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After Tomorrow
What if you woke up tomorrow and everything had changed? Money is worthless. Your friends are gone. Armed robbers roam the streets. No one is safe. Suddenly you're a refugee. After Tomorrow is an unflinchingly poignant but ultimately hopeful story from Carnegie Medal winning author Gillian Cross, exploring the struggle for survival within refugee camps.
305 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
38 people are currently reading
590 people want to read
About the author
Gillian Cross
148 books86 followersGillian Cross was born Gillian Arnold in 1945. She was educated at North London Collegiate School, Somerville College, Oxford and the University of Sussex. Although now a full-time writer who often travels and gives talks in connection with her work, she has had a number of informal jobs including being an assistant to a Member of Parliament. For eight years she also sat on the committee which advises ministers about public libraries.
She is married to Martin Cross and they have four grown-up children, two sons and two daughters.
She is married to Martin Cross and they have four grown-up children, two sons and two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
September 25, 2014
This is a dystopian book and is set in Britain. Five banks crash at once and the economy of the country collapses. Money becomes worthless and food becomes scarce.
Life is very difficult and dangerous for Matt and his family. People who store food and trade them are labelled as ‘scadgers’. After being raided for their food by 'raiders' they realise that they cannot live in fear and decide to flee the country. Matt, Justin (step dad) and Taco (Matt’s brother) escape through the Channel Tunnel as refugees and reach France where they find more problems awaiting them.
1. I randomly picked up this book and decided to read it because I thought it would be interesting and it turned out to be so.
2. A character that I found interesting was Matt because of his resilience/ strength and how much he understood other people's grief. He also has some obsession over bikes and is very emotionally attached to his red bike which was given to him by his grandfather. He does his responsibility as an older brother by taking care of his younger brother Taco and he gradually changes throughout the book and becoming independent by setting up a business of fixing bikes. He also goes through some awful moments but is very swift and takes any advantages to benefit himself. He also does not always do the exact right or wrong thing but he goes on and does a better job.
3. A quote in the book that I liked was, “A job takes as long as it takes….Unless you try and hurry-then it takes twice as long.” I liked this quote because it is really true and shows us that there is no point in rushing in some of the things that we do. We just have to be patient and spend the time needed so that we can avoid making lots of mistakes.
4. What I thought deeply about after reading this book is how when people are in placed in a bad, desperate situation, their good side can come out as well as their worst side. It also made me think about how hard life must be for people living in countries with conflict and people who do not have the basic necessities for life.
Life is very difficult and dangerous for Matt and his family. People who store food and trade them are labelled as ‘scadgers’. After being raided for their food by 'raiders' they realise that they cannot live in fear and decide to flee the country. Matt, Justin (step dad) and Taco (Matt’s brother) escape through the Channel Tunnel as refugees and reach France where they find more problems awaiting them.
1. I randomly picked up this book and decided to read it because I thought it would be interesting and it turned out to be so.
2. A character that I found interesting was Matt because of his resilience/ strength and how much he understood other people's grief. He also has some obsession over bikes and is very emotionally attached to his red bike which was given to him by his grandfather. He does his responsibility as an older brother by taking care of his younger brother Taco and he gradually changes throughout the book and becoming independent by setting up a business of fixing bikes. He also goes through some awful moments but is very swift and takes any advantages to benefit himself. He also does not always do the exact right or wrong thing but he goes on and does a better job.
3. A quote in the book that I liked was, “A job takes as long as it takes….Unless you try and hurry-then it takes twice as long.” I liked this quote because it is really true and shows us that there is no point in rushing in some of the things that we do. We just have to be patient and spend the time needed so that we can avoid making lots of mistakes.
4. What I thought deeply about after reading this book is how when people are in placed in a bad, desperate situation, their good side can come out as well as their worst side. It also made me think about how hard life must be for people living in countries with conflict and people who do not have the basic necessities for life.
June 5, 2015
How would money be useful if there is nothing to spend on? Food is the main thing to our lives. How would we survive if there is not food and people starts to burglar and steal food?
Matt and his family are facing this problem in England. They tried to hide and store their food but their plan didn't succeed so they decided to move to France. Unfortunately, the French government closed all the airlines from England to France. Matt and his family went inside France by a secret and illegal way but they were caught by the soldiers. They were taken to a town called “Lemon Dough”. There were lots of people with tents but it is much better than in England where there is no food. Days later, Matt’s brother, Taco was sick because a rat bit him. The doctor told Matt, his brother is facing very serious illness which needs penicillin to cure. Where would Matt get the penicillin? Can he save his brother?
I really enjoyed the book. The actions and adventures were fun and amusing to read. The actions are very fast but it is still like you are watching an action movie. Have fun reading it.
Matt and his family are facing this problem in England. They tried to hide and store their food but their plan didn't succeed so they decided to move to France. Unfortunately, the French government closed all the airlines from England to France. Matt and his family went inside France by a secret and illegal way but they were caught by the soldiers. They were taken to a town called “Lemon Dough”. There were lots of people with tents but it is much better than in England where there is no food. Days later, Matt’s brother, Taco was sick because a rat bit him. The doctor told Matt, his brother is facing very serious illness which needs penicillin to cure. Where would Matt get the penicillin? Can he save his brother?
I really enjoyed the book. The actions and adventures were fun and amusing to read. The actions are very fast but it is still like you are watching an action movie. Have fun reading it.
November 11, 2014
It was okay. Matt, his step-dad Justin and little brother Taco have to flee England to France due to an ambiguous apocalypse. Some banks crashed, and this somehow means that The Government can't afford to police the country anymore and everyone has no food? And so chaos.
I was really expecting it to be more about the two brothers trying to escape to France and all the trials and tribulations they'd go through during the endeavour, but they get to France pretty much no worries and the rest of the novel is just a survival drama in the refugee camp - something I usually am a fan of, but it was pretty dry and boring. The characters were fine - just very, very bland. And for a YA novel with quite a few dark themes running through it , it felt incredibly toothless at times, no real consequences going around other than light theft.
If it wasn't short enough to knock off in an afternoon I doubt I would have bothered finishing it.
I was really expecting it to be more about the two brothers trying to escape to France and all the trials and tribulations they'd go through during the endeavour, but they get to France pretty much no worries and the rest of the novel is just a survival drama in the refugee camp - something I usually am a fan of, but it was pretty dry and boring. The characters were fine - just very, very bland. And for a YA novel with quite a few dark themes running through it , it felt incredibly toothless at times, no real consequences going around other than light theft.
If it wasn't short enough to knock off in an afternoon I doubt I would have bothered finishing it.
January 17, 2014
The setting for After Tomorrow is a dystopian world in Britain where five major banks have crashed and created a world of worthless currency, food shortages, a breakdown of law and order, and of refugees trying to find a better life across the channel in France. But in France, home is a tent in a refugee camp.
This story has impact because the situation the characters find themselves in is so plausible. As well, the author has her characters wrestle with moral and ethical issues to which there are no easy answers. How far should someone go to get medicine for a brother who might die without it?
This is a well crafted, exciting page-turner that poses the question of what might happen if you woke up tomorrow and the whole world had changed. A great read for middle years and YA readers.
This story has impact because the situation the characters find themselves in is so plausible. As well, the author has her characters wrestle with moral and ethical issues to which there are no easy answers. How far should someone go to get medicine for a brother who might die without it?
This is a well crafted, exciting page-turner that poses the question of what might happen if you woke up tomorrow and the whole world had changed. A great read for middle years and YA readers.
December 31, 2021
Certainly an interesting premise which had a lot of potential, but I found it lacked a certain fulfilling substance. There were many themes that could have been expanded on and I still had unanswered questions. There were also unresolved narrative connections by the end.
October 31, 2013
So, you understand how it is. {You're supposed to write notes on a book but I'm writing them now. YOLO.}
* It was an enjoyable read most of the time.
* This was realistic in some parts but others this element was lacking in & I felt like it could've been kept up better (then I would've empathized with the MC & his family a lot more!)
* So, having said that, it's not the characters who aren't plausible, it's not even, exactly, what happens to them. It's how little background information we get. I know it's something to do with banks but really, are they going to fall? Banks are one of the most well-off institutions. Governments are in debt to them. Yes, them collapsing would be awful but can YAs relate with this? Will children find it realistic? If so, how realistic should it be?
* The biggest strength is characters, at the end of the day... If you're someone that loves that & how a character may be placed in a situation totally unexpected in our modern world then, this is the book for you.
Who would think it'd be british kids becoming refugees, fleeing a dangerous, futuristic, Britain?
* The topic is one that depends on opinion, what might be your opinion on asylum seekers, the state of our world, police forces, development (or something less big than that!) gap. So, this won't appeal to everyone... I do think the characters will, though.
* There's such a huge cast & you will feel sorry for at least some of them in some element of their hardship. It may be strange to think how many awful things are happening to them but that makes it intense & as, otherwise it's not, I'm glad the characters were good. Likeable,
unique & obviously, british.
* This wasn't a major adventure. Believe me. If anyone finds it action-packed, then... Did I miss something? I saw someone describe it as a "day-to-day existence". That doesn't really give you anything. That doesn't even sound very plotted. They were lead through it well & you did find out a lot about the characters as they developed but it wasn't the most gripping, exciting novel that I've read! I loved the change in Taco's, Matt's & Paige's relationship. I like how our perception on Bob changes, also on Raider's, Matt's family & much more.
* I'm surprised that I was mainly indifferent to this one. I've had good experience with Gillian Cross' novels & was excited about this one. How plain it was, how little I actually enjoyed it, came as an unwelcome shock. I really hope people, other people who may give this a chance (seriously! You might try it & see how you get on with it! It's not bad, just not that good imho), enjoy it more. It just wasn't my cup of tea...
* I should mention dystopias (for me) are a hit & miss. If you don't believe it all & aren't invested in the characters (straight away- you end up being!), what is there?
* It was an enjoyable read most of the time.
* This was realistic in some parts but others this element was lacking in & I felt like it could've been kept up better (then I would've empathized with the MC & his family a lot more!)
* So, having said that, it's not the characters who aren't plausible, it's not even, exactly, what happens to them. It's how little background information we get. I know it's something to do with banks but really, are they going to fall? Banks are one of the most well-off institutions. Governments are in debt to them. Yes, them collapsing would be awful but can YAs relate with this? Will children find it realistic? If so, how realistic should it be?
* The biggest strength is characters, at the end of the day... If you're someone that loves that & how a character may be placed in a situation totally unexpected in our modern world then, this is the book for you.
Who would think it'd be british kids becoming refugees, fleeing a dangerous, futuristic, Britain?
* The topic is one that depends on opinion, what might be your opinion on asylum seekers, the state of our world, police forces, development (or something less big than that!) gap. So, this won't appeal to everyone... I do think the characters will, though.
* There's such a huge cast & you will feel sorry for at least some of them in some element of their hardship. It may be strange to think how many awful things are happening to them but that makes it intense & as, otherwise it's not, I'm glad the characters were good. Likeable,
unique & obviously, british.
* This wasn't a major adventure. Believe me. If anyone finds it action-packed, then... Did I miss something? I saw someone describe it as a "day-to-day existence". That doesn't really give you anything. That doesn't even sound very plotted. They were lead through it well & you did find out a lot about the characters as they developed but it wasn't the most gripping, exciting novel that I've read! I loved the change in Taco's, Matt's & Paige's relationship. I like how our perception on Bob changes, also on Raider's, Matt's family & much more.
* I'm surprised that I was mainly indifferent to this one. I've had good experience with Gillian Cross' novels & was excited about this one. How plain it was, how little I actually enjoyed it, came as an unwelcome shock. I really hope people, other people who may give this a chance (seriously! You might try it & see how you get on with it! It's not bad, just not that good imho), enjoy it more. It just wasn't my cup of tea...
* I should mention dystopias (for me) are a hit & miss. If you don't believe it all & aren't invested in the characters (straight away- you end up being!), what is there?
April 13, 2020
Matt and his family live in a dystopian Britain where the economy, law and order and the food supply has broken down. They escape to France and end up in a refugee camp. This is their story of their struggle to survive.
This is an excellent, gripping adventure story, full of twists and turns and complicated characters.
There are many books about refugees, but this is the only one I've read in which the characters are British. For me, this made the horrors and injustices of being a refugee suddenly seem much more real!
It's bleak, but ultimately hopeful, and above all a really well-written adventure story.
If you like Malorie Blackman or Sarah Crossan, you'll like this!
This is an excellent, gripping adventure story, full of twists and turns and complicated characters.
There are many books about refugees, but this is the only one I've read in which the characters are British. For me, this made the horrors and injustices of being a refugee suddenly seem much more real!
It's bleak, but ultimately hopeful, and above all a really well-written adventure story.
If you like Malorie Blackman or Sarah Crossan, you'll like this!
July 10, 2013
A brilliant and potentially realistic book. What happens if the World suffers economic collapse, money is worthless, and vandals raid your house on a weekly basis for food. A better life lies across the channel, or does it?
You can't go wrong with Gillian Cross
You can't go wrong with Gillian Cross
January 17, 2014
Honestly I love this book! I think it was in my top 10 books, it is such an unexpected plot! This is one of the best books you can read and I would age range it between 9-14 I think any older wouldn't find it as intresting. Got this book free off my school expecting it to be rubbish as when I got it I wasn't really into reading! But this book reminded me that all books aren't bad. Definate must read! The work of a genius! X
February 18, 2018
A brilliant dystopian story that shares many links with current events in the world. This story is about a world in which major banks have collapsed and food is difficult to come by. The story follows Matt, his brother Taco and their journey across the Channel Tunnel in the hope of a better life. However, once they get there it doesn’t turn out to be what they expected and they face many dangers and hurdles. I really enjoyed reading this book and definitely recommend it!
September 11, 2018
I feel like after tomorrow is a full time action packed story and is a appropriate book for kids 11+ (My age). It has no immature words and has a good reading level for a child. So as you can see, this is one of my favorite books now! I rate a 5, I hope everyone enjoys the book. Thank you
March 11, 2024
una lettura veloce, molto scorrevole. una trama semplice ma allo stesso tempo molto interessante. il linguaggio anche è molto semplice
April 25, 2024
Life in the UK has become unsafe and people are trying to escape. The author imagines life as Brits in a French refugee camp. Good stuff!
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February 26, 2017#refugees compelling story inverting the usual refugee story with a British family fleeing to France following the collapse of British society. Well written fast paced and very provocative
March 5, 2015
The storyline was okay, but it wasn't a page turner and I felt like there was something missing overall :/ The characters were likeable so that's a positive, but I wasn't overly impressed by the book as a whole.
March 25, 2014
A scary and realistic story about what can happen when the world turns to chaos and when the ecoonomy chrashes. A story about a family in crisis, their journey and how they are going to survive this.
April 18, 2014
Love how this makes being a refugee real as it is set through an English experience
March 5, 2024
first book ive read for english class ive acc enjoyed
July 25, 2021
So this book wasn't the story I thought it was. I described as post-apocalyptic and it isn't really that.
Britain is a,mess and money is all but worthless, people are desperate for food and anyone who stockpiles food through trading or even growing it is a scadger and therefore subjected to constant raids and worse.
Matt and Taco's family have been named as scadgers and have a marker on their home. Their only hope of survival is to escape through the Channel Tunnel. Stay or go, what would you do?
This story really drew me in, the writing is exemplary, not overly descriptive or lyrical but certainly to the point. it made me feel the fear and the terror and sense of displacement that comes when you have to leave somewhere abruptly.
*Very Minor Spoilers, skip to spoiler free section if you wish*
This book did something I wasn't expecting and it discussed refugees. But rather than discussing Britain taking in refugees it actually showed British people fleeing to France to seek refuge.
The conditions described were pretty horrifying and the attitudes of the locals were very hostile, they were given food vouchers enough to barely get by and it did make me think about how terrible it must be to be at the mercy of another country.
The ending, however, didn't answer all the questions I wanted it to and felt a tad rushed. The villain was also very morally grey, which I enjoyed but made his nasty actions a little bit unbelievable.
*Spoilers free*
It was a superb story and very immersive, this was a book I enjoyed picking up again and again and had no trouble reading. I loved Matt as a protagonist and I adored his little brother Taco. I think even though it's a middle grade that it is a story that most adults would identify with and have no trouble reading.
Britain is a,mess and money is all but worthless, people are desperate for food and anyone who stockpiles food through trading or even growing it is a scadger and therefore subjected to constant raids and worse.
Matt and Taco's family have been named as scadgers and have a marker on their home. Their only hope of survival is to escape through the Channel Tunnel. Stay or go, what would you do?
This story really drew me in, the writing is exemplary, not overly descriptive or lyrical but certainly to the point. it made me feel the fear and the terror and sense of displacement that comes when you have to leave somewhere abruptly.
*Very Minor Spoilers, skip to spoiler free section if you wish*
This book did something I wasn't expecting and it discussed refugees. But rather than discussing Britain taking in refugees it actually showed British people fleeing to France to seek refuge.
The conditions described were pretty horrifying and the attitudes of the locals were very hostile, they were given food vouchers enough to barely get by and it did make me think about how terrible it must be to be at the mercy of another country.
The ending, however, didn't answer all the questions I wanted it to and felt a tad rushed. The villain was also very morally grey, which I enjoyed but made his nasty actions a little bit unbelievable.
*Spoilers free*
It was a superb story and very immersive, this was a book I enjoyed picking up again and again and had no trouble reading. I loved Matt as a protagonist and I adored his little brother Taco. I think even though it's a middle grade that it is a story that most adults would identify with and have no trouble reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2019
Have you ever imagined if you had to leave everything you loved and owned behind and moved to a new place in a small, cold, and uncomfortable tent as your new home? The moment you reach there a rush of thoughts go through your head: what’s going on? When is this going to end? Why is this happening? And where is my home? Everything that you love and know is gone and you don’t know what tomorrow’s holding for you! Basic needs such as food is hard to get and is not as fulfilling as what you would usually get at home. With something as normal as going to the toilet, you will need to wait in long queues everyday. And if you are unlucky and got sick, you could be waiting for days to see a doctor and even though you might end up not seeing one because of the long queue of people who have been waiting. This is exactly how Matt’s, the boy in the story, life became after he became a *refugee (is someone who has to leave their home and country and seek help somewhere else because of reasons such as war, poverty, and other political issues).
This is a book you should add to your reading list because it’s filled with many unexpected twists and turns which makes it nerve wracking and exciting to read. The book is not based on a true story however things that happened in the book are sadly happening in real life. I wish that in the world there is peace and every body is treated equally and fairly!
March 9, 2018
I picked up After Tomorrow from a library as the blurb sounded interesting, but I feel like it gave me a different impression than what this book was actually about.
The first maybe 60 pages I felt a small sense of dread which I was hoping would grow but instead I ended up not really caring about the characters or what happens. There is a bike on the cover but I definitely wasn’t expecting it to be so much about bikes, which doesn’t reaaally interest me. Not much really happens? Not anything that excited me anyway. I was expecting them to literally be fighting for their lives the whole time. Near the end I got a bit concerned for certain characters but that concern soon went. I liked Paiges brief backstory.
Speaking of backstory, I’d have liked to know a fair bit more about the situation that lead to the events that happen in this book. I can’t think of many good things to say but I did actually enjoy the writing itself, and it wasn’t unbearable by any means, I just don’t think this book was the perfect match for me.
The first maybe 60 pages I felt a small sense of dread which I was hoping would grow but instead I ended up not really caring about the characters or what happens. There is a bike on the cover but I definitely wasn’t expecting it to be so much about bikes, which doesn’t reaaally interest me. Not much really happens? Not anything that excited me anyway. I was expecting them to literally be fighting for their lives the whole time. Near the end I got a bit concerned for certain characters but that concern soon went. I liked Paiges brief backstory.
Speaking of backstory, I’d have liked to know a fair bit more about the situation that lead to the events that happen in this book. I can’t think of many good things to say but I did actually enjoy the writing itself, and it wasn’t unbearable by any means, I just don’t think this book was the perfect match for me.
December 11, 2019
This is a great story about refugees, but this time the tables are turned and it is English people who are in dire straits so the families flee to France, where they are put in a refugee camp.
The story is fast moving and you can't put it down. All Gillian Cross' books are very good and this is no exception. The characters are very credible and you are instantly sympathetic with all factors involved: the people who hoard food, the raiders who attack them for doing so, the French people who are afraid of the English and antagonistic towards them.
The main character is amazing and you become very sympathetic towards him and cheer him on throughout his desperate journey as he matures very quickly in the dangerous situations.
I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good adventure or enjoys relationship stories. It is also dystopian as it predicts a time of hunger and bank crashes and England in trouble.
The story is fast moving and you can't put it down. All Gillian Cross' books are very good and this is no exception. The characters are very credible and you are instantly sympathetic with all factors involved: the people who hoard food, the raiders who attack them for doing so, the French people who are afraid of the English and antagonistic towards them.
The main character is amazing and you become very sympathetic towards him and cheer him on throughout his desperate journey as he matures very quickly in the dangerous situations.
I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good adventure or enjoys relationship stories. It is also dystopian as it predicts a time of hunger and bank crashes and England in trouble.
October 7, 2017
5/5 stars - I really recommend reading this book! It's an easy but also emotional and eye opening read.
I feel like everyone hears about the refugee crisis on the news but at least I could not imagine what it is like to lose everything you have, to flee to another country and somehow fight to survive in hope for a better future. Therefore, the book explored this journey through the eyes of Matt and his family. Choosing Western Europe as a setting makes it even more eye opening. Everyone could be in this situation...
I feel like everyone hears about the refugee crisis on the news but at least I could not imagine what it is like to lose everything you have, to flee to another country and somehow fight to survive in hope for a better future. Therefore, the book explored this journey through the eyes of Matt and his family. Choosing Western Europe as a setting makes it even more eye opening. Everyone could be in this situation...
August 7, 2017
This is an excellent book, combining both dystopia and what it is like to be a refugee. However, Gillian Cross has been very clever in that the people who are forced to flee their country are British children, forced out by a banking crisis which has collapsed all the major banks and causing a food and fuel crisis. The family flees to France, where they live and try to survive in a refugee camp. This brilliantly brings to life that refugees are just like us, they can be us under different and very believable circumstances, and is great for helping students to understand just what being a refugee entails. A great read!
November 24, 2024
This has been on my shelf for years, and I finally decided to read it. The whole concept was interesting, the banks have collapsed and money means nothing, it’s food that people are fighting over and wanting to trade. They end up fleeing England because it’s not safe, and go to France where they are refugees. It made me even more certain that I would not be able to cope as one, especially in them harsh conditions.
But for a YA book, I really enjoyed it
But for a YA book, I really enjoyed it
December 7, 2018
This was a pretty good book. Although I would've liked to have some more focus on the other side characters it was a pretty nice read. I honestly don't have too much to say about this book but it gave a new perspective on being a refugee and could possibly help people relate a bit more and get involved.
April 9, 2020
So I read this book in middle school and was not fond of reading but this book stuck with me like glue and I couldn’t put it down and still to this day I remember how I would sit on a field with my book and just read . I grew very attached to the characters and the story as it led me through the life of a refugee and their family 10/10 would definitely read again
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February 16, 2021This book is a five star rated book because of the normality of it all and how the people in it struggle to survive like in Harry Potter but instead of death eaters scadgers and burglars. And guns instead of wands. This book is based on refugees and how they struggle with illnesses and to even find food let alone cook it.
January 31, 2018
This book is an easy read and has a good story to it. The characters are very well written and adds to the story a lot. It is an interesting premise and this story is for younger readers and I would love to read a book similar but for an older audience.
July 7, 2019
Not an easy read, but I could not put it down. The book is about English refugees fleeing to France after a very serious financial crisis and the following chaos of several years. It is a fiction - but some very serious truths and thoughts inside.
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