After losing Corrie and Kevin the group is shaken up. The only thing they want to do is find their friends, so another mission is carefully thought out and meticulously planned. Wirrawee Hospital is their next destination.

Homer’s smoke bomb works well, giving them time to search for Corrie and Kevin. But Corrie’s going nowhere and Kevin is now a prisoner after a terrible beating. The group retreat and another revenge mission is planned. This time, they are faced with decisions that leave them reeling, and will follow them for the rest of their lives.

After time back at camp they decide to get to know their surroundings a little better, but discover a group of adults camping in the bush, going by the name of Harvey’s Heroes. Ellie however is unimpressed at their so called feats of bravery and attacks on the enemy. She revels in the prescence of adults to begin with, finally believing she can leave the decisions to others – but ultimately glad they don’t.

Meanwhile, her relationship with Lee steps up a notch and the terrifying situations they find themselves in bring the entire group even closer. Each are dealing with events on their conscience, wishing they weren’t thrown into war and the horrors that go with it. Ellie wishes she could just be a normal teenager, watching TV, studying and having fun.

Their new lives are far from this dream of normality. More attacks are made, but again they lose someone, leaving Ellie wracked with guilt and loss.

More action against the enemy in the 2nd part of this 7 part series, finds Ellie and her friends with blood on their hands and dark thoughts in their minds. Ellie and Lee’s relationship grows on a physical level and her indecision of her feelings for him vanishes.

As the weather cools, the group is meticulous, preparing their raids with caution, courage and conviction they are helping their town against the enemy. The action and emotion is well balanced and the internal growth of the main character Ellie is gradual and believable. Bring on No.3 The Third Day, The Frost.

Author – John Marsden

Age – 16+

Read the rest of the series

(Action, Series, War, Australia, Outback, Family, Friendship, Bravery, Courage, Bullet World, Conflict, Camping, Explosions, Attack, Raids, Plans, Hand to hand combat, Guilt)