Towards the end of the novel, Homer is also recognised as the commander of the group as he creates effective plans and ideas. According to Ellie, Homer's latest plan to blow up a bridge in Wirawee, in an attempt to stop enemy movements, was, 'a high risk plan, but a brilliant one'. The dramatic change in the environment has not only caused Homer to become a brave leader and a, 'role model,' for the other teenagers, but has also softened him up a little. 'The only thing Homer had left out was the way he'd wept when he'd found us both safe. I saw the sweetness of Homer then, that he'd had as a little guy, but which some people probably thought he'd lost as a teenager'. This quote demonstrates how much the 'new' Homer cares for his friends and also shows that the war has brought back the sweetness in Homer's life, which he had lost as a teenager. Throughout the novel, there was a dramatic change in the environment and a number of life threatening situations that the characters faced which lead to the transformation of Homer. Homer was not the only character that experienced a change in this novel. Through Ellie's actions and change in character, we learn that she is another character that has been forced to change and adapt in order to survive in the new environment. .
The theme of change and adaptation is also evident in the character of Ellie, as she has transformed herself from an innocent, young teenager into, 'a force to be reckoned with.' During the first few chapters of the book, we learn about Ellie's immature life at school, and how she sneaks out of drama rehearsals to spend time with boys, like Steve. We begin to see a change in Ellie when the group enters the war and she is forced to do things that she would have never done in the past. An example of this was the scene between her and the soldiers when she used her quick thinking to set fire to a lawnmower.
