In Tomorrow, When the War Began, friends are the only people these kids have. Their families have been captured, their town's been occupied by enemy soldiers, and this little band of teens has no one to turn to for help but each other. Friendship is the thing they cling to in order to survive, their source of support and comfort, as well as assistance when it comes to meeting their basic needs for things like food. It's pretty much always true that you're a teen, friends are everything, but for these teens, this isn't just a feeling—it's their reality.
Questions About Friendship
- In what ways does friendship save this group? Are there any negative things about clinging to their friends?
- Are there any friends in this group that aren't as reliable? Who? Does this matter? Why or why not?
- What are the most important functions of friends for the characters? The least? What patterns do you notice and what do they tell you about friendship as a theme in the book?
Chew on This
The reason the Hell gangs survives the invasion is because the kids completely commit to sticking together.
Without their friend group, Chris would surely die, as would Fi. Some characters completely rely on their friends for survival.