Tomorrow, When the War Began

Tomorrow Series #1

By: John Marsden

Narrated by: Suzi Dougherty

Length: 7 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

While Ellie and her friends are away in the bush, the world changes. Suddenly they are in the toughest situations humans can confront, facing life and death decisions. They are thrown into a world where they find courage, initiative, spirit, and wisdom, or they die.

The first of an enormously popular series that has been translated and published all over the world.

Don't miss the other titles in John Marsden's Tomorrow series.

©1995 Jomden Pty Ltd. (P)1999, 2001 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd, by arrangement with Jomden Pty Ltd.

Critic reviews

"A gripping tale, told with Marsden's customary incisiveness." (Publishers Weekly)
"Fast-paced and provocative, it's a natural for book talking." (School Library Journal)

BEST 4.99$ I EVER SPENT!!!!

Loved this book!

If your old enough to remember the movie Red Dawn and liked it... you should really enjoy this.If your too young for that then Hunger Games fans should enjoy also.
2 Warnings 1-This is YA (PG13 for violence/teen drama) 2-This book does leave you hanging(1st in 7-8 books)
++This book is currently being made into a movie.

Wonderful

I was born in Australia and all the cultural references in the language came flooding back. I guess I may be a bit biased because of that but seriously the story was a gripping and thought provoking tale. Adventure at its best. I'm now hooked and am so happy that audible has the sequels available. I since read that this work won many awards as book for late teens. Don't let that put you off its not just a kids book! It's quite dark and serious in places.

Tremendous Story -- A Must Read

Would you listen to Tomorrow, When the War Began again? Why?

Yes. Also, it is a movie made in Australia if you can get it. It is true to the book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Tomorrow, When the War Began?

When Ellie and the group realize, at the end, what the mission has to be; when they realize what the magnitude of the situation is and their odds – very powerful.

What does Suzi Dougherty bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Suzi does a great job bringing each character alive in a way print just cannot manage.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

My immediate reaction was to start the next book immediately, without delay, without rest!

Any additional comments?

Ellie Linton is a strong and very complex heroine. If you like hunger games, you will love this book as well.

Excellent Story, Disappointing Narration

The story in this book and the rest of the series are really wonderful (particularly the first 3 books). I got the audiobook for my dyslexic sister and I was really disaapointed with the narration. I checked with her (since she had no previous experience of this book) and she also found the narrator underwhelming.
There is no issue with the narrator being Australian (the book is set in Australia) but she lacks the talent to take on the personality of each character, and her overall narration isn't all that easy to listen to (unlike other narrators I've heard).
I'll probably still get the rest of the series because the books themselves are great for teenagers (this is an Australian classic for teens) and audio is a great way to assist dyslexic readers.

Gripping Story beautifully told!

Where does Tomorrow, When the War Began rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of my top 5 books so far, because it gripped my attention and would not let me go.

What did you like best about this story?

The spirit, the cheeky characters, the way that at every turn you feel part of the story.
It makes you wish you were out there with them.
Suzy Dougherty draws the wild, rebellious, adolescent tomboy Ellie right in front of you and allows you to explore her adventures through her own eyes. Great!

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene where they extract their friend Lee from the town centre.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, it gripped me and would not let me go. I listed to it on my commutes and within seconds I felt I was hiking through mountains and dodging bullets.
The last 3 hours I listened to in one go!

Any additional comments?

The first hour is slow, but helps set the scene. From then on, it just will not let you go.

Great book...a must read for all ages

Would you consider the audio edition of Tomorrow, When the War Began to be better than the print version?

Yes

What did you like best about this story?

Description to detail about the land and the feelings of the people the author is writing about.

What about Suzi Dougherty’s performance did you like?

She does a very good job

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

There already is a film of this book

Any additional comments?

My suggestion is to see the movie first, and then listen to the book. It will help put a face to the characters in the book and the next six books after.

Skip the first hour.

Skip the first hour and, yes, the book really jogs along. The main characters are all in their teens but soon become adult. If you like Michael Chrichton and James Patterson I recommend it.
The Aussie accent is fine bearing in mind the location of the plot.

Let down, but just found out it was a series

Even though I just found out this is a series, I can't say I liked this one enough to continue. Maybe I was expecting Red Dawn and what I got was less action and more teen sex talk? To say the ending was abrupt is an understatement, then again it is a series. I may be being harsh because it isn't terrible, just didn't hold my interest as much as I thought it would.

Good story well handled

I first read this series as a teenager, and now as an adult I found Tomorrow When the War Began just as compelling.

The narrator does a great job, I forget how fast Aussies talk! She handles the different voices well, but with subtlety. I can see how someone who is unfamiliar with the Australian accent might not hear the distinctions between characters. So if you thought Taggart from A Town Called Eureka sounded authentic you'll probably struggle with this recording.

I so love this series. Great read

This is my second time reading this series. It never gets old. On to the next book now. Great job to the narrator!

An enthralling read

This audio book kept us wrapped in the story during a long drive from the centre of France. My son,15, my mother (over 65), and myself,52,all enjoyed listening to this well-written book. The narration is excellent, and draws you into the story with an appropriate voice for the characters. I have put the others in the series as my 'next listen' choices.

Enjoyable survival

If like me you enjoy any story about overcoming difficult situations, surviving against the odds and teamwork you should enjoy this.

Even better than the film!

We watched the film and really enjoyed it, so much so we had to get the audiobook next. It was great listening to the audiobook and having images in our head from the film, it really added to the enjoyment. Its a great story and written so well, the narrator is also really good and certainly adds to the enjoyment of listening to the book. Its better than the film because you get to hear the story in more detail, so you find out things you didn't know before. Excellent story and very addictive, you just want to get the next book in the series and so on. The only thing we'd like to add is to say this book is suitable for more than just teenagers, we are both adults and we love the story. We do feel audible/book publisher is letting these brilliant books down by advertising them for young adults between 11-13 because its suitable for ages far above that. Highly Recommended and thanks to the author for writing such a brilliant series. Its been by far one of the best series we have come across!

A great listen

I’ve read or listened to the Tomorrow series several times now and I’ll probably listen again. Great story and read brilliantly

One of my favourite books

I found this as a British teen with family links to Australia, and it became an instant favourite, up there with Philip Pullman, Pratchett, Rowling etc. I’ve never met another Brit who’s heard of it It’s tragically overlooked outside Aus/NZ but I’d recommend it to any teen or adult who likes to read, and especially who enjoy stories like the Hunger Games etc.

What it has in spades is insight into human behaviour. Little touches of realism - how you can be in mortal danger but still get bored and start daydreaming, or how the hero has to take two goes at ramming through a chain link fence because she chickens out the first time - these things make you think “yes, that would happen. These are real people”.

Even though the premise is very Hollywood - basically ‘Red Dawn’ - the feel of it is not at all. It’s deep, atmospheric and plausible.

Narration is very good, can’t recommend this highly enough.

Love this book!

I have read this book probably 6 times already and now I’ve decided to listen to the audiobook too. Cant recommend it enough. Covers everything from love and friendship to war and loss. John Marsden well done 👍🏻

Amazing book

Amazing book love it. I have read this around 4 times.over that last ten years !

Hoping for a better follow up

I didn’t hate this book at all but having said that I didn’t really get into it either. Nothing really happens. I appreciate that this is an introduction to a further story and I would just hope that more happens in the sequel. It is well read however and for the most part ok. But just that. It is bland.

classic from childhood, was a pleasure to revisit

classic from childhood, was a pleasure to revisit. well preformed, like a conversation with an old friend

Brought to life fantastically

I first read at the age of fourteen and love it as much now it is brilliantly narrated and a fun book for both girls and boys.