When Ellie and her friends go camping, they have no idea they're leaving their old lives behind forever. Despite a less-than-tragic food shortage and a secret crush or two, everything goes as planned. But a week later, they return home to find their houses empty and their pets starving. Something has gone wrong--horribly wrong. Before long, they realize the country has been invaded, and the entire town has been captured--including their families and...

The Australian YA adventure trilogy “comes to a thrill-a-minute conclusion as the teen heroes continue their guerrilla tactics against totalitarian foes" (Publishers Weekly).
 
It's been nearly six months since Australia was invaded and Ellie’s life changed forever. Once normal teenagers, she and six of her friends are now trapped in a war zone where every moment is a struggle for survival. Living...

As survivors of an enemy invasion of their homeland, Ellie and her friends return to Australia as guides for soldiers from New Zealand who plan an attack on the Wirrawee airfield.

While trying to care for a group of abandoned young children, five Australian teenagers continue their struggle for survival and their resistance against the enemy invading their homeland.

Omar and Kwarli return from trying to find Sky and Faygar. Omar and Jag put aside their differences in order to work together. Shadow and Harmony bully Sky and Faygar. Harmony reveals the Privileged have a spy at the Ant camp. And Shadow is sent to deliver a message.

Sky, an enigmatic and mysterious traveller, notices Dan, (an Ant tribe member), being captured in the forest by two Warps (a rival tribe). Dan eventually introduces his newfound friend to other members of the Ant tribe and Sky is welcomed by most of the tribe, but not everyone accepts a stranger into their home basecamp.

Zora moves the Barbs to the Ants' camp. Some Ants aren't too happy to have new neighbors. Flame instructs the invincible Shadow to fight Sky in hand to hand combat, so everyone can witness Sky's real weaknesses. Kwarli discovers an old contraption in the Ant camp which he believes was once called a bicycle, and Erin is intrigued by the notion that it could be a descendent of an ancient machine.

The Ants and Barbs celebrate their victory against the Privileged and ponder what to do about Flame who is now held prisoner. Shadow is brought into the Discard camp by Warp guards and Sky discusses escaping. 'Things' begin to go missing in the Ant camp, including Erin's bike, and the Stranger continues to furtively observe all the inhabitants.