No Promises in the Wind [Mass Market Paperback]

Irene Hunt (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

In 1932, America was in the depths of a deep depression. A job, food to fill you, a place to sleep, and shoes without holes--for millions of people, these simple needs were nothing more than dreams. At 15 years of age, Josh had to make his own way through a country of angry, frightened people. This is the story of a young man's struggle to find a life for himself in the turbulent 1930s.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (September 15, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425099695
• ISBN-13: 978-0425099698
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (88 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #913,894 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars No Promises, December 9, 2002

By 

Travis Lortscher (Helix Adult Center San Diego CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: No Promises in the Wind (Mass Market Paperback)

The book No Promises in the Wind by Irene hunt was about a young boy's struggle to survive during the depression in the U.S. It takes place during the winter of 1932. Josh is the main character in the book. He and his father Stefan always get into arguments because his father has no job and can't provide for his family, so his father takes his frustration out on his on Josh, his oldest son. This causes Josh to leave home and embark on his adventure. His mother Mary is the one that gives Josh the OK to leave home. She feels bad for doing this, but she only sees the situation getting worse. So, Howie and Josh decide to run away together and make a life for themselves. Howie is Josh's best friend. Just before they leave, Josh's little brother wants come along. His name is Joey. Joey is ten years old and looks like an angel. There many problems that the main characters encounter during the book, the first one happens when the brothers lose their friend. Howie is run over by a train in the beginning of the book. After this, the main problem is to get money and food. Different people help Josh and Joey get food. One day while walking, they meet a truck driver named Lonnie. Lonnie is very helpful; he gives the boys meals and a long ride down south to warmer weather. He also helps Josh find a job at a carnival. At the carnival Josh and Joey meet Emily. She is an older lady. She is very kind to the boys. Josh falls in love with her, but it does not work out because of the age differences. The carnival burns down so the boys head back north to find their friend Lonnie. Along the way they have to beg to survive.
The one character that I could relate to was Josh. Because I have had similar conflicts with my father. Like Josh's father, my dad was going through hard times and most of the time took out his frustration on me. At times I wanted to leave, but I did not. My father and I worked out our problems like Josh and his father did.
I really enjoyed this book. It keeps the reader entertained the whole time. You always want to find out what is going to happen to the boys all the way to the end. My favorite part is when the boys are at the carnival. The author does a good job of describing the people and events that happen during their stay at the carnival. My least favorite part was when the man at the shoe store took the boy's money. Personally I would not change anything to this book. I think it was written well, and it gets its point across.
I would recommend this book to any one who is interested in how life was during the 1930s. Also anyone that grew up during that time period might enjoy it. This book is a fun read that keeps you entertained the whole time.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No Promises In The Wind, By: Irene Hunt, April 7, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: No Promises in the Wind (Mass Market Paperback)

This was an excellent book written by Irene Hunt. It was truly entertaining and a real page turner. The characters are superb and the plot is dynamic. This is the first book that I have read by Mrs. Hunt. It is about a boy named Joey and his brother who have decided to move out of their house and live on their own. The setting of this well written novel is in the depressing 1930's were food is scarce and jobs are minimum. Harry, who is Joey's friend decide to journey along with them.They embark on a hunt to try to survive by playing music which they are good at.

Many suprising elements arise in the story as an result. The three find it hard to live, they are own the street begging for money and they are trying to survive.

Luck turns when they find a job, and Joey meets a beautiful lady who is 30 and he is 15. Her name is Emily and she works as a clown at the circus, which is Joey's new job.

All in all, the story turns out magnificent as the climax at the end of the story begins to unfold. Truly a magnificent and entertaining account of Irene Hunt's wonderful writing skill's...

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Through and through, August 15, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: No Promises in the Wind (Paperback)

This is a great book in which you learn the difficulty of life in the past and still enjoy a great book. When two brothers, Josh and Joey, are faced with hardships, such as death of a friend,and starvation, they are forced to fight not only for food but for survivial. They sink as low as to having to go door to door begging for food. When a kind trucker, Lonnie, helps them find a job the boys become close to the man. The book then changes atmosphere for a while but then becomes thick and heavy once again. I won't tell you the ending but it ends nicely. I read this book in seventh grade but I'm doing a review of it for eighth grade. It's a great book, don't believe those who contridict it and say that it lacks oriniality. This book is very copassionate and touching. GOOD readers who enjoy GOOD books will enjoy this masterpiece.