Thursday, December 3, 2009

The Night is for Hunting by: John Marsden (6th in series)

We had a good run with radio calls lately...I began our report, which was really just a matter of saying that we had nothing to report, when suddenly Homer lifted slightly beside me and leaned forward, quivering like he was made of brand-new fencing wire. I stopped tlking and gazed anxiously at him.

"Shut down," he hissed, without looking around.

I should have turned the set off straightaway, but if there was danger I wanted New Zealand to know, only because I couldn't bear facing it on our own. Sure they were a long way away, safe and sound, but it might be some consolation to know they were thinking of us.

So I whispered into the radio,"We're in trouble," then slammed off the switch.

Hell's a big place, but it gets crowded when Ellie and her friends take an uncooperative crew of orphans under their wing and into their hidden refuge. It's not easy to keep four young children busy and happy in the bush, and things only get worse when Ellie and Homer find evidence that mysterious visitors have discovered their sanctuary. Could it be a patrol of enemy soldiers sent on a search and destroy mission? They find out all too soon.

In a time and place where war robs your identity, makes you forget your past and fear your future, it seems impossible for Ellie to make sense of a world that is quickly falling apart. And after a peaceful food raid turns into a nightmarish fight for survival, escape back to Hell seems hopeless.

Ellie, Fi, Homer, Lee, and Kevin brave the worst in this electrifying continuation of their battle to stay alive and sane in a war zone that was once their home.

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