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.
These books allow us to empathise with war-stricken countries as the war in the books is set in rural Australia. We see what Ellie sees, we feel what Ellie feels and understand more about the world around us. It’s easy to sympathise, but until we experience things, we can’t understand it fully.
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.
