An only child and having been raised a farmer’s daughter, it is easy to see how Ellie grew to be such a determined and strong character. Often seen as stubborn by those around her ("I’ll never call you a stupid obstinate slag heap again Ellie" – Homer), Ellie’s audacity and insubordinate personality often leads to trouble with her friends, and at one point endangers her life.

Everyone has good and bad sides to their personality and Ellie is no different. Her loyalty to her friends, love of her family, intelligence and ingenuity are among these. Ellie’s experiences shape who she becomes, from her simple beginnings as an outgoing, down-to-earth teenager to a heroic yet very human leader.

Image from the Japanese Tomorrow When the War Began cover art.

Homer Yannos, son of Greek farmers and younger brother of the serious, and vain George Yannos. Often seen as immature, a fool and a prankster, behind this facade Homer is loyal, kind and surprisingly cunning. Homer has a very forceful, even domineering, personality and while he despises weakness he also has a lot of trouble dealing with others who also have strong characters.

One of the constants of Homer’s life is his competition with his best friend, Ellie. They compete continually and have done so all their lives. At the same time, Ellie really is the best friend he has in the world, someone who respects and admires him, a respect and admiration that he returns.

Homer grows up fast. When danger rears its ugly head he is quick, responsive and reliable.

Image from the Japanese Tomorrow When the War Began cover art.

For those who like stereotypes, Fiona Maxwell is behind the eight ball. She is set up to fail in the environment the group finds itself in. She is unassertive, pampered, with no real knowledge of camping or the bush. She is someone who has never done a day’s hard work in her life and even she knows it. We are all a mix of strengths and weaknesses, and while Fi’s intentions are always good she needs someone to provide leadership.

Fi is routinely terrified, but may well be the bravest of them all. Despite her continual terror she keeps performing, she keep going, she keeps her perspective when others are losing theirs. She is cursed with a memory she can’t control, that throws messages of horror into her mind, but she is the one who controls her actions, not the horrors she can’t push away.

Image from the Japanese Tomorrow When the War Began cover art.

Lee, the eldest child of a large immigrant family, is perhaps the hardest character to define. Lee is a solid, loving, passionate, caring, considerate and talented young man, however the horror of their situation takes its toll on the once dependable Lee who becomes aggressive, vicious, murderous and unpredictable.

Until the coming of the war Lee had two major escapes; music and film. Fundamental to Lee’s character is pride, and its flip side, shame. Lee is shamed by what has happened to his country, his family and to him. He is desperate to strike back, to carry the war to the invaders and make a difference. In Lee the urge for destruction and the will to live are in sharp conflict.

Image from the Japanese Tomorrow When the War Began cover art.

Kevin is firstly Corrie’s boyfriend, and considered the truest and most ‘rural’ within the group. Happy with the idea of a simple life in Wirrawee, and not one in favour of change, Kevin’s defining trait and possibly the most suprising is his emotional reaction to the trauma of the war. This was a key plot point for most of the fifth book. Due to this, an underlying tension was created between Kevin and the others, segregating Kevin from the close-knit relationships formed by the rest of the group.

Kevin is somewhat aggressive and arrogant though he backs down often in the face of danger, but as in the case of others, when presented the right opportunity he proves himself time and again.

Image from the Japanese Tomorrow When the War Began cover art.

Corrie is Ellie’s very best friend, her mate, whom she shared everything with since she was a toddler and whom she plans on doing everything with well into their adult lives.

Corrie often shows a strong sense of determination, she is intelligent and quick thinking, however the war affects her greatly very early on. In the end, Corrie finds the strength within herself to carry on and not let her fear stop her and is driven, more than anything, by concern for her family.

Image from the Japanese Tomorrow When the War Began cover art.

Robyn, the only child of a well established, religious family. Someone who is normally calm and quiet but who also loves to win and who is at her best in the toughest of situations. Her actions when their world falls down around them keep them free.

At the heart of Robyn’s character is her faith, and it is an obvious internal struggle for her to find out what it means to be a Christian in the middle of a very ugly war. It is arguable that Robyn is the most noble and heroic of the eight.

Image from the Japanese Tomorrow When the War Began cover art.

Chris lacks the goad the others share of having his family captive. Described as physically small and socially rebellious, Chris is someone who does not fit in and who does not care. Regarded as a genius by all at his school, however is never able to apply that genius to their current situation. He never seems to connect with what they are trying to do or the group he is in. He is a lonely, depressed boy who – surrounded by people who are involved and willing to care – withdraws from them more and more into his own head, into his world of drugs (alcohol and cigarettes here), depression and poetry.

Eventually his depression and unwillingness to engage defeats all other efforts. Chris is a lesson, a lesson in love and commitment and a reflection of potential lost.

Image from the Japanese Tomorrow When the War Began cover art.