While I Live (The Ellie Chronicles) by John Marsden

The war is over, but things will never again be normal for Ellie Linton.  The redistribution of land after the war has taken most of her family's farm and her father is struggling to make a living on what is left.  When tragedy strikes, Ellie must once again depend on her wits and her friends to survive.  Enemies surround her but Ellie cannot act as freely now as she could during open conflict.  She must proceed with caution and decide if mere survival is good enough or if retribution is needed.

Fans of Marsden's Tomorrow Series will be pleased with this follow up series.  Although Ellie and her friends did some amazing things during the war, they are just teenagers and some adults still treat them like children.  After all the excitement and freedom they experienced during the war, readjusting to "normal" life has been difficult.  Marsden does a great job of showing the conflict Ellie faces.  The book grabs you from the first page and doesn't let go.  Although some legal problems are resolved a little too easily, (or are allowed to become problems too easily?), overall the situations feel real and immediate.  Readers will eagerly await the next volume in the series.

Four out of five stars.

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