A Lovely Tomorrow

by Mabel Esther Allan

After her parents are killed by a rocket on New Year's Eve in London, 15-year-old Frue rebuilds her life in the wartime English countryside.

190 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

A prolific British children's author, who also wrote under the pen-names Jean Estoril, Priscilla Hagon, Anne Pilgrim, and Kathleen M. Pearcey, Mabel Esther Allan is particularly known for her school and ballet stories.

Born in 1915 at Wallasey on the Wirral Peninsula, Allan knew from an early age that she wanted to be an author, and published her first short stories in the 1930s. Her writing career was interrupted by World War II, during which time she served in the Women's Land Army and taught school in Liverpool, but the 1948 publication of The Glen Castle Mystery saw it begin to take off in earnest. Influenced by Scottish educator A.S. Neill, Allan held progressive views about education, views that often found their way into her books, particularly her school stories. She was interested in folk dance and ballet - another common subject in her work - and was a frequent traveler. She died in 1998.

Reviews

[ECL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alt title: Tomorrow is a Lovely Day
ISBN 085997880x

What a surprise! From the back cover plot summary, I was expecting a sub-Noel streatfeild children's story about a girl in ww2 who wants to be an actress. But this has more subtle character development than streatfeild, and is less sanitised. I'd consider it young adult genre, rather than children's.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't judge this book by its cover!

This was actually pretty good, with some twists I did not see coming.

However, I didn't love being left hanging at the end...but I will just assume those two (I won't spoil it here) do end up together. 🙂💗💗
And the OTHER two who do most definitely end up together, which I was surprised to see...loved that! So sweet! 😍💗

I am coming to appreciate more and more books that are wholesome and do not have an agenda. That is becoming rare with books being published these days. This book gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling. It's a children's book, and I would have enjoyed it as a child but certainly enjoyed it as an adult.

Recommended.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

At least 3.5 stars. This is both a coming-of-age novel and a coming-to-her-senses story. World War II is almost over and Fruella Allendale celebrates the new year of 1945 with her parents and neighbors. But then tragedy strikes, leaving Frue alone, and changing her life completely. Instead of returning to her stage school, she must go to the country and live with her great-aunt. She has a difficult time adjusting — as anyone in her situation would — she makes mistakes and learns from them, and is altogether a very engaging character. Recommended.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of MEA's better books, I think.