Book about the build up to nuclear war, read in the 90s

[Latenightreader]

I have been trying to find a book I read in the mid 1990s. It was about the build up to a nuclear war and finished with the characters looking up at the sky and seeing the streak of the bombs (or possibly just knowing the bombs were coming - I might have imagined the rest). I think there were two teenage characters in a star-crossed lovers type relationship - possibly one was of Chinese origin. It was set in a real city in England. The final scene was at a 'Stop the Countdown' rally which ended when someone announced that the war had started, people started running away, and I'm pretty sure that it ended with the two characters holding each other as they looked at the sky. The downbeat ending really seared itself on my mind.

I have been through the wikipedia list of nuclear war related fiction, but with no luck. It is possible it was a short story, but it was definitely in a book in the upper school library, so probably aimed at 14-18 year olds. It would be wonderful if someone recognised it!

Was it Z for Zachariah or something like that?

Definitely not - that is about the aftermath of a nuclear attack and this was about the build up to.

No idea, but I want to read it.

Children of the Dust?

Definitely not Children of the Dust, another book which made a big impact on me as a young teenager. Bizarrely although I remember the first section in great detail (running home from school to get there before the bombs, the dust coming down the chimney, handing over the sister), I had absolutely no recollection of the other two parts, which came as a complete shock when I found a copy a few years ago.

It also isn't Brother in the Land.

I read a lot of books on the theme of nuclear war/plague wiping out much of humanity when I was a teen...

War Days?
I am intrigued and also want to read it.

Above the Chimney?

I haven’t been able to find details of War Days or Above the Chimney, do you know the author?

Where the Wind Blows? Was it set in Sheffield?

Brother in the Land?

There was one when the children ended up in Osmotherley North Yorkshire post nuclear incident/war cannot remember anything else about it and Google is feeling me.

Pretty sure that’s Brother in the Land and this was definitely not that book - I remember Brother in the Land well shudders.

Not When the Wind Blows either, but thank you for all the suggestions!

Was it Tomorrow When The War Began?

Sadly not (I've read that series too). Thanks though.

That was Brother in the Land - I looked at the wikipedia page for Osmotherley and found it on there. It seems to have had an impact on a lot of people!

It also isn’t The Burning Book by Maggie Gee, although that also covers the build up to nuclear war.

Know this thread has been quiet for a bit but I think I’ve been looking for the same book - details all sound the same but I swear it was set in Sheffield. Also remember it from my school library too.

How I Live Now? I think that was later though

Yes, I think it could have been set in Sheffield. Glad I’m not the only one who remembers it!

The Fire Eater by David Almond? Build up to the Cuban missile crisis and threat of nuclear annihilation?

Sadly not - it was published in 2013 and I read the book in the 90s. The book I recall ended with a nuclear war actually starting and it was really grim. Thank you though, I will look up The Fire Eater in the library, I have enjoyed other David Almond books.

I want to know now.. I am marking my place.

Have you read On the Beach by Neville Shute? If not, it sounds like it may be one to add to your reading list

If it was a book you read in the 90s then you could try asking on the Instagram account @kneedeepinthe90s as she often posts questions that her followers answer. Probably more people will see it there than here.

Z is for Zachariah was about nuclear war but I'm not sure it's as you describe?

You could also ask on the forum on the abebooks website, I've had some success there when I've been trying to track down an obscure item.