Tomorrow, When The War Began

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Summary: compelling read, warning to parents of preteens
Review: My 13 year old daughter and I have both read and enjoyed this book. I agree with many of the reviews below. I would like to put a word of caution out to parents of preteens, the second book in the series gets a little more sexually explicit than I would want. The violence is also a bit more personal than in the first book. I will let my daughter read it, but not without some discussion. Another very good read out of Australia that we both enjoyed was "Looking for Alibrandi" by Melina Marchetta. Check this one out, good romance, good plot, good decisions. Enjoy.

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Summary: Tommorow, When the war began
Review: The book was very adventrorus from the begining to the end. I think the story had a point of friends sticking together through thick and thin when the war started they went out and tried to help. So I thought the book was a great read.

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Summary: The best book ever!
Review: I''m yet to meet a person who doesn't adore this series. John Marsden is one of the greatest Australian authors, and this series has made a legend out of him. If you haven't read the Tomorrow series, you ought to! You will find that it changes you forever, literally. Once you've read the first line of the first book, you'll know what I'm talking about! Read it!

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Summary: Absolutely brilliant! A must read for young adults!
Review: Although the book has been out for a few years, I got it for Christmas 1999 after a strong recommendation from my friends. Today is January 1 2000 and I have finished the book. I couldnt put it down! I loved the characters and since I am 15 I could relate to them. They were so real! It was easy for the reader to believe that they werent' just writing on a page. I loved the relationship that developed between Ellie and Lee. The action was written in such detail, everything was described brilliantly. I loved how the plot developed, never once crossing over to being totally unbelievable, despite the invasion. At the moment I am rushing out to buy the second book and I can't wait to start reading it! John Marsden has written a truly brilliant series and he should be commended for his work. Congratulations on your success John Marsden!

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Summary: Parents - take my word for it - this is legendary stuff.
Review: I bought this for my daughter to encourage her interest in reading. We wound up fighting each other for turns at it. Within a week, with a few past-midnight "power reads" I hoed through every book in the series. The first three are superb, each better than the last. There are some niggles - the stories rely a touch too much on luck and coincidence, and there is some repetition of ideas. But the strengths are real ones. The plotting is superb - few writers in any genre can get you turning pages like Marsden can. The characters are psychologically and emotionally convincing. The heroism is fairly shared between the boys and the girls in the group. (The female narrator is a refreshing touch). Negative emotions, fear, fatigue, impatience, are not shied away from. The central device is an unexpected invasion of Australia by a foreign force which separates a group of teenagers from adult supervision, leaving them to rely on their own resources. It allows Marsden to explore real issues for teenagers about responsibility, courage, sexual attitudes - even spirituality. All are delivered without judgement or the author's baggage. The action is so exciting - real pulse-racing stuff - but from a parent's perspective it also carries an important theme: life may be difficult, threatening, even terrifying, but it is always worth living, and courage - in whatever its form - is a quality everyone can find and one that is always worth seeking out. I recommend this series to anyone, although the mild sexual references may make it more appropriate for post-pubescent readers.

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Summary: O for awesome!
Review: This is the best book ever written it is better than Harry Potter even. This book is just sensational and John Marsden makes you feel like you're actually there with Ellie and her friends!

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Summary: This book is SO COOL!
Review: Maybe because I'm Australian it was refreshing to see a novel about this country. Maybe it was the ultra-cool plot. Maybe it was the way I'm desperate to find out what happens to some of the most interesting characters ever! Let me put it this way. A friend lent me the first book on Tuesday. Tuesday evening, I was finished. Thursday, I borrowed the next four from another friend. Today - Friday - I've finished them all. Three days (excluding Wed.), and I read the first five books. That's how excellent this series is. Go for paperback: they'll get a lot of wear and tear. Definitely the best teenage fiction I've read, even if sometimes it does seem a little contrived.

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Summary: Tomorrow When the War Began is the coolest book on Earth
Review: This is a fascinating book. It has all the factors of the coolest book in the world! It's companions (Book 2 The Dead of Night, Book 3 The Killing Frost/The Third Day, The Frost, Book 4 Darkness be my friend, Book 5 Burning for revenge, Book 6 The Night is for Hunting and Book 7 The Other Side of Dawn.) all are really good though not all available to the poor readers in The USA! :( Just to tell you I am one of the unfortunates... anyway. Tomorrow when the War Began is compelling and action packed. READ THIS BOOK! You won't regret it!

Rating:
Summary: So good I couldn't put it down!
Review: I wasn't sure I'd like this book, but it turned out to be awesome! It was chilling because these characters, who seemed so real, were just ordinary teens who had comfortable lives until a terrible war separated them from their families and forced them to be heroes. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

Rating:
Summary: What A Wonderful Plot! What A Wonderful Book!
Review: This is one of the best books that I have ever read. I had to read this book over the summer for entering eighth grade. I'm not much of a reader but I seriously could not put this book down. The idea itself is wonderful! Marsden makes it even better by adding many clever last minute decisions (such as the lawn mower, for those who have read it). I was actually smiling while I read. I highly recommend this book to everyone.