About This Book
Reach for this book when your teenager is grappling with questions about ethics, the cost of leadership, or how to handle overwhelming pressure. As the second installment in the Tomorrow series, it follows Ellie and her friends as they move beyond simple survival in the Australian bush to active, dangerous resistance against an invading army. It is a gritty exploration of how young people maintain their humanity and loyalty when their world collapses into chaos. While the story is packed with adrenaline and survival tactics, its real value lies in its raw portrayal of the psychological toll of war. It addresses the shame and guilt that come with making life or death choices, making it an excellent choice for mature readers who enjoy high stakes action but also want to explore complex internal conflicts. Parents should be aware that the book contains intense depictions of guerrilla warfare and its consequences.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
DISTRESS: The book contains visceral descriptions of violence and its aftermath. In one scene, the group uses explosives to blow up a bridge, and Ellie describes the sight of mangled bodies and the smell of death in graphic detail. There is also a scene involving the discovery of a mass grave/execution site that is deeply unsettling. The characters experience intense fear, grief, and a sense of hopelessness that might be heavy for younger readers. CONVERSATION: Be ready to discuss the ethics of guerrilla warfare. A central conflict arises between the teens and a group of adults who have also survived, leading to a discussion about whether kids should be fighting at all and who has the authority to make those calls. Parents may also need to talk about the concept of 'the ends justifying the means.'
Ideal Reader
A 14 to 16 year old who enjoys survivalist fiction like The Hunger Games but wants a story rooted in a realistic, contemporary setting. It is perfect for a teen who likes to debate moral dilemmas.
Parent Prep
Preview the scenes involving the bridge explosion and the subsequent encounter with the survivors of the blast to gauge your child's sensitivity to war violence. A parent might notice their child becoming more pensive or questioning the fairness of world events. They might hear their child asking, 'What would I do if this happened here?'
Age Experience
Younger teens (13) will focus on the survival tactics and the high-stakes adventure of the mission. Older teens (16+) will likely resonate more with the romantic tensions and the psychological burden of their actions as Ellie loses her innocence.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many YA dystopians, this is grounded in reality. There are no superpowers or chosen ones, just ordinary teenagers using farm skills and common sense to survive a military occupation.
Read plot summary
Picking up after Tomorrow, When the War Began, the group of Australian teenagers continues to hide in a secluded valley called Hell. They transition from being refugees to being saboteurs, launching a dangerous mission to destroy a major bridge and later attempting to rescue a friend. The narrative focuses heavily on the tactical planning of guerrilla warfare and the heavy psychological weight of taking human lives.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
When Ellie meets the adults in the Harvey's Heroes group, why is there so much tension? Who do you think was right about how to handle the soldiers?
2
Ellie struggles with the feeling that she is becoming 'hardened' or 'cold.' Is this a necessary change for her to survive, or is she losing something important?
3
How do the different characters handle fear? Compare Homer’s aggressive leadership style with Kevin’s more visible struggle with terror.
4
The group decides to blow up the bridge despite the risk of killing people. If you were in their position, would you have made the same choice?
5
How does their knowledge of the Australian bush give them an advantage over a professionally trained army?
