A Bright Tomorrow

Jordon Family #9

by Janet Lambert

Bitsy finds happiness in New York away from her large family, but when tragedy strikes she realizes the importance of people depending upon one another.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance

Paperback

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

Janet Lambert, born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, was a popular girls' story author from 1941 through 1969 (and beyond to today). She wrote 54 books during that time about a number of different girls and their families. Her most popular series were about the Parrishes and the Jordons. These stories, and many of her other series, became entwined as the various characters met each other, married, and then had children of their own!

Janet, having an interest in both the theater and writing, decided to write her own plays in which to act. She did achieve her goal and appeared on Broadway. When she married a career Army officer, her life on stage came to a close, but her stories were still flowing. Knowing well the "life of the Army," many of Ms. Lambert's books are set on Army posts throughout the United States.

Legend has it that her stories started as bedtime stories for her children while they were overseas. Each night, the author would tell the next "installment" of the series. Later, after her kids were grown, she penned one of her stories (Star Spangled Summer) and—according to legend—it was sold to a publisher the very day after she sent it to them.

Reviews

[J.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these books, but I must admit, this wasn't one of my favorites. I love the family times, seeing all these favorite characters together. This book focuses on Bitsy, who is gradually growing up. She is a distinctive character in the series, and I can't help wondering about her future, since there aren't many books left . . .
The tragedy other reviewers have mentioned is terribly sad, yet it was a joy to see the family members support and love each other through their loss. I have a feeling that once I finish reading all of Janet Lambert's books, I will start over again at the beginning.

[Karen Plummer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book even though a truly heartbreaking event occurs. Bitsy Jordon is living alone in New York City in a small apartment while she attends art classes and tries to sell her work. It's a lonely life, but Bitsy likes it most of the time. A chance meeting with another artist leads Bitsy to making two good friends and getting some much needed help for her illustrated children's book. But she must also learn how to deal with tragedy, recover from loss, and move forward with her life.

[Deborah J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got halfway through this book and threw it across the room. Yes, there's a tragedy. There's a tragedy which occurs for no apparent reason except to have a tragedy which will stagger Bitsy. Surely there was some other way to write this, and not have the tragedy involve a beloved character.

I finished it. I didn't like Bitsy any better after the tragedy than before. I didn't like Vance any better, nor Gwenn. I sold the book to a used book store. I stopped reading any of the later Jordon/Parrish/Mcdonald books because i didn't want another surprise like that out of the blue.

I have to say, as much as I have enjoyed the other books, I stopped reading them when I was 18. I'm 63 now, and I've begun reading them again. But I will never reread A Bright Tomorrow.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! I loved this book, I hated this book, but whatever, it deserves 5 stars. It's written in the usual wonderful Janet Lambert way and the characters are so very alive and real. And that's why I hated it- because of the HUGE tragedy that occurs. To say more would be a spoiler. By the title one would think that it was a roses, roses sort of book. It is not. I guess that the title refers to a family picking up the pieces after a terrible tragedy- or maybe it refers to Bitsy Jordan's new career. The book does bring most of Lambert's Jordan and Parrish families together. Just wow....

[Lori Baldi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the book in the Jordan Family series that had haunted me all these years. I love them all and A Dream for Susan still is my favorite but this one stands out due to the tragedy that occurs. Janet Lambert at her best.