deel van de serie staat het team opnieuw met de rug tegen de muur, met steeds minder zekerheid dat ze het er levend vanaf zullen brengen.
Dit boek voelde meteen anders. De hoofdstukken zijn langer, het tempo ligt lager, maar de thematische diepgang is groter dan ooit. Het verhaal schuift langzaam richting het einde van de serie, en dat voel je. De vraag “wie en wat zijn wij na de oorlog?” sluimert voortdurend op de achtergrond, samen met de onmogelijke wens om terug te keren naar hoe het ooit was. Tot ineens de laatste hoofdstukken alles weer volledig overhoop gooien. Het was pure stress op papier, ik heb er grijze haren aan overgehouden.
Wat me dit keer het meest raakte, was de verschuiving van ‘tieners in oorlog’ naar ‘kinderen in oorlog’. De hoofdpersonen zijn al zwaar genoeg belast, maar Marsden gooit er met de komst van een nieuwe groep kinderen nog een schep bovenop. En toen Darina overleed? Straight to jail with a life sentence. De scène met de mond-op-mond beademing was écht intens, ik kreeg er kippenvel van. En ja, ik wil best een hoop accepteren in het kader van fictie, maar dat Gavin doof is en zich alsnog als een soort schaduw door het bos beweegt? Dat gaat mijn ‘ongeloof opschorten’-grens net iets te ver over. Ik ben ook echt klaar met hoe Ellen en Fi omgaan met de verkrachting van Ellen – SHE IS THE VICTIM, MY GOD. En dan ineens al die God-referenties… Het neigde naar evangelie, al blijft het nét binnen de lijnen. Ik zie hoe het past in Ellen’s zoektocht naar houvast, zeker in relatie tot Robyn, maar ik had het zelf niet gemist als het was weggelaten. Waar ik wél weer helemaal achter sta, is Marsdens blijvende boodschap over oorlog. Dat het iets is wat je nooit moet willen, nooit moet verheerlijken. Zijn kritiek op oorlog-videospelletjes is vlijmscherp en spot on. Oorlog is geen entertainment, het is ellende, trauma, dood. En dat blijft deze serie, zelfs na zes delen, pijnlijk goed duidelijk maken.
February 14, 2018
Maybe 4.5 stars, maybe.
There were a few real world topics this book touched on in a way i thought was a little disrespectful, but also true to said real world situations. Not a fan of bad things happening and the characters reactions not helping the situation.
Lots more progress in this book. It matched the pacing of the previous book with high tension, suspense, action, and emotional tug of wars.
New side characters brought both refreshing and devastating scenes to the story. Also, a new perspective which is nice.
I still thoroughly enjoy how flawed Ellie’s personality is ( to the point where as a person I probably wouldn’t like her irl). Fi could do with a little more push in personality. Homer’s still amiable and predictable. Kevin’s character development seems to have back pedalled unfortunately. And I’m not sure where Lee’s personality went but it’s probably to late to say adios.
I’m scared what the climax will be whether it’ll be a all in, one time battle for a clean win, or a lose it all battle for the win, or even an all out lose.
Either way, really can’t wait to see how it all ends.
There were a few real world topics this book touched on in a way i thought was a little disrespectful, but also true to said real world situations. Not a fan of bad things happening and the characters reactions not helping the situation.
Lots more progress in this book. It matched the pacing of the previous book with high tension, suspense, action, and emotional tug of wars.
New side characters brought both refreshing and devastating scenes to the story. Also, a new perspective which is nice.
I still thoroughly enjoy how flawed Ellie’s personality is ( to the point where as a person I probably wouldn’t like her irl). Fi could do with a little more push in personality. Homer’s still amiable and predictable. Kevin’s character development seems to have back pedalled unfortunately. And I’m not sure where Lee’s personality went but it’s probably to late to say adios.
I’m scared what the climax will be whether it’ll be a all in, one time battle for a clean win, or a lose it all battle for the win, or even an all out lose.
Either way, really can’t wait to see how it all ends.
June 26, 2024
2,9 ⭐
Jak mnie denerwują te dzieciaki.
Nie wiem co więcej napisać, ten tom jakoś mi przeleciał, była jedna, powiedzmy dwie jakieś akcje, a poza tym to siedzieli z dziećmi i tyle, dla mnie średnio ciekawe.
Jak mnie denerwują te dzieciaki.
Nie wiem co więcej napisać, ten tom jakoś mi przeleciał, była jedna, powiedzmy dwie jakieś akcje, a poza tym to siedzieli z dziećmi i tyle, dla mnie średnio ciekawe.
May 3, 2025
This book had a slower pace and wasn’t as action-packed as the previous ones but I’m a sucker for a good slow paced novel. While it definitely felt more like a filler with not much actually happening, it was still an enjoyable read overall.
February 27, 2023
low key the best one out of the whole series
September 25, 2023
Still enjoying this series, it's a bit gruesome but I'm invested.
April 20, 2024
I loved this book. I don’t want this series to end I can’t believe I’m up to the last book in the series.
June 27, 2024
I’ve decided this series deserves a 4
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