no promises in the wind by irene hunt.

Language: english.

Country: USA.

Genre: historical novel.

Publisher: Follet.

Publication date: January 1970.

This novel is based on Great Depression in United States in 1930s. The book is about the journey of Josh Gronowski as he suffers from the harsh times almost without no money. The year was 1932, turbulent thirties in America, Josh’s family was poor. He was 15 years old and his prime talent lies in the piano. Josh with Howie ( his best friend) enjoyed going to musical school. However, everything was not so beautiful, due to his father’s  continuous( perpetual) temper, he decided to leave his hometown Chicago and find living on his own . His mother  Mary supported him when Josh and Howie decided to leave their home . josh’s little brother Joes also wants to be with them. It was hard decision but they go on with it. Soon they started gaining their first money. Josh was the boss of the group, Joey was singer and Howie played in his banjo. Everything was good before loosing their partner. Howie was strucked by train. Then there was no banjo player, trio was disrupted. Consequently, brothers manage to survive by begging. It toched Josh’s pride, but there was nothing else to do. Soon while their voiture in Nebraska  they met with a lorry man Lonnie, lost a child David who would be as old as Josh. He helped them to find a job at carnival. With great pleasure Josh and Joey started working there. There Josh finds Emily extremely attractive. Emily was a women clown who was 30 years old. Despite to 15 years old difference Josh loves her. After learning about her engagement with Pete Harris he throws relationship with her. Soon they leave the carnival and begun begging. Unfortunately, Josh became ill with pneumonia. But they did not know, so little Joey left his brother alone because of his temper, anger. Josh wants to find him but it was impossible. He falls unconscious from the cold and sickness. When josh wakes he discovered himself at Lonnie’s home, Omaha, Nebraska. There Josh meets Janey, Lonnie’s niece, with whom he soon fall in love. Lonnie and Josh was worried about little Joey, he was alone in the wind. Surprisingly they found Joey by the announcement in the radio …

At the end Josh and Joey return to Chicago where, their father comes to meet them. There he breaks down into tears and they share many things in common. In addition Josh was a chance to work in a restaurant as pianist with good salary. Josh made a decision from his life: “growing up during the depression meant growing up fast”.