No Promises in the Wind
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| No Promises in the Wind | |
| Author | Irene Hunt |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Historical novel |
| Publisher | Follett |
| Publication date | January 1970 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| ISBN | 0695400657 |
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 suffers from the harsh times of the period with almost no money.
Josh's main talent lay in music, playing piano, having been taught by his mother. He and his friend Howie were praised by their teacher, Miss Crowne. However, while living with 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 Stefan and their entire family's lack of food would eventually lead to deeper problems.
Despite Josh's reluctance to accept Joey, Howie convinces Josh to bring him along, 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 his banjo, and Joey was a great singer. On the first day after leaving, Joey's singing combined with Howie's talented playing allowed the trio to gain 78 cents. Josh realizes Joey's importance and no longer regrets bringing him along.
However, while trying to get to Nebraska by riding on a freight train, a tragedy fell upon the trio. Howie, while running alongside a train which the brothers had already boarded, was struck by a train coming from the opposite direction. Though quite grieved, Josh and Joey continued, even declining the hospitality of a kind man. The two managed to survive by begging, despite Josh's humiliation at doing such a thing. Finally, in a stroke of luck, the two received the warmth of a woman who persuades Joey to write home to their mother. They also become acquainted with Lon Bromer, a truck driver. Lonnie lost a child named David who had been five. Lonnie brought the brothers 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 they promise that they would write to him.
At the circus, Josh befriends a dwarf named Edward C., who helps Josh by introducing him to the other circus people. Josh took a special interest in a clown named Emily. Josh finds Emily extremely attractive despite the differences in their ages, he was 15 years old, she 30. Josh felt certain desires towards her, and accompanied her whenever possible. When he discovered that Emily was engaged to Pete Harris, he almost completely throws away any relations with her. They later reconcile.
The circus burns down, so Josh and Joey leave Baton Rouge with $20 in savings. The pair end up traveling with a bootlegger named Charley, who is transporting liquor in his car. Charley gives Josh a $20 bill in exchange for his smaller bills. Josh is swindled by a shopkeeper while trying to buy overshoes for Joey, and as a result ends up completely broke again.
The two then have to resort to begging. One of the women 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 of a loaf of bread he had gained while begging.
Furious at Joey for giving away their hard-earned food, and hampered by his own sickness (pneumonia), Josh strikes Joey. Joey vows to leave him, and indeed does leave, taking along Howie's Banjo. When Josh is unable to find him, he falls unconscious from the cold and sickness. He is discovered with Lonnie's contact information in his wallet. When Josh wakes up, he finds himself at Lonnie's home in Omaha, Nebraska. Josh discovers that Joey has not been found, and describes to Lonnie what happened.
Josh also meets Janey, Lonnie's niece. The two soon become fond of each other and fall in love. Josh finds renewed hope in the new President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Joey is 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 immediately become popular, despite Joey's occasional offtune singing.
Josh and Janey part ways, leaving sorrow in their hearts. Josh and Joey return to Chicago, back to their father.
[edit] Characters
The following are the characters that play a major role in the story. (not main character)
- Josh Grondowski, a 15 year-old boy, is the main character of this novel. He sets off from his family to find his own living after being angered by his father. He is accompanied by Joey, his brother, and Howie, his best friend.
- 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 half-sister, who struggles to locate a job in the beginning of the book.
- Miss Crowne , a teacher at Penn High (where Josh and Howie attended school) 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. He is to marry Josh's first love, Emily. Harris is 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 about 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. Ericssson, 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 who 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, approximately 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 prevalence of hope and friendship over difficult periods to time. Throughout the story, Josh and Joey find themselves nearly starved and in hopeless situations, yet they survive. Charity plays an important role as well.
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"
Perhaps the most important 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. Stefan needs a second chance at being a father for his two sons, Josh and Joey.
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The major themes of this book are compasion, pride, despair, hope, forgiveness, survival and growing up.
