How to Read the Tomorrow Series: The Recommended Reading Path
John Marsden’s landmark young adult saga is a tightly structured, linear story. Because the characters grow, adapt, and suffer real consequences from book to book, reading the series out of order is highly discouraged. Spoilers are abundant, and character relationships shift dramatically from one volume to the next. The only recommended path is the original publication order, which also matches the chronological sequence of events.
To experience the full narrative arc, you should begin with the main seven-book Tomorrow series and then transition directly into the follow-up trilogy, The Ellie Chronicles, which picks up in the immediate, volatile aftermath of the conflict.
The Original Tomorrow Series (1993–1999)
This sequence introduces us to Ellie Linton and her group of close friends from the rural town of Wirrawee. During a remote camping trip in a place known as "Hell," their country is invaded by an unnamed foreign military force. With their families captured, the teens are forced to make a choice: hide, surrender, or fight back using guerrilla tactics.
1. Tomorrow, When the War Began (1993)
The book that started it all. Ellie, Homer, Fi, Lee, Corrie, Robyn, and Kevin head into the wilderness for a final summer camp. When they return, they find their homes abandoned, power cut, and pets dead. Realizing an invading force has taken over their town, they retreat to Hell to plan their first move and strike back.
2. The Dead of the Night (1994)
As the initial shock of the invasion fades, the realities of survival set in. The group begins executing more dangerous sabotage operations, dealing with internal friction, romantic entanglements, and the tragic consequences of guerrilla actions.
3. The Third Day, the Frost (1995)
Also published under the title A Killing Frost in international markets. In this installment, the stakes are elevated as the teens strike a major military target. However, the mission exacts a devastating toll, leading to capture and severe personal losses.
4. Darkness, Be My Friend (1996)
After escaping to safety in New Zealand, the teenagers are plagued by trauma and guilt. Under pressure from military authorities, they agree to return to occupied Australia as guides for a team of soldiers, only for things to go wrong once they land.
5. Burning for Revenge (1997)
Separated from their guides, the teens find themselves stranded near a major airfield. Driven by anger and a desire for vengeance, they plan their most ambitious and chaotic sabotage mission yet, pushing themselves to their physical and moral limits.
6. The Night is for Hunting (1998)
After a daring escape, Ellie and the group take refuge in the wilderness once more, this time joined by a band of feral, traumatized children. Ellie must step into a maternal and protective role while dodging active enemy search patrols.
7. The Other Side of Dawn (1999)
The final book of the original series. Ellie is separated from the rest of her friends and becomes a lone operative, culminating in a dramatic conclusion to the war. The novel ends on a bittersweet note as peace negotiations begin, showcasing the physical and emotional scars left on the survivors.
The Ellie Chronicles Trilogy (2003–2006)
Four years after concluding the original series, Marsden returned to the universe to explore what happens when the shooting stops. Far from a simple happy ending, this sequel trilogy details the messy transition to peace, border skirmishes, and the long road of psychological recovery.
1. While I Live (2003)
The war is officially over, but Wirrawee remains a dangerous border zone. Ellie tries to rebuild her family farm while dealing with intense PTSD, grief, and the reality of a fragile peace treaty that could shatter at any moment.
2. Incurable (2005)
Ellie struggles with financial pressures and the responsibility of raising a young boy, Gavin. Tensions along the border boil over into active cross-border raids, dragging Ellie back into conflict as she fights to protect her home.
3. Circle of Flight (2006)
The final chapter in Ellie’s story. When someone close to her is kidnapped, Ellie is forced to use her hard-won survival skills one last time to secure her family’s safety and finally find a sense of closure.
What to Know Before You Start
The Tomorrow series is widely celebrated for its lack of sanitization. Unlike many young adult novels of its era, Marsden does not shy away from the gritty, exhausting, and morally compromising aspects of guerrilla warfare. The teenagers make mistakes, experience profound grief, and suffer lasting psychological trauma that persists through to the final pages of the sequel trilogy.
For readers interested in adaptations, the first book was adapted into a feature film in 2010 directed by Stuart Beattie, and a six-part television drama series was broadcast in Australia in 2016. Both adaptations focus primarily on the events of the first book, making the novels the only way to experience the complete storyline.