No Promises in the Wind

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No Promises in the Wind (1970) is a novel by Irene Hunt. The story is set during the Great Depression. The book is set around the journey of Josh Grondowski as he suffered from the harsh times of the period.

[edit] Plot Summary

The book takes place during the Great Depression (1932) in Chicago. Josh Grondowski is a 15 year-old boy whose father, Stefan, lost his job, and as a result of stress and anger, often burst out in anger towards Josh, his older sister Kitty, and his younger brother Joey (age 10). Kitty had recently also lost her job, and the family barely had enough to pay for necessities such as food.

Josh's main talent lay in music. Despite the fact that he never had received much formal training in music, his piano skills were extremely good, and he and his friend Howie were praised by their teacher, Miss Crowne. However, while living underneath the continuous ridiculing and temper of his father, he sets upon the decision to leave Chicago and find a living on his own. His mother, Mary, supports his decision against her will, realizing that Josh's conflicts with Stephen and their entire family's lack of food would eventually lead to deep problems.

Josh is joined by Howie, and later his little brother Joey. Despite Josh's reluctance to accept Joey, Howie convinces Josh to bring along Joey, which later turns out to be a good decision. With the hope that their musical talents could earn them a living, they set out. Howie brought along his banjo, which he was talented at playing, while they also banked on Joey's singing. On the first day after leaving, Joey's singing combined with the playing of Howie allowed the trio to gain 78 cents. Josh realizes Joey's importance and no longer regrets bring him along.

However, while trying to leave to Nebraska by riding on a freight train, a tragedy fell upon the trio. Howie fell from the car of the train, giving only enough time to toss his precious banjo to Josh. Though very grieved, Josh and Joey continued, even declining the hospitality of a kind man. Surviving on very little food, the two managed to survive through begging, despite Josh's humiliation at doing such a thing. Finally, in a stroke of luck, the two received the warmness of a woman who persuaded Joey to write home to their mother and also a truck driver named Lon Bromer (addressed by the two as Lonnie). Lonnie had lost a child named David who had been five. Lonnie brought the two to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. There, Josh and Joey received a job at a circus run by Pete Harris. Lon leaves the two with his address and the promise that the two would write to him.

At the circus, Josh is befriended by a dwarf man named Edward C., who helps Josh by introducing him to the other circus people. Josh took a special interest in a clown named Emily, who despite being 30, was extremely attractive to the boy. Josh felt certain desires towards her, and accompanied her whenever possible. When he discovered that Emily was to be married to Pete Harris, he nearly completely throws away any relations with Emily at all, but are reconciled before Josh leaves.

One day, the entire circus is burned down, and Josh and Joey, having saved up $20, left Baton Rouge. After traveling with a man named Charley, who transported liquor, in a car which could reach up to 90 mph in fear of being chased by government agents. He trades his $20 in small bills for a single $20 to show off his money, but is stuck with a single $20 bill. He is swindled by a shopkeeper while trying to buy overshoes for Joey, and as a result was again completely broke. The two then had to resorted to begging. One of the woman they meet at first refuses to help them, but then changes her mind out of guilt and invites the two to have soup. Joey repays her the next day by offering her half a loaf of bread he had gained while out on one of his first begging trips. Usually Josh stops Joey begging, but Josh was to sick to do it himself.

Furious at Joey for giving away their hard-earned food, and hampered by his own sickness (pneumonia), Josh struck Joey. Joey vows to leave him, and soon does indeed leave, taking along Howie's Banjo. When Josh is unable to find him, he falls unconscious from the cold and sickness. Luckily, he is discovered with Lonnie's contact information in his wallet, and when Josh wakes up, he finds himself at Lonnie's house in Omaha, Nebraska. Lonnie explains that he had driven down to where Josh was and brought him there. Josh discovers that Joey had not been found yet, and he describes to Lonnie what had happened.

Josh also meets Janey, Lonnie's niece, and the two soon become fond of each other and fall in love. He finds renewed hope in the new President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Joey is later found after being described in a radio announcement and a happy reunion occurs between the two brothers. They find a new job working at a restaurant as a pianist and singer, and the two immediately become popular, despite Joey's occasional offtune singing.

Josh and Janey depart, leaving sorrow in their hearts. Josh and Joey return to Chicago, back to their father who has aged greatly, to them, since they last saw him.

== Characters ==

The following are the characters that play a major role in the story. (not main character)

• Josh Grondowski, a 15 year-old boy who is the main character of this novel. He sets off away from his family to find his own living after being angered by his father, and is accompanied by Joey, his brother, and Howie. He later falls in love with Janey.
• Joey Grondowski, the 10 year-old younger brother of Josh, whose singing helped them to survive.
• Howie, Josh's friend and a talented musician at the banjo, who is killed while trying to board a moving freight train. Was always full of laughter.
• Stefan Grondowski, Josh's father, who starts at the beginning of the book as a man struck by the Great Depression and becomes extremely stressed and angry. Also the reason that Josh left home.
• Mary Grondowski, Josh's mother, who agrees with Josh's decision to leave Chicago.
• Kitty Grondowski, Josh's stepsister, who struggles to locate a job in the beginning of the book.
• Miss Crowne , a teacher who complimented Josh and Howie's musical talent.
• Lon (Lonnie) Bromer, a truck driver who offers hospitality to Josh towards the end of the book and helps Josh to get a job in Baton Rouge at a circus.
• Pete Harris, who employs Josh at the circus he owned. Caring, generous man. Is to marry Josh's first love, Emily. Bessie's cousin. Not attractive, very stumpy, chubby and short.
• Edward C., a dwarf man who befriends Josh.Thoughtful and nice. Helps out Emily with her children a lot. Polite and respectful.
• Emily, a clown at the carnival Josh falls in love with. Uses a male name when she is working. She has three boys and her real husband died a while back. She's going to marry Pete Harris, Josh is very upset about that.
• Janey, Lonnie's niece, who falls in love with Josh.
• Mrs. Arthur, who adopts Joey for a short time before Lonnie reunites Joey with Josh, she also helps to get Josh and Joey a job at a restaurant.
• Mr. Ericsson, who employs the two as entertainers at his restaurant.

A list of minor characters:

• Ben and Josie, two poor farmers who help to cook a rooster and provide aid for Josh for a day.
• Betsy, a pretty girl that causes Josh to feel ashamed at his begging.
• Bessie, a waitress who listens to Josh play the piano while they are headed for Louisiana. Bessie is also Pete Harris's cousin who helps Josh get a job at Pete's carnival.
• Florinda, a dancer who spreads gossip around the circus. She doesn't think about others feelings before she says anything. Is the most worried when the circus burns down. Blames some stuff on Josh and calls him a punk.
• Charley, a rich mobster, appriximately 20 years old. Drives Josh and Joey towards Nebraska in his Cadillac. Treats the boys to dinner. Became rich from selling alcohol during the Prohibition.
• Alf, a poor owner of a shoe store where Josh purchases boots for Joey. Josh pays with a 20 dollar bill, and the man tricks the boys into thinking the bill is counterfeit, and he keeps the bill without giving the boys change.
• Blegan, a dwarf who also made rude remarks. Has a reputation of being annoying. Talks about people behind their backs. Inconsiderate and selfish. Does not have many friends at the carnival.

[edit] Major themes

One of the most important parts of this book is the prevailence of hope and friendship over difficult periods to time. Throughout the story, Josh and Joey find themselves near starved an in hopeless situations, yet they survive. Charity plays an important role also.

In addition, Josh learns many lessons about love. He realizes that people based other people not by factors such as education, intelligence, money, or age, but by more personal characteristics such as loyalty, care, and generosity. He finds this after his angry encounter with Emily the clown upon realizing that she was "engaged"

There is also a hidden theme that concerns Lonnie Josh and Joey. The biggest theme of this entire novel is that everyone deserves a second chance. Lonnie needs a second chance after his son's death. Josh needs a second chance after being mean to Joey. Josh's father needs a second chance after being mean to Josh.