The Other Side of Dawn - John Marsden

[goodreads]

Title: The Other Side of Dawn
Author: John Marsden
Genre: Dystopian, YA
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 333
Date read: December, 2011

Informed by Colonel Finley that the military is making a move that could be compared to the D-day attack of WWII, the outback teen guerillas know that the end of the bewildering war that changed their lives is drawing near. Armed with plastic explosives and grenades, courtesy of the New Zealand Army, they have been instructed to "spread chaos and confusion behind their (enemy) lines in every way, shape and form." For Ellie and company, this means targeting a hostile refueling station and train tracks. Of course, nothing is ever easy. There are still the feral kids to worry about and the dismal discovery that soldiers have infiltrated Hell, their only secured hiding place in the bush.

No joke, I literally sobbed my way through much of the second half of this book - much to my husbands bemusement and concern. For a minute there I was very worried that the series would end up with an open ending after all, but in the end John Marsden tied everything together very nicely.

Somehow the resolution of the war did offend my sense of justice though. I know it's probably a very realistic resolution though, so even if I don't like it much, I can understand why John Marsden didn't tie everything up in a neat little bow in the end.

I'm glad I've finally read this series. I've heard so much about it for ages, and it deserves its hype. Now all that's left is to figure out whether I should continue with the Ellie Chronicles next ;) Recommendations, anybody?