When they finally see a NZ soldier again, it isn’t anyone from the missing military unit. Captain Ryan arrives in a helicopter with plenty of supplies.

After coming across an enemy patrol and surviving a gunfight within the rocks and trees, the teens are extra wary and know they have to hide the treasured supplies. Ellie has the perfect place.

The teens are over the moon to receive all the things they have been missing while living in their barren mountain hideaway. Especially chocolate! The ferals don’t like Ryan’s intrusion into their lives, but the chocolate and other treats surely help.

Ryan didn’t just bring goodies. He has a proposition for them. The war is reaching a critical time and the NZ Military have sent Ryan to ask if the teens will help with a final, organised last effort to expel the enemy from Australia.

The teens are keen, the ferals are safe, and they are back into the action. The enemy are much more prepared however. Their soldiers are well trained, disciplined and determined. This time the teen’s courage and luck is stretched until it snaps!

Ellie finds herself injured, alone, and trying to hide her true identity. If it’s revealed, she knows full well she’ll be executed. Has she got enough of her Wirrawee toughness left in order to survive?

The final in this riveting series, Ellie and her friends finally come face to face with the enemy and no way out. Separation from her friends is one of the hardest things she has to face, and when the war is over, that separation feels even worse.

John Marsden has done a brilliant job of keeping me glued to each episode. There is no unnecessary filler bits through the middle – nowhere where I wanted to skip bits to get back to the action. No ‘boring bits’ is a feat in itself across 7 novels.

Ellie is such an authentic character throughout the story with her fears, faults and fallibles, it’s like meeting the real person. Although the other characters were well varied in age and personality, there were none I didn’t believe in. Some were annoying, or naive, or downright infuriating, but all were original and genuine.

This classic series might be over 20 years old, but well worth diving into. What would you do in Ellie’s situation?

Author – John Marsden

Age – 15+

Read the rest of the series

(1999, Pan MacMillan, Growing Up, Classic, Australia, Friendship, Relationships, Self Doubt, Escape, Rescue, Gunfight, Soldiers, Enemy, Action, Adventure, Series, Conflict, War, Murder, Children, Home, Family, Truth, Courage, Brave, Grief)