Review - Darkness, Be My Friend By John Marsden
Posted: Tuesday, May 23, 2006
by Illusion
Warning: Plot spoiler ahead
Darkness, Be My Friend is the fourth book in John Marsden's seven part series about eight teenagers stuck in the middle of a war.
John Marsden has managed to create powerful yet ordinary characters in this series and put them in a war situation where each character reacts differently, so as we can empathise with at least one of them. The series, stripped down bit by bit is practically about survival and the human spirit.
Plot:
The group, since the bombing of Stratton prison, have been flown to New Zealand where they now can take a break from hiding and planning attacks. During Ellie's stay, she goes to a party that turns out to be a big mistake. This plays a part in her decision to accept Colonel Finley's offer to go back to Wirrawee. The initial announcement of returning to war makes Ellie angry at the fact no one realises they're asking her to put her life on the line. But she soon agrees and ,with the group, heads back to Hell with 16 soldiers "...For a few days I almost hated my parents for being locked up in Wirrawee Showgrounds.
If they hadn't been there, if they'd been safe in New Zealand, for example, would i still have agreed to go back?
It was a horrible question and one I'm glad I didn't have to answer. But all the same, I think I knew deep down what the answer would be.
Sometimes there's really only one answer.
So, would I have gone back?
Yes..." Extract from Darkness, Be My Friend by John Marsden, Macmillan, 1996 While on a reconnaissance mission in Wirrawee, Ellie lets out a small scream which alerts the enemy soldiers to their presence. Ellie and her friends are then forced to hide in their former school but on the way loose the New Zealand soldiers. During the night, Lee ventures out and finds some shocking news about everyone's families: Homer's parents are on separate work parties between Wirrawee and Stratton and his brother, George, is working in a Stratton factory. Kevin's father is on a farm somewhere north of Wirrawee and his mother and brothers are still at the Showground but Kevin's mother struggles mentally. Ellie's father is held at a special area of the Showground where people go when they don't co-operate. Rumour has it he tried to sabotage an army tank that he was supposed to be fixing. Ellie's mother, on the other hand, is in Holloway, assigned to be a servant there Fi's parents work in the District Headquarters doing "administration stuff". But there is a chance for Fi to meet with them. Fi's sister is still held at the showground Lee's parents were 'executed' during the war and were buried in the Showground. However, all Lee's brothers and sisters have survived. The most shocking thing of all is when Lee brings Ellie to the cemetery where she sees Corrie's grave which suggests she died between the second and fourth book. Lee and Ellie return to the school and tell their friends about Corrie but the news doesn't quite sink in with Fi as she is still worried about meeting her parents. Later, at the park, Ellie and Fi hide in the bushes, waiting for Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell. Eventually, Fi meets up with her parents and has a happy reunion. The meeting goes well and the two return to the school spotting the airfield on the way. The group returns to Hell and make contact with Colonel Finley but are angry and disappointed when he tells them no one can pick them up. Hoping to prove their worth, the group plan to attack the airfield. The plan is to break into a local store and steal bags of sugar. The sugar would then be poured into the aviation fuel tanks and, hopefully, loaded on to the plans thus wrecking their engines. Unfortunately, the plan doesn't work and the group is forced to flee back to Hell. John Marsden wonderfully describes not only the situation but also the emotions and effects of the war. I give this novel a 10 out of 10.
This Article has been viewed 4,096 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (8 total)this has reely helped me in life thank you for everything. (kiss) shazzamThanks for reading it
John Marsden wonderfully describes not only the situation but also the emotions and effects of the war. I give this novel a 10 out of 10.
I totally agree with you. John Marsden is one of my favourite authors and I love all his books. I give 10 out of 10 for every book John Marsden has written whether I've read it or not.
This has really makes me think about life. Thank you John Marsden.
Your the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hate this story but you did help me with homework.
Where can you read this story online so you don't have to buy the book!
this was really helpful to me....plus i really like this book
this book sucks!!
I think a you need to be able to relate to a book like this. In the sense that if you lived in say New York you would struggle to imagine the Australian bush as well as somebody growing up surrounded by it. Being one that can relate to the scenery described in the novel I found it AMAZING! I felt like I actually knew the characters and my little brother asked me to name all my friends and as lame as it sounds I accidently said Homer.... But this just shows how well the books were written and how easy it was to make an emotional bond with the characters. Thank you John Marsden, for all your hard work on this series.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.