[1] It was later published in the United States in 2008 under the abbreviated title Jellicoe Road by HarperTeen and went on to win the 2009 Michael L. Printz Award from the American Library Association.

[2] The story is set around the life of Taylor Lily Markham, the 17-year-old leader of the boarding school on the Jellicoe Road (country NSW/ACT).

She has to keep the upper hand in territory wars and deal with Jonah Griggs- the enigmatic leader of the cadets, and someone who she thought she would never see again.

Taylor's only clue is a manuscript about five kids who lived in Jellicoe eighteen years ago.

"But Taylor has other things on her mind: a prayer tree, the hermit who whispered in her ear, and a vaguely familiar drawing in the local police station.

But Hannah, the woman who found her, has suddenly disappeared, leaving nothing but an unfinished manuscript about five kids whose lives entwined twenty years ago on the Jellicoe Road."

He has had a violent childhood, from his father who used to verbally, physically and mentally abuse his mother, his younger brother Daniel and himself.

Jonah, who was traumatised by this act, attempted to commit suicide by jumping in front of a train, but, on the day he planned it, he met Taylor and he decided he didn't want to kill himself in front of her, due to the fact that Taylor had already witnessed a suicide.

Once they get off, they attempt to hitchhike with a postman to Sydney where Taylor's mother is supposed to be, but Jonah has a dream from his dead father saying 'if you go any further, you won't come back.'

(although it is strongly hinted later that the postman they rode with was the serial killer that is frequently referenced in the novel by Taylor's younger classmates) So that night, Jonah rings his school, and the next day the Brigadier shows up and takes them both back to Jellicoe.

He is the eldest child and only son, with four younger female siblings - Mary, Elisha, Tilly and Sarah Santangelo who often drive him insane.

At the time, Sue Taylor and Rosemary Blight were producing and Kate Woods was attached to direct.

[4] In December 2019, Werner Film Productions, ZDF Enterprises, and Wild Sheep Content announced an 8-part TV series.

Marchetta will write the pilot with writers Samantha Strauss, Sarah Walker, and Angela Betzien also attached.