View source for Tomorrow, When the War Began

{{short description|1993 novel by John Marsden}}
{{About|the novel|its adaptations|Tomorrow, When the War Began (film)|and|Tomorrow When the War Began (TV series)}}
{{Infobox book | <!-- [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Novels]] or [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Books]] -->
|name=Tomorrow, When the War Began 
|orig title=
|translator=
|image=Tomorrow When The War Began Front Cover.JPG
|caption=First edition
|author=[[John Marsden (writer)|John Marsden]]
|cover_artist=Helen Halliday
|country=Australia
|language=English
|series=[[Tomorrow series]]
|genre=[[Young adult fiction|Young adult]]<br />[[Action genre|Action]]<br>[[Adventure novel]]
|publisher=[[Pan Macmillan]] (Australia)
|release_date=1993
|media_type=Print ([[hardcover]] and [[paperback]])
|pages=286
|followed_by=[[The Dead of Night (novel)|The Dead of Night]]
}}
'''''Tomorrow, When the War Began''''' is the first book in the [[Tomorrow series|''Tomorrow'' series]] by [[John Marsden (writer)|John Marsden]]. It was published in 1993, and is a [[young adult fiction|young adult]] [[invasion literature|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 [[Tomorrow, When the War Began (film)|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.<ref name="Teen tale is the stuff of movies">[http://www.heraldsun.com.au/lifestyle/books/teen-tale-is-the-stuff-of-movies/story-fn5bodiu-1225903433298 Teen tale is the stuff of movies], Herald Sun 10 August 2010. Accessed 12 August 2010</ref>

==Plot summary==
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.  

When they return to their hometown of Wirrawee (a fictional town located somewhere in rural Victoria) they find that all the people are missing and their pets and livestock are dead or dying. Fearing the worst, they break into three groups to investigate Wirrawee's situation. They discover that Wirrawee was captured as a [[beachhead]] for an invasion of Australia by an unidentified force; local citizens are being held captive by the occupiers. Ellie's group is spotted, and pursued by the enemy and, in order to escape, use the fuel tank of a [[ride-on lawnmower]] to create an [[improvised explosive]]. However, after reuniting with Homer and Fi at a pre-arranged meeting point, they discover Robyn and Lee missing. Homer and Ellie search for them and they are met by Robyn. They discover that Lee has been shot in the leg and is hiding out in the main street of Wirrawee, the centre of the enemy's activity. Ellie and Homer confer with the others and Ellie decides that they should attempt to rescue Lee, using a [[Loader (equipment)|front-end loader]] to move and protect him. After a protracted chase that sees several soldiers killed, Lee is successfully rescued and returned to the safety of Hell but not before they discover Chris Lang hiding out in his house after his parents were away on a business trip.

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.

Homer explains a plan around taking out the main bridge at Wirrawee which the invaders are using to supply their troops. They all agree and Ellie, Fi, Lee, and Homer steal a [[tank truck|petrol tanker]] and use it to blow up the main bridge out of Wirrawee. However, the plan nearly falls apart when Ellie and Fi are discussing Homer and Lee. Luckily at the last minute they kick into gear and get the tanker to the bridge. Homer and Lee create a distraction with cattle. As the bridge party joins up with the others they discover Corrie has been shot.

The raid is a success as the bridge collapses but Corrie needs medical attention. Kevin decides that he will surrender and hope that the invaders give Corrie medical attention. They set off as the others look to the future.

==Reception==
{{Further information|Tomorrow series#Reception}}
''[[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."<ref name="Knoth">{{cite journal |last=Knoth |first=Maeve Visser|date=July 1995 |title=Tomorrow, When the War Began |journal=Horn Book Magazine |volume=71 |issue=4 |page=467 |issn=0018-5078}}</ref> ''Book Report'' magazine said that it was "an exciting story of self-discovery and survival."<ref name="Decker">{{cite journal |last=Decker |first=Charlotte |date=September 1995 |title=Reviews: Fiction |journal=Book Report |volume=14 |issue=2 |page=39 |issn=0731-4388}}</ref>

Between 1993 and 1998, over three million copies of the novel were sold.<ref name=Dodds>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfsite.com/12b/tom47.htm |title=The SF Site Featured Review: Tomorrow, When the War Began, The Dead of Night, A Killing Frost |last=Dodds |first=George T. |year=1998 |access-date=27 May 2010}}</ref> 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.<ref name=Dodds/>

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).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_sc/pdf_doc/fiction_film_text_support.pdf |title=Fiction, Film and other Texts: A support document for the English Years 7–10 Syllabus |publisher=Board of Studies |page=25 |access-date=27 May 2010}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/bestbooksya/1996bestbooks.cfm |title=Best Books for Young Adults |year=1996 |work=Young Adult Library Services Association website |publisher=American Library Association |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100317142628/http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/bestbooksya/1996bestbooks.cfm |archive-date=17 March 2010}}</ref> In 2000, the ALA listed the book as one of the 100 best books for teenage readers published between 1966 and 2000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://home.comcast.net/~antaylor1/alabestteens.html|title=American Library Association's 100 Best Books for Teens |year=2000 |access-date=7 January 2012}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite book |last=Birns |first=Margaret Boe |title=Guide to Literary Masters and their Works |year=2007 |publisher=Great Nek Publishing |chapter=John Marsden}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/transcripts/s1137536.htm |title=''Enough Rope with Andrew Denton'' – episode 47: John Marsden (21/06/2004) |date=21 June 2004 |publisher=ABC |access-date=28 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.judyoz.com/ccp0-display/john-marsden-books-tomorrow-ellie-novels-australian-fiction.html |title=John Marsden Books – ''Tomorrow When the War Began'' & more |publisher=The Bookshelf of Oz |access-date=28 May 2010}}</ref>

In 2013, ''Tomorrow, When the War Began'' was voted Australia's favourite Australian book in a poll run by ''Get Reading!'', an annual campaign run by the Australian Government to encourage Australians to read.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.getreading.com.au/frequently-asked-questions/|title=Get Reading! Frequently Asked Questions|access-date=1 September 2013|archive-date=26 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326004429/http://www.getreading.com.au/frequently-asked-questions/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.getreading.com.au/book_list/australias-top-100-favourite-homegrown-reads/|title=Australia's Top 100 Favourite Homegrown Reads|access-date=1 September 2013|archive-date=3 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903224604/http://www.getreading.com.au/book_list/australias-top-100-favourite-homegrown-reads|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Adaptations==
{{Main|Tomorrow, When the War Began (film)|Tomorrow, When the War Began (TV series)}}

The book has been [[Adaptation (arts)|adapted]] twice.

In June 2009, Screen Australia announced that it would fund the development of the [[Tomorrow, When the War Began (film)|feature film]] to be produced based on the novel, to be written and directed by screenwriter Stuart Beattie.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=840471 |title=John Marsden book to be made into film |publisher=news.ninemsn.com.au |date=22 July 2009 |access-date=28 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100912012709/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=840471 |archive-date=12 September 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3iecfa450e38f03b772d4e458e999c8f5c |title=Stuart Beattie looks to 'Tomorrow' |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=15 June 2009 |access-date=28 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619081417/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3iecfa450e38f03b772d4e458e999c8f5c |archive-date=June 19, 2009 }}</ref> The film was released on 2 September 2010, but critical response was mixed and it failed to find an overseas audience.<ref name="rottentomatoes">{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tomorrow_when_the_war_began/|title=''Tomorrow, When the War Began'' (2010)|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[IGN|IGN Entertainment]]|access-date=15 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://if.com.au/2011/08/04/article/Killer-Elite-producer-Michael-Boughen-sentenced-on-tax-charges/YJYAHZVENB.html|title=Updated: Killer Elite producer Michael Boughen sentenced on tax charges|work=if.com.au|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326085951/http://if.com.au/2011/08/04/article/Killer-Elite-producer-Michael-Boughen-sentenced-on-tax-charges/YJYAHZVENB.html|archive-date=2012-03-26}}</ref>

A television adaptation of the ''Tomorrow'' series was produced. The series consist of six episodes and aired on [[ABC Me|ABC3]]. Filming took place from 14 September to 13 November 2015 in Melbourne, and premiered on 23 April 2016. The first series roughly followed the events of the first book.<ref>{{cite tweet |author=TWTWB – The Series |author-link=Tomorrow When the War Began (TV series) |user=twtwb |number=639271895003631616 |date=3 September 2015 |title=@mjstoddart1991 Yes, the 1st season will roughly cover the first book #TWTWB |access-date=7 February 2016}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.tomorrow-series.eu/ Tomorrow Series] (European fansite)

{{John Marsden}}
{{BILBY Older Readers Award}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tomorrow, When The War Began}}
[[Category:1993 Australian novels]]
[[Category:Tomorrow series]]
[[Category:Australian young adult novels]]
[[Category:Novels about alien invasions]]
[[Category:Pan Books books]]
[[Category:Australian novels adapted into films]]
[[Category:Novels set in Australia]]
[[Category:Novels by John Marsden]]
[[Category:BILBY Award–winning works]]
[[Category:COOL Award–winning works]]
[[Category:First-person narrative novels]]