A Killing Frost by John Marsden

This is the third installment of the saga begun in Tomorrow, When the War Began and continued in The Dead of Night. Six months have passed since an invading army attacked Australia. Ellie and her band of teenage guerrilla fighters are rapidly becoming harder, more jaded, and less inhibited. Their plan this time is to destroy the port at Cobbler's Bay, a strategic harbor for the enemy. Throughout most of the book, the young fighters outwit the bad guys and manage to keep just one step ahead of them. However, they are captured and taken to a maximum-security prison. There they are certain to be sentenced to death for their activities. This book's main intention, aside from great storytelling, is to show that war is not neat and tidy. As in the other titles, Marsden poses several questions about right and wrong, the nature of evil, and what human beings are capable of enduring under extreme circumstances.

The Dead of Night by John Marsden

Marsden picks up right where Tomorrow, When the War Began left off. A few months have passed since Ellie and six of her friends returned from a camping trip deep in the Australian outback to find their country invaded by an unidentified, non-English-speaking nation. This book opens with a brief recounting of what happened in the previous novel; two members of the group, Corrie and Kevin, are still missing. Homer, a self-appointed leader, rallies the others together to track them down. They discover that Kevin has been imprisoned, and Corrie is alive, but in a coma. The teens continue their guerrilla activities, hoping to get a chance to rescue Kevin. As in the previous book, Ellie narrates and keeps a written record of the group's activities and experiences. These realistically depicted human conflicts make the book much more than just an exciting apocalyptic adventure. In the end, only five members of the original seven remain with the group, but they are still committed to fighting the enemy. Hope is alive. Although this sequel can stand on its own, readers of Tomorrow will find it far more satisfying.

Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden

This series has been one of my favorites for a long time and I finally found it at the bookstore. I was so excited, I almost started dancing right in the middle of the store. Anyway, Australian teenager Ellie and six of her friends (Homer, Corrie, Kevin, Fi, Lee, and Robyn) return from a winter break camping trip to find their homes burned or deserted, their families imprisoned, and their country occupied by a foreign military force. As their shock wears off, the seven decide they must stick together if they are to survive. After a life-threatening skirmish with the occupiers, the teens retreat to their isolated campsite in the bush country and make plans to fight a guerilla war against the invaders. Writing in a distinct voice and showing intelligence and sensitivity, Ellie recounts their courageous battles against the Goliath in control of their land. She also records her feelings and observations about the romantic partnerships that develop within her small circle of friends, and shows how they mature and blossom during this time of crisis. Though readers are left wondering whether these heroes and heroines will survive, Ellie's honest and clear narration makes this coming-of-age adventure a story they won't forget.