The third book in the Tomorrow series of books written by Australian author John Marsden.
Review
I have to admit this book was never my favourite in the series, in fact I
really disliked it for some reason. After reading it again for the first
time in quite a while, I really have no idea why I held that view.
What I like about the story in this book is that it takes a different direction
to the first two books in the series. This is good as it would have been a let
down if the book followed the same lines as the first two all the way through.
Probably one thing that I would disagree with other people about concerning
the story, is the way the ending is handled. I won't give away the ending,
but it is in the 'deux et machina' category (even the author agrees with
this), however the events just before it do seem to justify this.
One of the things that really struck me about some of the characters
in this novel, are the dark developments in their personalities. Even
though similar events occurred in the second book, some of the actions
of the characters, such as the group killing the soldier during
Kevin's escape, are still quite shocking.
Towards the end of the book Ellie gets separated from her friends.
This gives a chance for the novel to concentrate on the main character's
feelings and her reactions to the situation she finds herself in.
One of the interesting things about this book is the fact that some of
the situations seem more realistic. You can't expect the group to
keep blowing up things, then running away to hide all the time.
An interesting turn of events is the section of this novel where
the group is imprisoned after being caught in an ambush. This situation
is realistic, as the reader doesn't know what is happening to the other
characters or what is going on in the outside world.
The language in this book does suit it and is darker to fit the story.
This is also reflected in what the main characters say to each other
and the other people they meet.
Overall, while this is not the best book in the series to my mind,
it is still very good. As I said before, some people would disagree with
me about the ending, but it does suit the story.
Synopsis
The following contains spoilers for the book.
The books starts with the group still being searched for by the enemy.
This is due to the fact that they managed to blow up Turner Street in
Wirrawee during the last book.
After a month or so, the search for them seems to be scaled back and
they decide to go check out something they discussed in the second book,
the harbour at Cobbler's Bay.
On their way there, the group comes across a farm being used by colonists
and they spot their friend Kevin in one of the prisoner work parties.
As they haven't seen him since he drove off with the injured Corrie after
their attack on the Wirrawee Bridge, the group decides to contact him.
When they do make contact with him, they decide to see if they can rescue him.
Their plan succeeds up to a point, but there is a confrontation with one of
the guards that ends badly and the group is forced to flee.
After walking for what seems like an eternity, the group crashes in a grain
silo and promptly proceeds to get sick. Almost a week later, it is revealed
that everyone in the group has had a fever, except Homer and Lee who were
looking after them.
Some time afterwards the group sets off towards Cobbler's bay to check it out.
While performing surveillance on the harbour, Lee manages to find some
fishing gear and they all end up going fishing for a few days. This cheers
them up, as not only is it a change of diet, but also something 'normal'
to take their minds off what they have been through.
After going fishing they decide to start planning their attack on the harbour
and begin going around remote farm houses to gather materials.
As it is quite a larger target that the ones the group has attacked before,
they begin to get worried about how they are going to get close enough to it
to do anything. Kevin is the one who has the idea of using a stove timer
on a truck to make it break down, so they can load their stuff onto it.
They get their chance to do this on the same night, Homer and Ellie being
the ones to hide inside the container so they can get onto the wharf.
Many hours later, the two find the container are in has been loaded onto a ship
and they set up the bomb.
After waiting until nightfall, the two light the fuse and try to get off the ship.
Ellie has some trouble getting off and manages to push a soldier over the edge with her.
A desperate swim across the harbour follows, where Ellie and Homer are
perused by a patrol boat and helicopter. The only thing that stops the
pursuit is the explosion of the ship, the waves from which beat Ellie
against the shore.
Finding herself alone, Ellie tries to find her friends and one stage is spotted by
a helicopter and is chased by soldiers on the ground. She finally manages to find
her friends, only to find they have been bailed up by soldiers.
Ellie deals with the soldiers and trying not to think about what she had to do to them,
she takes the car they were in and the group hides out in a wrecker's yard.
While hiding there the group finds a house which contains communications equipment
and they decide to risk calling New Zealand. Their call is successful and they manage
to get in contact with Lieutenant-Colonel Finley from New Zealand Army Intelligence.
They are happy to have got in contact with someone they can trust and to get encouragement
for what they have done, but they are disappointed that they can't be rescued.
A couple of days later, Lee finds after going a fair way from where the group is hiding,
the enemy is using dogs to search for them, so they decide to take off for an isolated
spot on the coast.
However, on the way there they are caught in an ambush and taken to a maximum security prison in Stratton. Here a shocking revelation is waiting for them, someone they thought they would never see again...