Burning For Revenge by John Marsden (Young Adult)

3rd January 2013, Quercus

288 pages, Paperback

Review Copy

Teenage Fiction, War adventure

Fast moving action with plenty of violence but little of it is graphic

Summary from Quercus Books

'If only our country hadn't been invaded. If only we could have carried on the way we used to, watching other people's wars on television.' Ellie and her friends are more determined than ever to make an impact on the enemy. But the constant fighting is beginning to take its toll on the group. Kevin is suffering an emotional breakdown, and the friendship that has kept the gang together for so long is under strain. And while there is no time for love in a time of war, Ellie can't forget her feelings for Lee..

The Mole's Review

I read the first book in the series and found some of the technical details really grated on me because of their inaccuracies. Those same mistakes occur in this book, but much more frequently - and it doesn't matter this time. Marsden's storytelling has moved on a lot and if you don't start by suspending disbelief then you will find it has suspended itself as the tale grips you and pulls you along.

This is the fifth in the series but make sure you have read book one, without it you won't understand what it's all about very easily. I haven't read the middle three and although references are made to things that happened in them, this book stands with book one very well. The first book was made into a film and the series has been hugely popular in Australia - I start to see why.