Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Tomorrow, When the War Began, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
War, Law, and Morality
Family, Friendship, and Love
Coming of Age, Transformation, and the Loss of Innocence
Writing and Storytelling
Summary
Analysis
At midnight, Ellie hides in a culvert with Lee. They are on the edge of the highway and have made a very big mistake. Robyn and the others have already moved on, and Fiona and Homer are somewhere behind them. Ellie and Lee watch nervously as 10 soldiers come their way. Ellie hopes that Homer and Fiona don’t come running out of the bush and marvels at how efficient the soldiers are in their marching. They must be the professionals Mr. Clement told them about.
Ellie and Lee’s mistake is not explained in detail, but it is implied that they didn’t look out for patrols as closely as they should have, and they have endangered the whole group because of it. This mistake underscores just how present danger is, but it also highlights that they are still young and prone to occasional irresponsibility.
Themes
The soldiers pass Ellie and Lee without incident, and Ellie finally relaxes. They lay low for another hour, but only one convoy passes. Happy with their reconnaissance, they decide to wait for Homer and Fiona. When they arrive, Homer says he wants to go to the Heron, the local river that runs from Cobbler’s Bay into town. There is a long wooden bridge over the Heron. It is old and rickety, and is mostly a tourist attraction, but it is bustling with activity now. They can see soldiers moving about and convoys stop and check in with men with clipboards. The bridge is definitely the weakest part of the highway.
Homer is obviously devising some sort of plan that involves the bridge, which is why he wants to go out of their way to check it out. The bridge is old, and it is the weakest part of the highway, which makes it a logical place to attack for maximum effect on the invading soldiers. The bridge is clearly an important route from Cobbler’s Bay to the rest of the country. If Homer and the others can cripple the bridge, they will be able to slow the soldiers’ advance.
Themes
By four in the morning, the group makes it back to their hideout, where they sleep until midafternoon. “Let’s blow it up,” Homer says, smiling, once they are all awake. Ellie is game and asks how he plans to do it. Homer has been thinking about Ellie and the lawnmower, and what they really need is a big lawnmower. A petrol tanker, Homer says. It is simple—they will steal a fuel truck from the local distributor, provided Ellie thinks she can drive it. She is sure she can, it won’t be much different from the equipment on the farm.
Homer’s smile implies that his mischievous nature is shining through, even though he has matured greatly. In Homer’s former life before the war—in which he was a childish troublemaker—he loved to blow things up. Homer is secretly enjoying the idea of blowing up the bridge, which implies that there is a large part of him that is still a kid, despite his obvious maturity.
Themes
Homer has also been thinking about the cattle farm near the bridge. If they can get the cattle to stampede, it will create at a diversion, giving Ellie time to get the truck below the bridge. Then, she will leave a trail of fuel and, when she is at a safe distance, light a match. Fiona asks how they get the cattle to stampede, and Lee asks how he is supposed to get away—he can’t very well run. Homer has already thought of that. They will steal motorbikes and make a clean getaway, and getting the cattle to stampede won’t be a problem. Homer has lots of experience mustering herds of cattle.
Homer’s plan is intricate and multilayered, and it shows a great deal of rational thought and effort, which also underscores Homer’s growing maturity and his seemingly natural ability to lead them. The others look to him to solve their problems, and he anticipates their needs. Homer’s plan proves he is no longer a child, and that the war has fueled his transformation into an adult.
Themes
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Homer says that he will handle the cattle with Lee, but it is up to Fiona and Ellie to steal the truck and blow it up. Fiona is a bit nervous, and so is Ellie, but Ellie thinks it is a good plan. If they are successful, Lee says smiling, he will finally be proud of himself again.
Both Fiona and Ellie fear that they may be the weak link in the plan, and they are about to be put to the test. Still, Ellie knows Homer’s plan is the right thing to do, even if she is scared, which proves Ellie’s maturity as well. Ellie perseveres, even in the face of fear.
Themes
